Ribbon Cut on New and Improved Mobile Unit for Healthcare Resources

The Mobile Unit for Healthcare Resources - also known as the MUHR Mobile - includes all the essential equipment needed to complete a comprehensive vision exam, as well as hearing and speech-language screenings to children in school districts throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

The ceremonial red ribbon was cut outside The Eye Institute (TEI), which is the clinical facility for the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), for the brand new vehicle on June 26, 2024. Just as the “Big Red Bus,” did before it, this mobile unit will continue to serve under-served communities in the Greater Philadelphia area. In fact, it will be added to the Big Red Bus that has historically provided care to the community and was originally funded by the National Eye Institute, through the Vision in Preschoolers Study. 

President Michael Mittelman, OD ’80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, initiated the morning festivities thanking donors who made this long-awaited vehicle’s arrival happen. The new unit was made possible through alumni, business and community contributions, the largest of which was $100,000 made by Cathie Muhr, who joined TEI and PCO in 1981 as an optometric technician, the third generation of her family to work in the profession of optometry. Other donors included: Patrick Fleming, OD ‘87, Pennsylvania Vision Foundation, The McLean Contributionship, National Vision, Inc., American Heritage Federal Credit Union, TIAA and James Caldwell, OD ‘89, Resident ‘91, EdD, dean of Student Affairs. “I know I speak for not only Salus but for all of the families and the kids that this vehicle is going to be taking care of, I want to say thank you as it makes a huge difference,” Dr. Mittelman said during the kick-off.  

Muhr agreed and also provided a heartfelt thank you. “Today is the day of celebration - I’m so grateful for my family for allowing this to happen and this happened because of a very dedicated, caring and talented team,” she said. 

As director of Optometric Clinical Outreach at TEI and PCO assistant professor, Brandy Scombordi-Raghu, OD ‘98, Resident ‘99, is extremely excited for her team to provide care on the unit and exceed the goals for the amount of individuals they will provide care for during the next academic year. “The new mobile unit will be used to carry on with our mission to provide comprehensive eye care to those in the Philadelphia region who are underserved,” she said. “We are trying to bridge the gap of health inequity by bringing healthcare to the people who need it the most within their own neighborhoods where they may feel the safest.”  

The new and improved mobile unit has additional capabilities with more optimized space usage and workflow, a generator and updated electrical systems allowing for the addition of hearing and speech-language screenings and exams alongside the continuation of vision screenings and exams. 

In the 2023-2024 school year, vision screenings were provided to 8,511 students, and a total of 1,339 students were examined. This allowed for the distribution of 2,324 eyeglasses. The first of many community outreach events will provide services to Drexel University’s Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships, Family Health Services, Dr. Ala Stanford’s Center for Health Equity in a joint event with the National Optometric Association and VSP Vision Care in Philadelphia, and Community Volunteers in Medicine event in West Chester.