News
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Eleven Optometry students awarded travel grants to attend AAO meeting
Eleven UABSO students have been awarded travel grants to attend November’s American Academy of Optometry (AAO) meeting in San Antonio, November 7-10, 2018.
“Having so many students receive these honors is a testament to our students’ commitments to being active in optometry’s professional organizations and their academic performance,” said Dr. Candice Turner, assistant professor. “Ultimately, our goal as educators is to communicate the importance of community involvement so it continues once they enter the workforce.”
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Gawne awarded R01 grant to study myopia
A team of researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Optometry have been awarded a $1.5 million R01 grant to investigate ways to reduce the development of myopia, also known as nearsightedness.
Timothy Gawne, Ph.D., associate professor of optometry and vision science, was awarded the grant by the National Eye Institute based on research that suggests exposure to narrow-band red light can slow axial elongation.
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Dr. Rod Fullard to retire
After 35 years of service, Dr. Rod Fullard, associate professor, is retiring from the UAB School of Optometry.
“Dr. Fullard has been a leader in the school who has risen to the occasion numerous times,” said Dean Kelly Nichols. “His efforts have exemplified the true meaning of stewardship.”
During his tenure at UABSO, Dr. Fullard successfully led the school through its accreditation process twice. He served as chair of the School of Optometry's Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) Self-Study Committee from 2016 to 2017 and 2007 to 2009. The ACOE is the accrediting body for schools and colleges of optometry. For his leadership with this process, he was awarded the Dean’s Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes exemplary leadership and service at Optometry. This special award is given only when the need arises.
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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Maggie Bailey, Assistant Professor
Bailey is a 2016 graduate of UABSO who completed her residency in Binocular Vision and Pediatric Optometry at the Illinois College of Optometry/Illinois Eye Institute. She is one of the newest faculty members and was recently named assistant professor. Dr. Bailey provides care and instruction in both the general and pediatric clinics at UAB Eye Care.
Read more![](/optometry/home/images/images/news/2018/eyeprint_pro.jpg)
Optometry has the most advanced scleral contact lens technology available
With the addition of EyePrint PRO and the purchase of an sMap3D scleral topographer, the UAB School of Optometry now has the most advanced scleral contact lens technology available in its UAB Eye Care clinic. This means that almost all patients who need them can be fitted with a customized scleral contact lens.
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Optometry professors receive VSRC pilot grant support
Faculty members from the University of Alabama at BirminghamSchool of Optometry have received Pilot Award Grants from the Vision Science Research Center (VSRC), to support new project ideas that could have great potential to advance understanding of ocular disease.
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Dr. Narayana Sthanam Announces Retirement
Dr. Narayana Sthanam is retiring from the UAB School of Optometry following 33 years of service. For his longtime commitment to the school, his UABSO family says thank you.
He joined UAB as a junior research associate in Dr. Charles E. Bugg’s lab in 1985 and was appointed as a research assistant professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular genetics in 1990 after receiving an Alabama American Heart Association grant for two years to study Factor D that same year. Dr. Sthanam was appointed Assistant professor in UABSO’s Department of Optometry in 1993 after receiving his first NIH R29 grant to study Factor D. In 1998 he was promoted to associate professor and became a full professor in the school of optometry in 2008.
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Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Valencia Wells
What is your hometown?
Gallion, Alabama, which is in rural Marengo County, the “suburb” of Demopolis, Alabama.
When did you graduate from UAB School of Optometry?
May 18, 2009 (a date I’ll never forget)
What would you say is your greatest accomplishment outside of the field of Optometry?
Completing the Mercedes Half Marathon (13.1 miles of “fun”)
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UAB Eye Care treats first Ortho-K patient
Dr. Kim Duong recently began treating UAB Eye Care’s first Orthokeratology patient in our new Myopia Control Clinic. The patient’s mother learned about the treatment’s availability at UAB and drives from Auburn for appointments. The goal is to increase the number UAB Eye Care patients needing the treatment in part through referrals from pediatricians and other optometrists. Duong said that many parents don’t think young children can manage contact lenses. After one visit, this patient already takes the lenses in and out with ease.
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Dr. Leo Semes appointed Professor Emeritus
The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama approved the appointment of Dr. Leo Semes as Professor Emeritus in the Department of Optometry and Vision Science.
“Dr. Semes is one of the most beloved individuals that UABSO has known. I can think of no greater honor to recognize all he’s done in the field as an educator, researcher, mentor and colleague,” said Dean Kelly Nichols.
