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.
As a nationally recognized contact lens practitioner, Harry Kaplan, OD’ 49, FAAO advanced optometric education through lecturing, writing, and teaching. He joined the adjunct faculty in 1949 and served as an assistant professor, teaching courses in contact lens and practice management and was a diplomate in the Contact Lens Section of the American Academy of Optometry. As a committed member of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry community, Dr. Kaplan also served on the Board of Trustees from 1963 to 1964 and from 1982 to 1984. Dr. Kaplan was named an Alumnus of the Year in 1976. In 1985, he established a fundraising event, the “I” Care Raffle – recently renamed to Salus Cares Raffle – that supports the University’s educational and clinical programs, allowing Salus to provide necessary treatment to patients in need, while giving students essential educational experiences. The total raised since its inception 33 years ago is more than $822,000. Dr. Kaplan continued to be a key faculty member at PCO up until his retirement in 2016, after 52 years of service.
