Optometry’s Meeting: 2023 Round-Up

The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University’s faculty, staff, students and alumni definitely showed up in droves to the 2023 American Optometric Association (AOA) Conference, referred to as “Optometry’s Meeting,” in Washington, D.C. this past week.
The four-day event was filled with Continuing Education opportunities, exhibitions, activities, and awards. The PCO/Salus contingent was busy over the span of the conference, but here are some of the most notable newsworthy items. 

PCO/Salus Brings Home the Hardware
At the 2023 AOA Advocacy Awards and National Optometry Hall of Fame Induction, PCO/Salus was well represented, and three members of the Salus community were recognized for their outstanding work in the optometric profession. 
Michael H. Mittelman, OD ‘80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, president, received the 2023 AOA Federal Advocacy Award for his “exemplary dedication to optometry and the advancement of the profession.” Read more here about his award. 

Mitchell Scheiman, OD, PhD ‘16, dean of research and director of Biomedicine graduate programs at Salus was inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame, along with fellow PCO graduate Joseph Shovlin, OD ‘80, FAAO. 

American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) Student Bowl XXXII, powered by EssilorLuxottica
Fayzad Vizam, ‘24OD, represented PCO/Salus at the AOSA Optometry Student Bowl XXXII, a competitive game-show style tradition designed for students to show off their knowledge of optometry. 
The event was held at the Echostage in Washington, D.C., and gathered optometry students from around the globe to compete for the coveted Student Bowl trophy. Although PCO/Salus did not bring home the hardware this year, students had a great time meeting and socializing with optometry students from the various participating institutions. 

PCO/Salus was not only well represented on the student side, but three of the four judges were PCO affiliated, including lead judge, Linda Casser, OD, FAAO, FNAP, PCO/Salus professor emerita, and 1997 AOA Optometrist of the Year; Diane Adamczyk, OD ‘85, FAAO, 2016 PCO/Salus Alumna of the Year; and Susan Oleszewski, OD ‘76, Resident ‘78, FAAO, 2023 Lighthouse Award Recipient. 

PCO/Salus Alumni Reception

The Office of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations hosted an alumni and friends reception welcoming 140 PCO/Salus alumni, faculty, staff, students, preceptors and friends to connect and enjoy some beverages and light fare during Optometry’s Meeting. The reception was a huge success, networking past and present PCO students to celebrate the legacy of the College.