Centennial
The Pennsylvania College of Optometry and now Salus University draws a wide range of experience and expertise for both the chair and the members of its Board of Trustees. Members influence strategic direction and provide counsel to leadership on priorities and plans that help ensure the College's and University's strategic objectives are realized.
Below are the individuals who have served as chair of the Board of Trustees and some of the accomplishments and highlights under their tenures:
John D. Perry, OD, 1960-1975
During Dr. Perry's 15 years as Chairman of the Board, Dr. Lawrence Fitch was president from 1960 to 1972 and Dr. Norman E. Wallis became president in 1972. Highlights of important events in the Pennsylvania College of Optometry’s (PCO) progress during this time included: PCO becoming the first optometric institution to be regionally accredited by the Middle States Associations; becoming the first independent college of optometry to receive state aid (1961); approval of a College Retirement Plan (1964); formation of the Educational Policy andCurriculum, and the Finance and Audit Committees (1964); creation of Emeritus and Associate Trustees category (1969); the College became a charter member of the University City Science Center (1969); obtaining the right to confer the Baccalaureate degree, as well as the Honorary Doctor of Science and Law degrees; passing a resolution eliminating the word "State" from the college's name; motion passed to invite a student representative to attend with privilege of the floor (1971); the construction of two student apartment buildings and the academic facility known as "Fitch Hall;" created adjunct faculty status (1974); adopted the policy for the Selection and Election of College Trustees (1975); implementation of sweeping programmatic and curricular changes which propelled the institution into the forefront of optometric education and practice; adoption of an Institutional Affirmative Action Policy (1975) and Equal Opportunity Statement and funding approval from the federal government of $3.7 million dollars for building a new clinical facility on campus.
Melvin Wolfberg, OD, 1976-1978
From the groundbreaking ceremony (July 24, 1976), to the cornerstone laying ceremony (October 24, 1976) and final occupancy of The Eye Institute (TEI) which continued the College's progression during Dr. Wolfberg's tenure as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. For this accomplishment, PCO was recognized as the first optometric institution to develop a clinical model for education and patient care. Other events included accreditation visits from the Middle States Association and the Council on Optometric Education Care; funding of Health Careers Opportunity Program for recruitment and retention of minority students; adoption of the Research and Patent Policy (1977); increasing the minimum pre-requisites for admissions to 90 semester hours of undergraduate course work (1977); the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (1977); Policy and Procedures Regarding Investigations Involving Human Subjects; Full Educational Cost Tuition (1977); approval of the Doctor of Optometry definition (1978); policy relating to Published Materials (1978); the establishment of the William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center in The Eye Institute; unanimous Board approval giving the student representative to the Board a vote; establishment of the Center for Continuing and Post-Graduate Education and participation in an Institutional Planning Process. In addition, upon Dr. Wallis' leave of absence, Dr. Wolfberg was named acting-president from November 1976 until 1979.
Frederick E. Tanger, OD, 1979 and 1981-1982
Dr. Tanger's original year as chairman in 1979 saw the transition in the presidency of the College, increased support from the state of Pennsylvania, increased the number of patients in The Eye Institute; and increased sophistication of a long range planning process and approval for increasing the size of the Board to 21 members. Dr. Melvin Wolfberg was selected president of the College on September 1, 1979.
1981 - 1982
Highlights of events during this period included increased progress in advancing researchendeavors such as receiving an $87,000 grant from the Glenmede Trust (part of the Pew Foundation) to fund home visits and screening vans; the Glenmede Foundation grant of $840,000 over three years to establish a Master's Degree Program in a multi-disciplinary approach to improve low vision impairment; dedication of the Lions Electron Microscopy Laboratory; and other activities such as the renaming of main academic buildings for Drs. Albert and Lawrence Fitch and the established the Lawrence Fitch Fund; the establishment of a President's Advisors group; the self-study process in preparation for accreditation site visits by the Middle States Association and the Council on Optometric Education; national and international recognition of the "Honey Bee" low vision device, featured on the television program "That's Incredible" and "Evening Magazine"; funding by the National Institutes for Handicapped Research for Low Vision Training and Research; the Board adopted the Preamble, Mission Statement, Goals and Objectives for the College (1981); established the President's Advisors (1981); approved the Academic Policy (1982); and the Faculty Conditions and Responsibilities of Employment (1982).
Robert Johnson, OD, 1980
The Board actions included the adoption of the Tenure Policy (1980); policy on honorary degrees (1980). Dr. Johnson was elected and served only one year as chairman prior to retiring from the Board, however he was an active board member for 22 years, serving in numerous important capacities, including the chairmanship of the Albert Fitch Memorial Library Fund Committee, Finance Committee member, Chairman of the Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee, Chairman of the Board's initial Development Committee, member and Chairman of the Executive Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Board. At the conclusion of his term as chairman in his closing comments to Board he summed up his experience and relationship with the Board as follows: "Over the past twenty-two years as a member of this Board, I have seen an infant learn to walk tall and straight with head held high. I have had the privilege of serving with four presidents, each different and unique in his own way, helping this institution grow."
