TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Get To Know Your SA Board
3
Optometryʼs Meeting, 2011
5
Welcome Back BBQ
9
Shared Visions Gala
11
PA Program Q&A
12
White Coat Ceremony
13
Eye Candies
15
Optometrist Prime
18
Golden Eyes
19
JedEYES
20
Opto Love & Babies
22
The Blind Children
Learningʼs Center
24
Huntington Beach Party
24
Orientation BBQ
24
MaximEYEz your Fitness
25
Alumni's Corner
28
Presidentʼs Council 2011
30
What separates the 1st and 2nd year students from the 3rd and 4th year
students? Iʼll give you a hint, beach, travel and relaxation versus clinic and
rotations. Yup, summer...good old summer! Itʼs almost a rite of passage for
Optometry students at SCCO.
Take for instance the 1st year students who spend their summer in
anticipation of beginning a new and important chapter of their life. Their
summer is spent working, traveling and planning the big move to Fullerton.
They canʼt wait for school to begin!
Second year students, having been through one year of what seemed to be
intense curriculum, spend their summer making up for the lack of sleep they
have accumulated. Once the the dark circles under their eyes have
disappeared, almost every waking moment of summer is spent exercising,
reading for pleasure, hanging out with family and friends, working and
traveling. For 2nd year students relaxation is key!
As mid August rolls around and the sun-kissed 1st and 2nd year students
arrive on campus one canʼt help but notice a change in the new 3rd year
class. They are all walking a bit taller and have an aura of confidence
around them, granted they still look a bit sleep deprived...but when it comes
to eye care they appear to know what theyʼre doing! Did all that happen over
summer? “What summer?” they will reply.
Onto the summer of a 4th year student. No longer with all their classmates
summer marks the beginning of rotations. Time to dip into patient
demographics beyond Orange County. Besides all the logistics of moving
3-4 times during the up coming school year the 4th year Interns officially
have less than a year until graduation. A year from now, they will have those
two coveted letters at the end of their name, O.D.
So whether or not you wished your summer was endless - this fall is sure to
be a great time! With everyone (minus 3/4 of the 4th year class) back on
campus there will be new faces to meet, events to attend, things to learn
and techniques to master. We may all be at different points in our optometric
education but what unites us as SCCO students, and makes it possible to
spend Friday and Saturday nights in pre-clinic, is the camaraderie and
support we share as members of the SCCO family.
COMING UP IN THE WINTER EDITION
• WRC Recap
• Females: MaximEYEz your Fitness Pt. II
• Males: Learn about lifting and nutrition
• More from Alumniʼs Corner
• Vision Expo West 2011
• Eye Ball
Thank you everyone who took the time to
contribute an article and/or photo to this
edition of SCOPE. Iʼm always looking for
material to publish so please contact me if you
are interested in being a part of the Winter
Edition of SCOPE.
S C O P E
Letter from the Editor
F A L L
Jackie Renteria
Class of 2014
Photo Contributors
Mo Alcock
Steve Anderson
Heather Bowman
Erik Burnett
Justin Chin
April Fujihara
Robert Gilbert
Mark Habib
Jennifer Huang
Lauren Hazelton
Erin Igne
Maggie Jan
Tiffany Johnson
Ashley Kettler
Nicole Kohan
Jamie Kuhn
Aaron Kwan
Alex Long
E D I T I O N
Maria Magaña
Kailey Marshall
Dr. Jason Ng
Ann Nguyen
Lindsay Olson
Zak Pfau
Brian Park
Jacob Plett
Brianna Ryff
Kyle Ryff
Jeff Shiau
Alana Terrizzi
Karen Tong
Thuy Tran
Paula Vang
Angela Wong
Sharon Wong
Dr. Robert Yacoub
Lilit Yesayan
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Cover
Jamie Lee
Article Contributors
Jeff Binstock
Taylor Chin
Vikram Girn
Maggie Jan
Tiffany Johnson
Jamie Kuhn
Dr. John Nishimoto
Tara Seymour
Jeff Shiau
Chad Stockert
Alana Terrizzi
Karen Tong
Thuy Tran
Angela Wong
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Get to know your SA Board
Name: Justin Chin
Position: SA Board President
Hometown: Irvine, CA
Hobbies: Traveling to distant
lands, eating interesting things,
sleeping (whenever I get a
chance)
A little known fact about you:
I was born in Trinidad
Best part of SCCO: The faculty
Future Goals: Have an
amazing year running the SA
Board
Name: Abby Brotherton
Position: Class of 2013
President
Hometown: Wall Lake, Iowa
Hobbies: Cooking, baking,
eating, drinking...
A little known fact about you: If
I were a cat, I would only have
about 3 lives left.
Best part of SCCO: Its close
proximity to Yogurtland.
Future Goals: Travel
EVERYWHERE, perfect a
second language, eventually play
w i t h r e a l m o n e y, n o t t h i s
monopoly loan money.
Name: Marina Su
Position: Class of 2012
President
Hometown: Foster City, CA
Hobbies: Dancing, Traveling,
Languages, New adventures
A little known fact about you:
I hate cheese but I like Cheezits.
Best part of SCCO: Enduring
the 267 million hurdles of
optometry school with my
classmates
Future Goals: Swim in Jellyfish
Lake in Palau
S C O P E
Name: Karen Mai Linh Tong
Position: Immediate Past
President
Hometown: Santa Ana, CA (I
used to say Tustin, but "people"
think I'm in denial)
Hobbies: Running...away.
A little known fact about you: I
lived in Spain and Viet Nam for a
year each.
Best part of SCCO: The
character building clinic staff
doctors :)
Future Goals: Memorizing
Kanski
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Name: Christopher Walsh
Position: 2014 Class President
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
H o b b i e s : H o c k e y, G o l f ,
Mountain biking, and Lacrosse
A little known fact about you:
Played Division I College
Hockey
Best part of SCCO: Doctor/
Student interactions
Future Goals: Sky dive the
Swiss Alps
Name: Jackie Renteria
Position: President Pro-tem
Hometown: Ashland, OR
Hobbies: Traveling, reading food
blogs, making delicious food from
the food blogs, running races,
drinking coffee, and watching
Modern Family!
A little known fact about you:
I've never broken a bone (knock
on wood)
Best part of SCCO: The
camaraderie that's built between
our entire SCCO family.
Future Goals: Be a contestant on
the Amazing Race!
Department of Community Health
Public Relations
Name: Aaron Kwan
Position: Public Relations
Hometown: Cupertino, CA
Hobbies: music, movies,
munchies
A little known fact about you:
I sang in an acapella choir in
undergrad
Best part of SCCO: the people!
[...class of 2014 :) ]
Future Goals:
to own and
manage a private practice back
in the Bay Area in Northern
(...better...) California and to
have cool sinks in my house.
Name: Tram Q. Le
Position: Department of Community
Health
Hometown: Sacramento
Hobbies: Experimenting in the kitchen
A little known fact about you: I was
such a shy kid that I hardly spoke a word
in Kindergarten and first grade.
Best part of SCCO: I <3 my
classmates!!
Future Goals: To always make time to
volunteer, no matter how busy life gets.