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Optometry students, faculty celebrate 40th service trip by delivering eye care to 1,400
The UAB SVOSH trip team — including 11 students, three doctors and two School of Optometry clinical staff — provided comprehensive eye exams to 500 Panamanian people in four days. The group also gave out more than 1,200 pairs of eyeglasses and made almost 80 referrals for a variety of ocular disease conditions.
Read more![Hannah Greenfield, left, and School of Optometry Dean Nichols at graduation.](/optometry/home/images/images/news/2018/hannah_greenfield_2.jpg)
UAB graduate named optometric association student of the year
Hannah Greenfield, a 2018 graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, has been named the first recipient of the American Optometric Student Association’s student of the year award. The inaugural award is given to a student who has shown leadership skills when serving their profession, patients and community.
Read more![Sam Pierce headshot.](/optometry/home/images/images/news/2018/sam_pierce.jpg)
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Sam Pierce
What is your hometown?
Opp, Alabama
When did you graduate from UAB School of Optometry?
1988
What would you say is your greatest accomplishment outside of the field of Optometry?
I was the first member of my family to get a college degree, and I was also the first one in my family to live most of my life outside the county where I was born.
![Sam Pierce, Andrew Pucker, Hannah Greenfield, Mark Swanson](/optometry/home/images/images/news/2018/aoa-conference-faculty-spotlight.jpg)
UABSO will shine at AOA conference
At the upcoming American Optometric Association conference, to be held June 20-24, in Denver, the UABSO family has a lot to be proud of, as Dr. Sam Pierce (’89) will be sworn in as AOA president, Dr. Mark Swanson (’85) will be given the AOA Educator of the Year award, faculty member Dr. Andrew Pucker will receive the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry Rising Star Award and Dr. Hannah Greenfield (’18) will be recognized as the first American Optometric Student Association Student of the Year.
Read more![2018 School of Optometry Graduates with Dean.](/optometry/home/images/images/news/2018/2018-school-of-optometry-graduates.jpg)
Graduation held Mother’s Day weekend
UABSO celebrated the class of 2018 on Mother’s Day weekend. The young men and women who received the doctor of optometry degree brought the number of optometrists UABSO has graduated to 1,600.
Read more![Marina Gorbatyuk, PhD](/optometry/home/images/images/news/2018/Marina_Gorbatyuk.jpg)
Faculty member awarded grant for retinal degeneration research
A researcher at the UAB School of Optometry has been awarded a $1.25 million R01 grant from the National Eye Institute to study the regulation of protein synthesis in photoreceptors of mice with inherited retinal degeneration.
This research, led by Marina Gorbatyuk, PhD, associate professor of vision science, will not only lead to a better understanding of vision loss in humans, but will also promote the development of new strategies for stopping retinal degeneration.
Read more![Kelly Nichols and Jason Nichols headshots.](/optometry/home/images/images/news/2018/jason_kelly.jpg)
Optometrists recognized for authorship in dry eye research
Kelly Nichols, O.D., MPH, Ph.D., professor and dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, and Jason Nichols, O.D., MPH, Ph.D., professor and assistant vice president for Industry Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, have both been internationally recognized in two articles published in the peer-reviewed journal The Ocular Surface for their contributions as authors on multiple publications in the study of dry eye disease research.
Read more![Andrew Pucker](/optometry/home/images/images/people/faculty/andrew_pucker.jpg)
Pucker named Rising Star by ASCO
A UAB School of Optometry faculty member recently received national recognition for his work in optometric education.
Andrew Pucker, OD, PhD, assistant professor at the School of Optometry, is the 2018 recipient of the Rising Star Award, given by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, or ASCO.
Read more![Kim Duong with student patients.](/optometry/home/images/images/news/2018/qa-dr.duong.jpg)
Faculty Q&A: Kim Duong, OD, MS
Kim Duong, OD, MS, is no stranger to community service. The clinical assistant professor at the UAB School of Optometry has worked with children with Type 1 diabetes, provided vision screenings at volunteer events, and works with young girls in the Birmingham, Alabama, area, where she moved in July 2017 to join the School of Optometry faculty.
Read more![Third-floor renovations of the Henry Peters Building began in December.](/optometry/home/images/images/news/third-floor-renovation-henry-peters.jpg)
Third-floor renovations of Henry Peters Building kick off new year
Third-floor renovations are underway at the UAB School of Optometry’s Henry Peters Building.
The updates, which are part of an overall renovation to the building, began in December and aim to bring a greater focus to the School of Optometry student experience.
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