Ron G. Fair, OD, 1983-1985
The Board approved the Low Vision Rehabilitation Mission Statement (1983); the establishment of the Institute for the Visually Impaired (1984); Investment Manager (1984); enrolled its first graduate student in the Master's Degree program in vision rehabilitation; the creation of the Institutional Advancement Committee (1984); the College received a $5,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation for eyeglasses for the needy; a $10,000 Fels Fund grant for a feasibility study in development work for the Institute of the Visually Impaired; the fifth anniversary celebration reception of The Eye Institute took place; the purchase of the Paley building; PCO and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) co-hosts annual meeting of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions on campus; the William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center was accredited by the National Accreditation Council recognizing it as one of 97 agencies and schools across the country serving the blind and visually handicapped; a Lions/Lioness Club is formed, this being the only club in any higher education institution in the United States; in 1985, the Committee on Research of the American Academy of Optometry reported that "PCO ranked far higher in research activity than any other independent college of optometry in the United States and ranked third among all optometric institutions."
A. Michael Iatesta, OD, 1986-1988
The Board approved the policy for the Solicitation of Money (1986); established the Board of Trustees Scholarships; the formation of EyePa, Inc. (1986); established the Master of Education Degree Program (1986); the purchase of the Paley Building; the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved the Master of Education Program and the Education of the Visually Handicapped; the academic program continued to remain at the head of the profession with the quality of clinical experience at The Eye Institute and the College's Externship Program which is unmatched in optometry; expanded its scope of academic programs, including a new Optometric Technician Program; developed a formal affiliation with Hahnemann University; approved initiation of the Irving Bennett Business and Practice Management Center; Council on Optometric Education accreditation visit and the beginning of the most recent Presidential Search Process.
Ira Silverman, OD, 1989-1990
The establishment of PCO's Cornea & Specialty Contact Lens Service (CSCLS); renovation of the Eyewear Center; the selection of Thomas L. Lewis, OD as fifth President of the College; renovations of Powell and Wentka Halls; approval of the 1990/95 Five-Year Plan for the institution; approval of the Five-Year Development Plan and Budget; approval of the Presidential evaluation Criteria (1990/91); By-Laws Amendment regarding POA/Alumni/Faculty/Student Representation; approval of the revised Tenure Policy (1990); acquirers an excimer laser; and the College received a grant from the American Optometric Association in the amount of $300,000.
Donald Gleklen, JD, 1991-1998
Donald M. Gleklen brought important insight and leadership to the College as one of the first members of the Philadelphia business community to join the Board. During his tenure with PCO he held the positions of Secretary to the Board, Second Vice Chairman, First Vice Chairman, and finally as Chairman from 1991 to 1998.
In 1995, during the College's 75th anniversary celebration, he received the President's Medal for his outstanding contributions to the College. He was instrumental in expanding and strengthening the Board's membership and in opening many new avenues of financial support for PCO. The crowning accomplishment of his career with the College was his leadership in the milestone acquisition and opening of the Elkins Park, Pa. campus.
Highlights during Gleklen's tenure as Chair included: 75th anniversary celebrations of PCO (1995); 20th anniversary of TEI (1998); requirement of four quarters of clinical education during the fourth year; Board approval to award Master of Science graduate degrees (1992); Development of the Faculty Advancement Program (1992); Requirement for Hepatitis B vaccination for incoming students (1993); establishment of the Research Advancement Program (1993); establishment of the Master of Science degree in clinical optometry for international ophthalmic practitioners (1994); legislative appointees (five) to the Board (1994); review and revisions to Board policies and bylaws (1995-96); approval of financing and acquisition of the Breyer Office Park Complex (1996); development of the New Horizons Capital Campaign (1997); and PCO's participation in the Partnership Foundation for Optometric Education (1996).
Carl A. Polsky, 1999-2007
Carl Polsky joined the Board in 1987 and served continuously as First Vice Chairman from 1991 to 1999 before serving as Chair.
Key initiatives under Polsky's tenure as Chair included the establishment of the Hafter Family Chair in Pharmacology (1999); establishment of the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program including the distance education bridge program (1999); establishment of the PCO Foundation (1999); implementation of Curriculum 2000 (2000); Breyer Track Property Acquisition (2001), the development of the School as Lender program (2001), construction and opening of the Hafter Student Community Center (2006), and the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (2004).
Jo Surpin, 2007-2021
Jo Surpin joined the Board in 1995, eventually serving for many years as the Chair of theFinance and Audit committee before becoming Chairperson of the Board in January, 2007.
Highlights thus far for the institution under Surpin’s tenure have been obtaining university status (2009); changing the name of the institution to Salus University (2009); enrollment of the first Physician Assistant Studies program (2007); graduation of the first residential Audiology students, naming of the George S. Osborne College of Audiology; launch of the Masters in Public Health (MPH) online degree (MPH); PhD in Biomedicine; Master and Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (2012); Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology (2015); Post-baccalaureate in Health Science programs; renovation of The Eye Institute (2010-2011); opening of the primary healthcare center (2017) on the Oak Lane Campus; and the Speech Language Institute (SLI) in 2015.