Name: Paula Vang
Position: Public Relations
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Hobbies: Tennis, hiking, reading
A little known fact about you: I
was born on the east coast in
Providence, RI.
Best part of SCCO: Being able
to travel to El Salvador last fall
as part of an SVOSH mission
trip
Future Goals: Own a practice,
start a family, travel the world
Name: Nissa Miranda
Position: Department of Community
Health
Hometown: Sunnyvale, CA
Hobbies: Laughing. Eating. and
Sleeping.
A little known fact about you: I love
being outdoors and going hiking
whenever I have the chance!
Best part of SCCO: All the wonderfully
unique people you meet in your class
and all of the inspiring instructors you
come across. Oh and all the free food
the first week of school :)
Future Goals: Once I graduate I'd like
to take time out of each year and go on
medical mission trips!
Name: Sharon Wong
Position: Public Relations
Hometown: Torrance, CA
Hobbies:
Eating,
photography, movies
A little known fact about
you:
I'm really good at
locking the keys in the car
Best part of SCCO: Hanging
out with classmates
Future Goals: Become an
awesome optometrist =)
Name: Angela J. Wong
Position: Department of Community
Health
Hometown: San Leandro, CA
Hobbies: Hiking, working out,
camping, and trying new foods!
A little known fact about you: I collect
leaves. :)
Best part of SCCO: The great people
you will meet at SCCO and the
memories you will share with your
colleagues.
Future Goals: To genuinely look back
on my life with no regrets
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Name: Tiffany Johnson
Position: Secretary
Hometown: Yorba Linda, CA
Hobbies: Trivia nights, board
games, spending time with my dog,
reading
A little known fact about you: I can
spin a rifle and saber.
Best part of SCCO: A sense of
camaraderie between the students
and countless opportunities to
expand our education beyond the
classroom.
Future Goals: Buy a practice, travel
to Italy, do a zip-line tour in Hawaii,
work with guide dogs, appear on
Wheel of Fortune.
Name: Maggie Jan
Position: Intraprofessional Relations
Hometown: La Mirada, CA
Hobbies: Hiking, Shopping, Latin &
Standard Collegiate Ballroom Dance
Team, Martial Arts
A little known fact about you:
Holds a 2nd degree black belt in
Shao-Lin Kung Fu! Went to college
at Columbia University in New York
City.
Best part of SCCO: Time-old
tradition of automatic lecture hall
seating arrangements.
Future Goals: Travel the world! in a
yacht (maybe) =)
Name: Allyson Chun
Position: Treasurer
Hometown: Milpitas, CA
Hobbies: Swimming, traveling, playing
with my dog, reading, paddling, making
scrapbooks.
A little known fact about you: I am
afraid of fish but I have a scuba diving
license (and have gone on several dives)
Best part of SCCO: Free food at events
and SCCO's political involvement
Future Goals: Travel to every continent,
own a group practice, scuba dive off the
coast of South America, learn to fly a
plane
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!
“The Student Association Board is here for you. If
you have any school related questions or concerns
talk to your class President or the SA Board
President. We are your direct link to the SCCO
administration, faculty and Board of Trustees.”
- Justin Chin, SA Board President
AOSA
Extracurricular Activities
Name: Marc Kallal
Position: AOSA Trustee
Hometown: Tofield, Alberta,
CANADA
H o b b i e s : G o l f , H o c k e y,
Skiing, partying
A little known fact about
you: I can two-step like no
one else.
Best part of SCCO: The SA
Board
Future Goals: Graduate
SCCO and get my pilots
license
Name: Janet Tuy Doan
Position: Extracurricular Activities
Department
Hometown: Westmister, CA
Hobbies: Food, sleep, outdoor
activities, watching movies, reading,
hanging out with friends
A little known fact about you: The
way to my heart is through my
stomach
Best part of SCCO: The great friends
you'll meet here and many
opportunities offered
Future Goals: My goal is to be able
to travel the world extensively and
have my own private practice!!
Name: Brian Park
Position: AOSA Trustee-elect
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Hobbies: Golf, Tennis, Road
Cycling
A little known fact about
you: I played one year of
collegiate golf
Best part of SCCO: Meeting
all the people and working with
patients at vision screenings
Future Goals: Own a
successful private practice in
which I can provide the best
patient care possible
Name: Thuy Tran
Position: Dept. of Extracurricular
Activities
Hometown: Hercules, CA (in Bay
Area)
Hobbies: cooking, eating, Yelping,
writing, traveling, playing piano
A little known fact about you: I talk
really, really fast
Best part of SCCO: meeting really
nice and genuine people
Future Goals: write and publish a
book, learn to speak Spanish, run in a
marathon, take up photography, travel
the world (vacations + mission trips)
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Name: Ann Nguyen
Position: Department of Education
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Hobbies: traveling, arts and design, watching "reality" TV
A little known fact about you: My hobby growing up was building doll houses. I would follow blue prints and
carve out the general structure. Then add the fine details such as paneling, wallpaper, and carpeting. When I
got bored of a layout, I'd redesign it!
Best part of SCCO: The activities and the people you get to experience it with. Aside from long nights
studying and practicing for proficiencies with each other, we get to travel, attend conferences, and have fun
whenever we can. These people not only work hard in the class, but they also work hard to be great friends
and to create great memories.
Future Goals: To practice optometry to its fullest extent. I'd also like to be active in international health
mission work. My goal is to volunteer at least once a year in countries where vision care and health care in
general is scarce.
Optometry’s Meeting
Salt Lake City, Utah
June 2011
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OPTOMETRY'S MEETING 2011
By Vikram Girn - Class of 2014
If you had told us that this summer we would be waking up to the snow-capped mountains
surrounding Salt Lake City and averaging a couple hours of sleep every night, we wouldnʼt have
believed you. We were in for a surprise. This yearʼs Optometryʼs Meeting took us to the capital
city of Utah mid-June and gave optometry students, optometrists, and vendors a chance to
educate and learn, network and spark new friendships, and of course have a great time together.
This meeting held by the American Optometric Association (AOA) took place in the sleek and
modern Salt Lake Palace Convention Center. For the next three days, we explored the exhibit
halls gathering freebies from vendors, attended exclusive lectures on optometry and practice
management, and socialized with optometry students from all over the nation. There were plenty
of events at and around the convention center where we could mingle with the 800-900 optometry
students at the meeting. We chatted about school, life outside of school, or lack thereof, and had
a chance to make friends and colleagues from all over the nation.
The Southern California College of Optometry was well represented at the meeting. We had the
second highest percentage of our student body in attendance— a total of 28.75%. Not only that,
but SCCO had the highest number of students in attendance—a whopping 107!
Although a big surprise of the meeting was watching Wayne Brady perform a comedy show in the
likes of Whoʼs Line is it Anyway, this wasnʼt the main event. The big event that highlighted the
Optometryʼs Meeting was the Student Bowl in which the best from every school have a battle of
wits. Imagine all the excitement of a Super Bowl packed into a space less than a quarter of its
size. This was the event of the meeting, where we all witnessed the raw intensity of school spirit
bursting out of every optometry school and itʼs students. Our very own Jamie Kuhn (Class of
2013) put SCCO on the board at 3rd place in the Student Bowl! Itʼs hard to capture this in words
and photos.
