Optometry Takes Over the "Big Easy"

Every fall, Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University faculty, residents, students and staff descend upon a different city for a robust lineup of lectures, events, poster presentations, workshops and much more at the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) conference. This year, New Orleans aka the “Big Easy,” known for its specialty cuisines, jazz music and historic architecture, was the host city.

Two PCO/Salus Doctor of Optometry students were presented with the Vision Service Plan (VSP) Practice Excellence Scholarship - Zakary Lake '25OD and Megan Dunn '24OD (pictured right). While, several alumni and faculty became new Fellows of the American Academy of Optometry.

The four-day long festivities in the "Big Easy" ended with an alumni and friends reception at the Hilton Riverside Hotel where more than 150 attendees enjoyed appetizers, a scrumptious taco bar and drinks while mingling with former classmates, friends, faculty, students and more. 

From October 11-14, PCO/Salus faculty networked with other practitioners and were educated about new optometric technology while also presenting posters and presentations on case studies and the topics listed below. 

Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Ocular Signs and Symptoms of Heart-Related Abnormalities 

• Kelly Malloy, OD ‘96, Resident ‘97, FAAO

Rapid Fire: A Discussion of facial and Ocular Trauma and the OD’s Role

• Shital Mani, OD ‘03, FAAO
• Bhawan Minhas, OD, FAAO, Resident ‘14
• Erin Draper, OD ‘09, Resident ‘10, FAAO
• Chad Killen, OD ‘19, Resident ‘20

Combating the Diabetes Epidemic – A Vision for the Future: Concomitant Conditions in the Formation of Diabetic Retinopathy

• Carlo Pelino, OD ‘94, FAAO

Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations in the Perinatal Patient (Comprehensive eye Care Section Symposium) 

• Alissa Coyne, OD ‘10, FAAO, Resident ‘11
• Ashley Maglione, OD '15
• Tracy Offerdahl-McGowan, PharmD 

Social Determinants of Health and Access to Eye Care (Joint PHEV Section and ASCO DEI SIG Symposium)

• Lucy Kehinde, OD, PhD 
• Edwin Marshall, OD, MS, MPH, FAAO, FNAP
• Shital Mani, OD ‘03, FAAO
• Barbara Cohn, PhD, MPH

Ocular and Systemic Biologics: Why they Make Sense for Our Patients 

• Tracy Offerdahl-McGowan, PharmD

Acquired Brain Injury: Evaluation and Optometric Rehabilitation 

• Kelly Malloy, OD ‘96, Resident ‘97, FAAO 
• Siva Meiyeppen, OD, Resident '15, FAAO 

Unpacking Identity, Health and Cultural Competence in the Care of Latinx Patients 

• Juliana Mosley-Williams, PhD, CDP
• Melissa Contreras
• Vondolee Delgado Nixon, PhD, FAAO
• Diane Calderon, OD
• Karen Carrasquillo, OD, PhD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA

2023 Updates in Retinal & Clinical Manifestations of Neurodegenerative Disorders (PHEV Section & Vision in Aging SIG Joint Symposium) 

• • Kelly Malloy, OD ‘96, Resident ‘97, FAAO 
  • Andrew Newman, MD
  • Robert Rissman, PhD
  • Amir Kashani, MD, PhD

Lawrence Gray Symposium: Double Vision Dilemmas: Is it Neuro or Not (Neuro-ophthalmic Disorders in Optometry SIG) 

• Ashley Maglione, OD ‘15
• Kelsey Mileski
• Jason Peragallo

The Role of Ocular Diagnostic Technology in Neurodegenerative Disease

• Erin Draper, OD ‘09, Resident ‘10, FAAO
• Christopher Kuc, OD, FAAO

Ocular Nutrition Tying Structure, Function, and Molecular Altogether

• Tracy Offerdahl-McGowan, PharmD 
• Greg Caldwell, OD '95, FAAO

Presbyopia Profiles: A Case-Based Look at Multifocal Fitting 

• Nicholas Gidosh, OD ‘15

An Anatomical Approach to Retinal Imaging Techniques 

• Bisant Labib, OD ’14, Resident ’15, FAAO

Save the Date for when Academy 2024 takes over Indianapolis, November 6-9, 2024. Until next year.