Centennial
Many people have been part of the proud history of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) and Salus University. Alumni, faculty, and friends of the College helped establish PCO as a pioneer and leader in the field of optometric education and the profession of optometry. The following people - highlighted on Medal Mondays - were honored on May 20, 1995 at the 75th Anniversary Gala Celebration for their outstanding contributions to the College and the field of optometry and vision care.
At the Centennial Gala Celebration on April 27, 2019, additional alumni, faculty, and friends will be honored.
Dr. Di Stefano is a 1973 graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO). He was awarded a PCO Graduate Fellowship and formally joined the PCO faculty in 1974 as an associate professor of Public Health. President Dr. Norman Wallis appointed Dr. Di Stefano as an special assistant to the President for Strategic Planning in 1975. Here, he developed PCO’s first five year strategic plan which would form the foundation for PCO’s future growth. He was an architect of many of the new accredited degree programs and innovative program delivery methods, including the transformation of the optometry program through such initiatives as Curriculum 2000 and the three-year accelerated Scholars Program. Throughout his 45 years at the institution, Dr. Di Stefano has been guided by his deep commitment to public health values, both domestically and internationally. Through the expansion of the Center for International Studies, he strengthened the institution's international degree and non-degree programs, including the Master of Science in Clinical Optometry, which continues to make historical contributions to the advancement of optometric education globally. In 2014, he was awarded the University’s Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award.
Class of 1973 Reunion