Thank you to all of the SCCO students and faculty that attended, you made this event an
unforgettable experience. For those of you have yet to attend your first Optometryʼs Meeting,
youʼll just have to see what the fuss was about next year in Chicago or San Diego in 2013. I hope
to see you all there!
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The one and only
Jamie Kuhn
Did you prepare at all for the Student Bowl? If so, how?
Absolutely not. We had just finished taking NBEO Boards Part 1 ABS - so I think I
maxed out on studying sometime in March... Plus, it was all about fun and how much
trivial opto knowledge we all knew, it'd just be a drag to ruin all that with studying... I
will tell you that the first-place winner from Pacific said he studied, but I think that's just
crazy (the runner-up from NSU Tahlequah agrees).
For those of us who couldnʼt make it, what did you do when they introduced you
during the beginning?
I attempted a cartwheel whereupon I almost kicked a drum and broke my ankle while
landing - probably not my best decision. Accompanying me, there were five fabulous
SCCO runners displaying our school's initials with pride. You'll see on next year's
slideshow... it was pretty goofy!
How did it feel to have so much SCCO support? Great! At several points during the show, I actually
had to ignore the chants because I was getting distracted! It was really intense out there, but I was so grateful to
have such a strong cheering section! It really gave me the confidence I needed to get up on the stage and pretend I knew all about
optometry!
What was your favorite type of question? The one I knew the answer to and could actually buzz in to give a reply... They were all fairly
simple questions - Essilor doesn't try to trick anyone or make the contestants look bad. I'm definitely not saying I knew all the answers luckily there were only a few questions in which I was happy my buzzer didn't work properly!
Did you have a least favorite type of question? The questions the guy from Pacific (and first-place winner) was able to buzz in on...
Hahahaha. Just kidding, there weren't any questions that were really difficult, it just depended on two things to get a question right (in this
order): 1. Did you buzz in faster than everyone else, and 2. How flustered were you when you found out you were the person who buzzed in
first - still remember the answer? The intensity of the show was amazing, I don't think any of the contestants could really keep track of what
was happening up on stage!
What was more difficult buzzing in or thinking of the answer? Probably about equal. The way the system works, you almost have to
buzz in before you can read the question. Let's say you buzz in and weren't through reading the question or didn't get a good enough look at
the picture, you might say one answer - and then quickly say another! How embarrassing for the girl from SCCO - she totally did that on a
strab question (refer to next spring's Varilux video, I'm sure that will be on there).
What was the most exciting part for you? Hearing the SCCO roar before our scores were displayed for the next stage of the competition. You really can't keep track of your score in the middle of all the chaos - the audience saw the scores before we did, so I was both excited and
relieved to hear SCCO scream each time!
Do you have any advice to next years SCCO representative? Having a trigger finger is a good thing in this case. Don't wait to buzz in,
and don't be reluctant to throw out any answer that pops up in your head. You'll most likely be correct, but you'll never have a chance if you
wait to hit the button!
Anything else you would like to add? I'm sad I hadn't attended Optometry's Meeting before this year. I had an absolutely wonderful time,
a great cheering section, and got to get Part 2 Boards help for free at the student meetings. I'm looking forward to next year in Chicago!
Do you have any advice for the class of 2015 for their first year at SCCO? Don't take yourself too seriously. It seems like you have a far
way to go until you get that OD degree, but it'll be a much more memorable experience if you balance your life with activities outside of
studying. My family and friends and all the wonderful moments we shared are what I'll remember - not the first Optics 1 test or what my
score was on the boards. If you're struggling, reach out and get help from the free tutoring available. If you're amazing, give back by tutoring
the next year's class - what you learn by teaching is that your foundation of knowledge will be much more firm and you'll do great at the
Varilux Student Bowl your third year (and probably on Boards, as well)!
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Pie Eating Contest
WINNER!
Games
Food
Balloon Animals
Carnival
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2013
2014
2015
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Shared Visions Gala
Thanks to Dean Voorhees, members of the SA Board had the opportunity to attend the Inaugural Shared Visions Gala &
V-Awards. The evening was very enlightening and offered opportunities to learn about different types of optometric
philanthropic service projects. The students were inspired by the achievements of the V-Award winners and really
appreciated the event because it gave us students a global perspective on how as future optometrists we can impact our
community and world.
The Class of 2014 along with Drs. Alexander and
Alexander celebrate with a silly pose after an inspiring
evening at the Gala.
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Members of The Class of 2013 strike the “awkward
family photo” after an evening of moving speeches
and great entertainment.
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Physician Assistant
Questions & Answers
- Dr. John Nishimoto
Why a Physician Assistant Program?
This goes back to the question and challenge that Dr. Alexander posed:
In the trends in professional education, what is the future of the stand-alone, single discipline educational enterprise? In the future this
type of program may become more challenging to stay in a single discipline. In addition the growth of new optometry programs has
included other health care disciplines.
There is also a trend towards interprofessional education where health care is provided in a team-based approach for best practices
in patient care. We want Optometry to be more involved with this trend in education.
Also, as part of the SCCO strategic plan, “SCCO partners with other health professions to establish a comprehensive health care
center affording interdisciplinary training and patient care opportunities. This type of program will allow us to achieve this component
of the strategic plan.
What was the process of selecting a Physician Assistant Program?
Over the past year we started investigating various health care disciplines that we considered would compliment the Optometry
program. Salus University, formerly PCO, has a model where they have incorporated Occupational Therapy, Audiology, Physician
Assistant, and other Masters Degree programs. Dr. Alexander, Mr. Paul Stover, and I went to Salus and visited their programs, in
addition, there were visits to various Programs (academic and association related) in Pharmacy and Nursing. Based on the entire factfindings, it appeared that Physician Assistant Programs would be the best fit.
What type of curriculum and training is the PA program made up of?
This will be a full 2-year Masters Degree Level program that will be fully accredited. The first year will be didactic with limited clinical
experience, and the 2nd year will be almost exclusively clinical training. The training locations will most likely be off campus, similar in
style to outreach rotations. Perhaps many of the outreach locations will also take the PA interns.
How is this going to affect the current Optometric program?
The program cannot start until Fall of 2014, so there is a time away from the actual beginning of the program. We will begin small, with
a class size of approximately 20. We had the program director of the PA program at Salus come to SCCO for 3 days to determine if
our facilities and resources could manage this program. He was very enthusiastic and positive about the prospect of setting up the
program here without major renovations. Perhaps, with coordinated scheduling, we can use the smaller lecture/conference rooms (i.e.
Blake conference center), as well as the current anatomy/physiology labs, to offer these courses. There is a planning committee,
consisting of Dean Berman, Dean Voorhees, Drs. Tong, Yacoub, and Dr. Dan May, to oversee the implementation of this. The
committee is trying to determine where we can incorporate the infrastructure needs of the PA program without ANY compromise and
perhaps enhancing the Optometry School program. So, a question could be, what courses could the PA students take with the
Optometry Students? That would be a neat collaboration.
What is the timeline of implementation?
The first step is to communicate to the College Community, the alumni, and the PA and Optometry professions about the program.
Second there will begin a search for a program director to hopefully start in July of 2012. This will allow enough time for curriculum
development, securing clinical rotations, recruiting applicants, to anticipate a November 2014 start date.
Will there be name change?
The title of the campus will most likely have to change; however, we will be very careful not to lose our current and powerful identity of
“SCCO”. This will be a very deliberate and thorough process to ensure that our current students and alumni will be proud to convey
this name.
What will be the PA tuition?
We do not have this information at this time. I think that SCCO will be consistent with the PA programs in California.
Will student fees to up?
Student fees will not be adversely affected by the program and will not draw away funds that depend on optometry student tuition.
The PA program is designed, from a budget standpoint to be sustained by PA student tuition.
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Will the school add additional parking with the addition of more students, faculty and admin?
With the class size of only 20 to begin there may not be the need to secure additional parking, however, if there is the need, I am sure
that it will be addressed, whether it be parking spots at Cal State Fullerton, or having more guidelines to park in our structure, etc.
Keep in mind that, in 2003 – 2004 when the Eye Care Center was renovated, there was no patient parking lot and we used the ECC
for patient parking. Everything fit at that time for the entire year. I think we can come up with solutions to address this.
Will our "regular" optometric curriculum change in order to accommodate the PA program standards? The curriculum could change if it were only for the better, so as the courses are developed, we will see what courses, if any could
incorporate the PA education.
Will the PA students be working in the Eye Care center? If so, where?
The typical model for the PA programs is to get their training at externships, similar in concept to outreach sites. However, if the ECC
could accommodate the PA, and if it works to the benefit of the optometry interns, staff, and patient care, then we should explore this.
At the same time, I just do not know for now if this can be. That needs to be further investigated.
Any other comments?
I want to emphasize that the program is to enhance the current Optometry Program, make us further connected with other
HealthCare professionals, and we are committed to develop a program of excellence.
White Coat Ceremony 2011
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The Class of 2015 Receive Their White Coats!
- Taylor Chin
Southern California College of Optometryʼs Class of 2015 strutted their
way out of the Ermest A. Hutchinson Memorial Amphitheater boasting
shades and their newly acquired white coats at SCCOʼs 13th annual
White Coat Ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 18. The class broke away from
the norm and exited the amphitheater to Michael Bubléʼs “Feeling Good”
rather than the typical classical music, like last yearʼs “Arrival of the
Queen of Sheeba” by George Handel.
The change of music and the addition of
sunglasses to prepare for the “bright future”
were proposed by Director of Multi-Media
Services Ernie Carrillo. In addition to trying to
create a more upbeat finale, Carrillo hoped to
break away from tradition and bring an
element of surprise.
“I felt empowered,” first-year Ann Ngo said. “It
really felt like it was a new beginning for
everyone in our class.”
The event closed as the Class of 2015,
JEDeyes, recited the Optometric Oath with
Associate Professor and Chief of Low Vision
Rehabilitation Dr. Rebecca Kammer. This
yearʼs event and white coats were sponsored
by the Hoya Free—Form Company.
“I was really inspired and motivated, especially
while reciting the Optometric Oath,” Ngo said.
“It reaffirmed that the choices I made to this
point have been well worth the hard work. I
know that this is truly what I want to do and I
know that I want to dedicate my whole self and heart to this profession.”
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Eye Candies
Where in the World are
Flat Stanley & Sandy?
Class of 2012
While the majority of SCCO students are busy around the Fullerton
campus the 4th year students are out on rotations all over the world. Interns
Chad Stockhert and Karen Tong us tell about their experience thus far...
I can still distinctly remember, during first year, looking at the fourth year
students coming back from their rotations and thinking to myself, “Man, I canʼt wait
till thatʼs me”. Itʼs truly amazing how fast the first three years of Optometry school
flew by, now, I find myself in my first rotation at the Salt Lake City VA. When
selecting sites, I came upon this one by pure chance and I have to say, Iʼm really
glad I did.
When it comes to rotation sites, Salt Lake VA has a unique set of
experiences that you rarely find at your typical VA site. The patient demographics
are what you would expect from a VA located in a western/mid-western state…78
year old, Caucasian Male. The VA Optometry department is split into three different
clinics; a downstairs clinic for diabetic patients to receive focused exams (believe
me, you get good at differentiating a micro-aneurysm from a dot-heme, and a dotheme from a blot-heme), an upstairs clinic for primary eye care (which has a
healthy portion of glaucoma patient management) and finally a low vision clinic
where you shadow the low vision doctor and help with evaluations. This alone
would be an amazing experience, but along with the VA, you rotate through the
Moran Eye Center on the University of Utah campus. Here you spend time seeing
contact lens patients, varying from soft sphere fits, all the way to complex
keratoconus fits and post penetrating keratoplasty patients. Because of the highly
complex nature of some cases, you have a great exposure to keratoconus lenses,
sclearal lenses and hybrid lenses.
If this wasnʼt enough to keep you busy, you are living in a major outdoor
mecca for hiking, mountain/road-biking, climbing and camping within a few minutes
drive from your front door. One weekend in particular, we hiked Mount Timpanogos
(which has a 11,749 foot peak) while there were parts of the mountain still covered
in 10 feet of snow pack. If music is more your thing, the city of Salt Lake has a great
summer concert series, known as “The Twilight Music Series”, every Thursday
night, free of charge, and included artists such as, The Decemberists, Phantogram
and Ghostland Observatory.
In the next few days, my rotation at the VA in Salt Lake City will be complete
and I will be transitioning to the VA in West LA. My experiences in the Salt Lake VA
system will definitely benefit my transition to LA, but I do find myself to be a little
sad that I will be leaving such a great learning environment combined with
exceptional outdoor experiences. When picking rotation sites, I highly recommend
you put Salt Lake City VA on your list of considerations, the combination of clinical
experiences here is second to none in the VA system and Iʼm quite confident you
wonʼt regret it! If you have any other questions about my experiences here, please,
feel free to ask! - Chad Stockert ʼ12
F. Stanley and
Dean scoping
eskimo chicas
from OʼConnell
Bridge in Sitka!
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The Beginning: Flat Stanley and Sandy
have left ECC (from Mama Kate). They
will go on an adventure with each of the
Eye Candies as they travel to their
rotations throughout the year. Goal: For Flat Stanley and Sandy to
experience each rotation site with each
clinician!
http://sccoclassof2012.tumblr.com/
Surfin Sandy… Catchin some tasty
waves in San Diego with Ab!
Flat Stanley visited Temple Square in Salt
Lake City, UT with Jen and Kara…while
there he enjoyed a cold beverage and
shortly after this picture was taken he
was escorted off the premises…
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Stardate: Summer 2011
HuHuKam, Sacaton, AZ
Fourth Year: 1st Edition, Vol. 1
Who are you and what are you writing about?
I am a fourth year student out on clinical rotations.
These 3 month outreach sites are designed to
introduce students to different modalities of practice
as well as different styles of patient care in diverse
populations. You can choose from various places from
Veterans Affairs hospitals, Indian Health Services,
naval/military bases to private practices and
ophthalmology incorporated settings. There are many
different outreach locations. The majority of them are
in California but a few lucky people will get to Hawaii,
Alaska, or even Japan.
Whatʼs your summer clinical experience like?
I work in an optometry clinic at HuHuKam Memorial.
Hospital. Itʼs known to emphasize ocular disease
because clinicians deal with difficult to manage
disease in this patient population. You see people
HuHuKam crew- left to right Karen, Jackie, Jana, Thanh
from infants to 90 year olds. There are many tough
cases that can sometimes stump the staff doctors! In addition, twice a month, Dr. Dugel, a retinal ophthalmologist who treated Amarʼe
Stoudemeierʼs retinal detachment, comes to evaluate and treat about 30 patients that need a retinal consult. The friendly staff doctors
here love to teach you, are never condescending, and really encourage you to become an independently thinking clinician.
Whatʼs your typical day like?
I typically wake up around 6:30am, snooze until 6:50am and meet my classmates Thanh Mai
(Camarillo, CA), Jana Murakami (Hawaii), and Jackie Nguyen (Virginia) at the hospital
cafeteria where we are provided breakfast options such as eggs, bagels, or breakfast burritos.
Then we walk over to the optometry clinic to set up our rooms and computers, ready to pick up
patients at 7:45am. We see about 4 patients in the morning, varying by the complexity of the
cases and the amount of patients that keep their appointments. By 12:00pm, we all meet again
in the cafeteria to eat lunch. At 1:00pm, we are back in the clinic, seeing about 4 patients
again, finishing hopefully by 5:00pm. Next door to the clinic is the physical therapy building
where we exercise, using their gym equipment and weights. After that, we pick up our
prepared dinners inside the hospital to bring home at student housing about 5 minutes away.
Dr. Helmuth loves teaching
Whoʼs your favorite staff doctor?
Thereʼs a really great team of doctors and staff here! We have Dr. Darcy Jones, Dr. Erin
Havens, Dr. Kevin Helmuth, and Dr. Scott Soave. All of them have very different personalities
but with the same goal to teach the students as much as possible so they keep the clinic very
interesting! There are also two residents here as well. In the beginning, we had Dr. Grace
Shaw from SCCO, and Dr. Kelley Lawrence from Pacific. They finished their residencies
during our term, so now we have two SCCO residents,
Dr. Christina Kennedy and Dr.
Shannon Borrego. We all also love working with the staff because Emily, Jennifer, Kristine,
Chelsi, and Mary Lou are always there to help out with a smile. And weʼre lucky because
t h e y ʼ v e b r o u g h t t r e a t s l i k e r o o t b e e r fl o a t s , b r o w n i e s , a n d c a k e !
Optometry Clinic
Mary Lou in optical
Karen, you're weird - Emily
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What do you guys do for fun in Sacaton?
We hang out with each other a lot! Itʼs summertime here in the Arizona so we donʼt get
to go outside as much as we would have liked but we did make it out to the Salt River
once. Otherwise, we look for indoor activities such as doing a Harry Potter marathon,
playing Cranium, cooking Sunday roasts, and singing at the Korean karaoke bar in
Chandler. Thanh and Jana play intramural volleyball at an open gym Tuesday and
Thursday nights. There are also a lot of students from different schools that rotate in
the student housing, like physical therapy and pharmacy students from the Midwest.
What is the patient population like?
Iʼm hesitant to describe Native Americans without using over generalized comments
but maybe to sum it up, Dr. Jones mentioned during orientation that HuHuKam world is
different than outside world. Native Americans are 2.5 times more likely to be affected
by diabetes, which affects every part of the eye, especially the retina. You see a lot of
diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, red-eye evaluations, and even some cases of trauma.
For the most part, patients have been extremely patient, friendly, and fun to work with.
Where are you going next?
Iʼm heading over to a VA hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada with Thanh. Jana is heading to
another Indian Health Services site in Warm Springs, Oregon while Jackie will be
seeing patients at OCLA. Weʼll be keeping you posted. Feel free to email if you have
any questions! :)
Don't Kill your patient - Dr. Soave
Written by Karen Tong, [email protected]
Edited by Thanh Mai, C/O 2012
Kristine loves helping
out with glaucoma
work-ups
Dr. Havens,
Residency Director
Left: Saving Eyes and Lives
Far right: Flat Sandy hangs
in Las Vegas with Gaz.
Right: Flat Sandy with
Damon in beautiful
Bakersfield in all its glory...
(Kern Count Oil Fields)
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Optometrist Prime
Class of 2013
Summer as a 3rd Year
- Jeff Shiau
3rd year summer has been an incredible learning experience
for 2013. For the first time, we were seeing real patients in the
clinic on a weekly basis in the primary care, ocular disease,
optical, contact lens, and vision therapy services. Learning to
work with the awesome staff doctors while providing high
quality vision care in a timely fashion has been amazing but
not without its share of growing pains. We've all persevered
and have become better clinicians because of it. Summer was
also a time of rest and relaxation during the weeks we had off
in the beginning and end of the quarter. Many traveled to their
home states and countries while others settled for the bright
lights of Vegas. We are looking forward to the challenges of fall third year with
the newly renamed "5" stations
mega proficiency, 4th year
outreach site picks, and research
proposals among the many
things on our collective plates.
We also look forward to getting
to know the Class of 2015 and
know they will make SCCO and
optometry very proud in the
years to come.
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GOLDEN EYES
TIffany Johnson
Where were you located this summer?
SUNY College of Optometry, New York City. I sublet an apartment uptown near Columbia
University.
What is your research topic and who are you working with?
Effect of angular size and position in the field of view on the normal human perception of
three-dimensional slant as specified by linear perspective. Working with Dr. Hal Sedgwick.
Describe a typical day.
I met with my mentor anywhere from 2-5 times a week. A typical day included riding the
subway to SUNY, meeting with my mentor, reading journals, eating lunch in Bryant Park,
testing subjects, and working on my paper and presentation. I also took a graduate seminar
on ocular disease one day a week. Nights and weekends were spent exploring the city and
relaxing.
A few students from the Class of
2014 decided to use what is
notoriously known as “the last
summer” to dive into various
optometric research projects
throughout the country.
The application process for summer
research begins during winter term.
It gives optometry students
throughout the nation the opportunity
to meet peers, get their hands wet in
various types of optometric research
and experience living in locations
throughout the country such as New
York, Boston, Berkley and Houston!
Have you been able to explore the city where you're
located?
Yes! Fun activities included a Broadway play, outdoor
movie in Bryant Park, eating from frozen yogurt
trucks, visit to the MET, fireworks on the Hudson
River, Statue of Liberty, etc.
What has been your favorite part of summer
research?
My schedule was fairly flexible so as long as I met
certain deadlines, I could balance work and fun. My
mentor also did an excellent job of providing me with
direction while still allowing me to work
Do you recommend summer research to the Class of 2015?
I'm really glad I took this opportunity to get my research project done in the summer. I would recommend the T-35 program to anyone with an interest
in enhancing their research skills and a desire to try a new experience.
Tara Seymour
Where were you located this summer?
Berkeley, CA
What is your research topic and who are you working with?
Dr. Jorge Cuardos; working to create a standard referral protocol for sight-threatening lesions modeled after the EyePACS program. It's a
telemedicine project aimed to determine if having a standard referral protocol and training program can provide more accurate referrals in a
screening setting.
Describe a typical day.
I usually worked Monday-Thursday. My days started at 9am at the earliest, but it was always very variable. Sometimes I would be on campus
working to collect photos and getting a protocol together. Since it's a telemedicine project, it was possible to conduct my research where ever there
was internet access. I was often on campus in order to work directly with my research advisor. I would usually get to campus early and grab a
coffee and read, meet with my adviser, work on campus, take a lunch with friends and head home whenever I felt like my work was complete for the
day. For fun, I met with friends, visited with family, ate and enjoyed the bay area.
Have you been able to explore the city where you're located?
Yes! My sister lives in Berkeley and I have several friends in the area so I was able to see a lot of Berkeley and get a good feel of the area.
What has been your favorite part of summer research?
My favorite part was probably getting to experience a new place and type of scope within optometry. I was able to get a head start on a lot of things
that we won't see until 3rd year, which made me feel good about getting something productive done this summer. My advisor was really nice and I
was able to be productive as well as have an awesome summer.
Do you recommend summer research to the Class of 2015?
YES ABSOLUTELY
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Angela Wong
Location: University of California Berkeley, School of Optometry;
Berkeley, California
I worked with Dr. Suzanne Fleiszig and researched the killing effects of
human corneal epithelium novel peptides against a spectrum of
bacteria that commonly cause eye infections. On a typical day, I come
into lab and run my bacterial killing assay experiments. On slower
days, I read journal articles and help other lab-mates with their
experiments. After work, I love exploring the city of Berkeley. There are tons of great
ethnic foods located around the campus and at very decent prices! To
name a few, they have $5 lunch specials at local restaurants, ethnic
foods such as Milanese, Ethiopian, Himalayan, and Thai food. My
favorite part of the summer research is how much I have learned from
my mentor and those around me. It was great to hear many stories of
their experiences and how they got into research. I also enjoyed how
research is very independent-oriented; I come in lab and do what I
need to get done. I definitely recommend this program to the Class of
2015! It is a great opportunity to explore the option of research and meet many people who are involved. You get to learn many
current studies that are done and be at the forefront of new discoveries that are important to our profession. Go Optometry!
While some Golden Eyes were taking
part in summer research, others spent
their summers soaking up the sun,
spending days at Disneyland, traveling ,
and taking bliss in any moment of
relaxation available!
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JedEYES
Class of 2015
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Opto Love & Babies
Jacob Plett, Class of 2012, was engaged
to
Lindsay Olson, Class of 2012 on July 4, 2011
.
They will be married November 5, 2011 in
Southern California.
Lilit Yesayan, Class of 2014 was married
June 4, 2011.
Maria Magana, Class of 2014, and
Oscar Resendiz. Engaged May 21st,
2011.
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Ashley Pempek of Wrangell, Alaska marries the love of her life,
Jared Kettler of Dana Point, California on May 28, 2011 on
Wrangell Island.
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It's a Girl! Presley Lynn Pfau.
Born May 22nd, 8lbs 9oz. Proud family Zak,
Krystal and Ruby Pfau.
Lauren Hazelton, Class of 2014, marries Brooks on June
17!
April Fujihara, Class of 2014 was
engaged August 10th to Tim Kahn.
Kyle and Brianna Ryff. Married June 30,
2011. Both members of the Class of
2014!
Parker Anderson,
son of Steve
Anderson - Class
of 2014 was born
June 23rd.
Ethan Tucker, son of Mike Tucker Class of 2014 was born May 28th.
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The Blind Children’s
Learning Center - Angela Wong
The Blind Children's Learning Center in Santa Ana is a center to build confidence and self-esteem in visually impaired
children. They have the goal of helping them overcome the many obstacles they would encounter as they grow. During
the school year, there are many opportunities for SCCO students to volunteer in these classrooms (More Information
Coming Up). This past summer, a few SCCO students volunteered at their annual event, Water Wonderland Summer
Camp, which was a way for these children to enjoy themselves with various activities all while being a kid! Here is a
short blurb from one of the volunteers, Evelyn Wang:
“It was incredible how much energy these kids had despite their vision-related handicaps -- I was beat after my 6-hour
shift! The BCLC does a great job bringing together kids of all abilities and disabilities. Their love, patience, and warmth
for children does not go unnoticed. Spend a day here and you'll know what I mean!” http://www.blindkids.org/
Huntington Beach Party!
-­‐ Jeff Binstock
A week before school started, the second year
students organized a Beach Day Event in
Huntington Beach. Everyone had a good time
playing volleyball, football, and enjoying food and
drinks under the sun. It was a great opportunity
for the new students to get to know their
classmates and upperclassmen in a more
relaxed setting, which can help calm some of the
nerves about starting a new school. Overall, the
event was a success and I look forward to more
of them as the school year progresses.
First Year
Orientation BBQ
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LADIES: maximEYEz your fitness
TIME! Letʼs face it, there will never be enough of it. Right now a majority of our time is occupied by studying. And when we arenʼt
studying, we can be found a) awkwardly snoozing in a library chair b) taking too long of a nap, accidentally c) inhaling food that may
or may not be nutritious d) complaining to family members about our “overly stressful” life e) in Barbara Breffleʼs office looking for
more money or f) on facebook desperately trying to avoid our never-ending to-do list (go ahead and pick your favorite). The point is,
very rarely our time is spent exercising. Physical activity gets pushed to the side because we have “no time” or “more important things
to do.” We often convince ourselves that the gym will be there tomorrow and that tonight I need to spend my time doing _____ (you
name it). Itʼs a tough reality to change and a regular exercise routine is a difficult thing to stay on top of. BUT- here are a few tips to
keep you going and a few exercises you can try.
8 TIPS TO A SUCCESSFUL EXERCISE ROUTINE
1. Block off time to exercise in your daily schedule: Treat it like a class- your exercise time and your health is just as
important as attending Ocular Health Procedures lab.
2. Find a buddy: Find someone who is able to workout at the same time as you, likes to do the same things you do, and is as
serious about staying motivated as you.
3. Donʼt over-do it: Keep your workouts short- you will be more likely to keep that hour-long session in your schedule several
times a week and you will be less likely to get injured.
4. Exercising does not equal the gym: There are plenty of things you can do to stay in shape that donʼt require treadmills and
pumping iron. Hike, dance, swim, run, bike. Play basketball, volleyball, racquetball, dodgeball, tennis. Anything that gets you
motivated and moving!
5. Emphasize short-term, realistic goals: Of course I would love to lose 15 lbs just like that but concentrating on realistic,
weekly objectives (such as hitting the gym 3 times this week for an hour or surpassing prior fitness achievements) will bring
you more satisfaction and get you well on your way to reaching the bigger goal you have in mind.
6. Variety, variety, variety: Doing the same activity day in and day out can not only get boring, it can lead to less gains in your
fitness goals. Keep it fun and maximize the muscles you work by adding variety to your exercise sessions (whether it be
hopping on a few cardio machines in a single workout, changing up resistance exercises weekly, or getting involved in new
outdoor activities- switch it up!)
7. Enjoyment: Have fun with your exercise- if you arenʼt having fun, you are less likely to continue doing it.
8. Use time effectively: Take the time you “waste” on Facebook/blogs/Twitter/etc and spend it at the gym or on the court.
Exercising is a more effective use of your time and itʼll make you feel better afterwards.
HOW TO SHAPE YOUR EXERCISE ROUTINE
Each week try to balance your physical activity using the activity
pyramid.
If youʼre inactive: Increase daily activities at the base of the
pyramid at first.
-­‐ Walk whenever you can
-­‐ Make leisure time as active as possible
-­‐ Start by exercising at least 3x/week for 20 minutes at lower
intensities and gradually increase your frequency, duration,
and intensity.
If youʼre sporadically active: Become more consistent with
activities in the middle of the pyramid.
-­‐ Plan activity into your day
-­‐ Set realistic goals
-­‐ Establish consistency and begin exercising at least 3-4x/
week for 40 minutes at moderate intensities.
If youʼre consistently active: Choose activities from all levels of
the pyramid.
-­‐ Change your routine if you start to get bored
-­‐ Explore new activities
-­‐ Continue exercising 3-5x/week for 40-60 minutes at
moderate-to-high intensities.
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3 COMPONENTS OF FITNESS
Cardiorespiratory fitness is simply a measure of how well your body is able to transport oxygen to your muscles and how well your
muscles are able to use that oxygen. Cardiovascular exercise includes any movement that gets your heart rate up and your blood
circulating- running, walking the dog, boxing, biking, swimming, hiking, jumping, dancing, you name it.
Top 5 Benefits
1. Improved heart health: a stronger, more efficient heart will pump
more blood to your brain increasing your chances of kicking ass
on tests.
2. Increased metabolism: your body works harder to burn more
calories while you study! No need to gain that freshmen 15 all
over again.
3. Improved hormonal profile: feel good hormones fight off your
urge to be cranky, depressed, and stressed during crunch time.
4. Increased energy: less huffing and puffing and more get-up-andgo time, without the coffee.
5. Prevention: fat is burned, blood is circulated, and cholesterol is
zapped leading to a hands-on approach to fighting sedentary
conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Recommendations
-­‐ General: 3-5 days/week, 20-60 minutes/day, at moderate intensity
-­‐ Amp it up: more frequent, longer durations, higher intensities, increased variety
Resistance training consists of exercises that allow muscles to contract against an external resistance to increase strength, tone,
mass, or endurance. Many women have wrong ideas about strength training because they hear it referred to as weight lifting, pumping
iron, getting shredded, bulking up, etc. As a result, many women donʼt think resistance exercises are for them and they become very
intimidated by the idea. The truth is, resistance or strength training is a great way to round out your aerobic workout and offers many
benefits that cardio exercise does not.
Common Misconceptions + Underlying Facts
1. Weight lifting causes women to bulk up and gain weight:
FALSE! Women who strength train gain muscle but lose 3x
that amount in fat.
2. I run and take aerobic classes, so I donʼt need strength
training: FALSE! Aerobic exercise only constitutes one third
of total body fitness and doesnʼt offer the same benefits as
strength training.
3. Cardiovascular exercise is the best way to lose weight:
FALSE! Cardio does help you lose weight. However, strength
training increases your lean muscle mass, which increases
your ability to burn calories and lose weight faster.
4. Iʼll hurt myself trying to do weight training. FALSE! We arenʼt
body builders! It is highly unlikely that you will hurt yourself if
you use appropriate weight and form.
Top 5 Benefits
1. Youʼll burn more calories and lose more fat: Non-lifting
exercisers are more likely to gain back the flab they lost through cardio only. Lifting allows you to protect your hard-earned
muscle and burn more fat instead. Just think about it, you could be burning calories like crazy as you sleep!
2. Muscle is denser than fat: 1 pound of fat takes up 18% more space on your body than 1 pound of muscle. Well-toned
women who strength train regularly will lose fat AND inches.
Photo credits:
cardio: http://www.askthefitnessdude.com/cardio-exercises-and-losing-weight/
weights: http://blog.theomniclub.com/?p=725
flexibility: http://zandraalexanderfitness.blogspot.com/2010/08/relative-flexibility.html
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3. Youʼll build stronger bones: Regular lifting increases bone density and prevents osteoporosis. Got milk?!
4. Stronger muscles + joints: You will be less likely to injure yourself when you participate in other activities. Not that youʼre
old, but, youʼll feel young again!
5. Youʼll get in shape faster: Lifting weights raises your heart rate higher than running does at moderate-to-high intensity.
Run 3 miles or work out those muscles you never knew you had?
Recommendations
-­‐ General: 2-3 days/week, 4-8 exercises/day, 8-20 repetitions/exercise, 2-4 sets/exercise
-­‐ Reps + Weight: Lower repetitions + heavier weight to increase strength + size. Higher repetitions + lower weight to burn
more fat + increase muscle endurance. Moderate repetitions + moderate weight to tone, building muscle strength +
endurance.#
Flexibility exercises are often left by the wayside even though they are an extremely important part of your overall fitness. A lack of
flexibility can prevent you from continuing an active lifestyle. You need a certain amount of flexibility to move smoothly, avoid muscle
tension, and to keep your body protected from injury.
Top 5 Benefits
1. Lengthen muscles + restore activity: As you age, your muscles
tighten and range of motion can be minimized. This can put a halt
to active lifestyles and even hinder daily normal motions.
2. Reduce muscle soreness: Stretching before and after your exercise
sessions will decrease the soreness you will feel the next day,
which will decrease your likelihood of using the excuse: “Iʼm not
exercising today because I can barely move!”
3. Feed your tissues: A regular stretching routine will increase the
blood and nutrients to your tissues. Feeding your starving tissues
will make your muscles less likely to be cranky.
4. Pain/stress relief: Stress leads to tension in your muscles.
Stretching relaxes tense muscles and, in turn, reduces the stress
placed on your skeleton and decreases any resulting pain.
5. Stand up straight: Tense and tight muscles contribute to poorer
posture, which can affect the functioning of our internal organs and
our appearance. Stretching, especially the muscles of the lower
back, shoulders, and chest, can help keep our body in better
alignment.
Recommendations
-­‐ General: At least 2-3 days/week, 5-7 days/week being ideal, 15-30 seconds/stretch, 2-4 sets/stretch, all major muscle
groups
-­‐ How much to stretch: Stretch to tightness at the end of the range of motion but not to pain. Do not bounce- hold a
comfortable position until you feel a gentle pull on your muscle.
-­‐
When to stretch: Stretch after your warm-up or after your workout during your cool-down. Muscles should be warm when
you stretch- stretching cold muscles can cause injury.
-­‐
Yoga: Yoga is a great way to stretch your body while also working on balance, endurance, and stress relief.
-­‐
Look for the next installment of maximEYEz your fitness in the Winter edition of SCOPE! We will be discussing more information on
resistance training, including specific exercises to add to your routine.
By Alana Terrizzi
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Alumni’s Corner
Get to know your Professors!
Dr. Jason Ng
1. What year did you graduate from SCCO?
2003 (getting close to my 10 year reunion)
2. Who was your favorite teacher?
Oh, there's too many to name of course. I think our Teacher's of the Year for our class
was Dr. LaMotte (1st year), Dr. Kirschen (2nd year)(Emeritus faculty - Taught binocular
Interviews
vision - which Dr. Borsting does now), and Dr. Cotter for 3rd year. SCCO has had many
great teachers for a while now, this was driving factor for me choosing SCCO over some other schools.
by Thuy Tran
3. What do you miss most about being an SCCO student?
Nothing! Just kidding. Probably the collegiality of my class. It was a unique experience to live through so many things with 90+ others.
4. When you were in school, were you an early bird or night owl?
Neither, really. I always felt that a full night's rest (6-7 hours) was a key to surviving and being able to keep focus throughout the day.
5. What was your favorite study spot? Hangout spot?
Unfortunately it is sad to say, but my favorite/most frequent study spot was in the cubicles my first year and in A203 the rest of the
time. For a while, I liked going to Golfer's Paradise driving range when I was introduced to golf, beyond this I would frequent Denny's
after a long day of studying/clinic.
6. What clubs were you in and did you hold any leadership positions?
I signed up for a bunch of clubs like many do...but the real substance things that I contributed to were in student government. I was
President Pro-Tem my 2nd year (which apparently is rarely a position filled by males I'm told now?!?!) and the Department of
Education representative my 3rd year.
7. Where did you go for your rotations?
I went to VA West LA, Indian Health Service (IHS) in Lawton, Oklahoma, and VA Las Vegas. All were great learning experiences.
8. If you weren't an OD, where would you be now?
Probably a computer programmer type, a biotech scientist type, a high school math/science teacher type (and a cross-country coach if
I worked at a high school), or perhaps a repeat contestant on America's Got Talent where I could pitch some nerdy jokes.
9. What is one item on your bucket-list that is NOT
optometry related?
Probably sky diving like many others...
10. Do you have any pearls of wisdom to offer
current SCCO students?
In general, I would say to enjoy the journey (i.e.
participate at school or in other things). School
becomes all-consuming at times, but don't just think
about finishing/getting through; find perspective/the
silver lining/the growth opportunities in the things that
seem only to look like obstacles along the way.
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Dr. Robert Yacoub
1. What year did you graduate from
SCCO?
Graduated from SCCO in 2006. Went on to
do a residency at Veterans HospitalSepulveda in 2007. Fun fact about VASepulveda....It is the hospital where they
shoot Grey's Anatomy. There is an episode of
Grey's Anatomy where my hand can be seen
but of course I did not get any credit. I began
work at SCCO in July of 2007.
2. Who was your favorite teacher?
Hahaha....I am obviously not going to answer
this question but I will say that all the SCCO
teachers are fantastic. As a student you will
begin to pick out the traits and attributes that
you like from each faculty member and form
yourself into the ultimate doctor.
3. What do you miss most about being an
SCCO student?
What I miss most about being a student is
being around all my friends. Believe it or not, I
also feel like I had way more free time.
4. When you were in school, were you an early bird or night owl?
I was definitely a night owl. I pulled a lot of all nighters before midterms and finals which in retrospect was wrong. My
friends and I would have shifts where we took turns taking naps in the study rooms. After an all nighter though I would
reward myself with a 3 item combo at Chinese Palace (Orange chicken, BBQ pork, and Mongolian beef).
5. What was your favorite study spot? Hangout spot?
My favorite study spot was in the study room closest to the library. Sometimes I would spend days there. My favorite
hangout spots would probably be Sushi Pia, Bobby McGee's, and the local tropical fish store.
6. What clubs were you in and did you hold any leadership positions?
When I was a student, I was a part of the PHIs, Delts, NOSA, and BSK.
7. Where did you go for your rotations?
My first rotation was at IHS Hu Hu Kam,Arizona which left me with very interesting experiences. My second rotation
was at VA Santa Barbara. My apartment was next to the Habit which was both good and bad. My third rotation was IHS
Lawton, Oklahoma where for some reason I was mistaken for race car driver Tony Stewart multiple times.
8. If you weren't an OD, where would you be now?
If I wasn't an OD, I would either be a landscaper, an action star like Jean-Claude van Damme, a detective, an owner of
a tropical fish store, or work for ESPN in the fantasy sports department.
9. What is one item on your bucket-list that is NOT optometry related?
One item on my bucket list is to create a bucket list....I am still too young!
10. Do you have any pearls of wisdom to offer current SCCO students?
Here is the quote that I live by stated by the great actor of our times Keanu Reeves in The Replacements.. "Pain heals.
Chicks dig scars.Glory...lasts forever"
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President’s Council 2011
By: Maggie Jan Class of 2013, SCCO Student Association (Department of Intraprofessional Relations)
California Optometric Association- President's Council, San Francisco with COA President
Elect Dr. Moses D'Janbatian O.D., COA Board of Trustees Dr. Fred Dubnik O.D. MBA —
with Justin Chin SCCO Student Association President, Maggie Jan SCCO Intraprofessional
Relations, and Greg Wingren UC Berkeley Student Association COA Rep.
As a student attending the 2011 COA Presidentʼs Council (Friday September 9th- Saturday September 10th, 2011), the
experience is at once frightening and enlightening. You get to meet members of the COA Board of Trustees as well as the
Presidents and representatives from virtually every local optometric society in the state of California. At SCCO, I am a
third year student, and I consider myself very active on the student government getting young alums and students excited
to meet doctors and join local societies as the schoolʼs Intraprofessional Relations Liaison. However, I am vastly
overshadowed by the work done at the COA level! The profession of Optometry is buoyed and sustained by the
dedication and vision of the American and California Optometric Associations. The AOA and COA promotes advocacy,
expands the scope of our practice, and also protects ODs licenses. As optometrists, dedication from volunteers such as
society Presidents and leaders of docs from our area protect our OD licenses from restrictions volleyed by medicine and
opticians alike, who via legislation attempt to deprive and encroach on the practice of optometry.
A key update from this yearʼs Council is the successful passing of SB929 for Glaucoma Certification. Each OD, each
member of a society can protect our optometric rights, provide a stepping stone to future scope gains, and exercise the
skills ODs are knowledgeable in by becoming glaucoma certified. This is a right that we have gained in 2011 due to the
efforts of doctors, volunteers, legislators, and students. Yes, students! As the student body we have written hundreds of
letters to the state capitol and the SCCO Student Association couldnʼt be prouder. As Dr. Hilary Hawthorne said in her
opening speech for the weekend, “Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.” I am granted the ability
to treat glaucoma with therapeutic drugs, and I am grateful to those who ensure this as a right and dedicate their efforts
to all practicing ODs.
Two students from each school in California are allowed to attend the Presidentʼs Council which includes SCCO,
Western, and UC Berkeley campuses. The Council presents legislative updates, reviews issues raised by all local
societies, passes resolutions to be acted upon by the COA staff and Board of Trustees. A formal report will be published
at the end of the month by the COA Presidentʼs Council and Leadership Conference Committee.
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