Arizona College of Optometry

Celebrating Cinco De Mayo with Brittnay💫

⭐️Background and Heritage: “My family roots trace back to Mexico, specifically my dad’s family originating from Guadalajara and mom’s side from Guanajuato”.

🌿Meaningful Traditions: “Mexican culture is surrounded by food, family, dancing, and lively music often played by a Mariachi band. Ballet Folklórico is a special dance form, typically accompanying a mariachi, that tells stories and is a direct reflection of traditions, culture, and beliefs within different regions of Mexico”.

👓👁️Influence of career choice: “While visiting family in Mexico, I often visit different orphanages and quickly realized the children had limited access to health care with only one optometrist’s being accessible in the main town, which are very far away. This inspired me to pursue optometry and strive to provide access to various remote communities to improve quality of life through vision”.

🌏Culture Approach and Care: “As a native Spanish speaker, I hope to build personal connections with my patients and provide the best eye care in the language they are most comfortable with”.

✨Personal Insight: “During my free time I enjoy dancing, traveling, and spending time with my family and 4 dogs. Before moving to Arizona, I was able to dance Ballet Folklórico at Disneyland through their seasonal parades. Being given the platform to spread my culture to various people around the world was the biggest blessing”.

🌸Perspective and Experience: “While working as an optometric assistant I was able to encounter various patients who never felt heard or understood the care they were receiving because of a language/cultural barrier. My goal is to break those barriers and have patients understand the care they are receiving to create the best experiences”.

Thank you to all that joined us at our events last week, it was a huge success! Looking forward to next year’s Thirteenth Annual Residents’ Day and the Second Annual Career Fair!

🌍 Celebrating Arab-American Heritage Month with Maryam 🌿👓

🌟 Background and Heritage: “My family roots trace back to Iraq, with my dad from Baghdad and my mom from Karbala. After moving through several Middle Eastern countries, we settled in the U.S. in 2010.”

🌿 Meaningful Traditions: “We cherish the Dabke dance, a joyful tradition performed at gatherings and weddings. Sharing Arabian coffee or tea after dinner strengthens our sense of community.” ☕🎶

👁️‍🗨 Influence on Career Choice: “Working in a practice with many Arabic-speaking patients inspired me to pursue optometry. Building trust and providing care for my community is my passion.” 💬

🌍 Cultural Approach to Care: “In my culture, spreading love and care is essential. I strive to give my patients 100% attention and address their concerns with compassion.” ❤️

🤝 Community Impact: “I aim to support the Arab-American community by providing culturally sensitive care and a comfortable environment for patients to express their needs.” 🌟

🎨 Personal Insights: “Outside of optometry, I enjoy painting, thrifting for hidden gems, and doing arts and crafts with my family. Quality time is important to me.” 🎨👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

🌈 Perspectives and Experiences: “Understanding different cultures enriches patient care. Let’s connect on a deeper level to provide excellent and memorable experiences.” 💡

Over the weekend, the AZCOPT Class of 2014 reunited after 10 incredible years since graduation! 🎓 It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate all the amazing accomplishments of our alumni. 🌟

From shared memories of late-night study sessions to inspiring success stories in the field of optometry, this reunion was filled with laughter, joy, and cherished moments. 💬

Congratulations to the Class of 2014 for reaching this milestone, and here’s to many more years of friendship and professional growth! 🌿✨

Club spotlight: SVOSH (Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity)

Over spring break, the Arizona chapter of VOSH took part in an optometry clinic in Hermosillo, Mexico. Seven SVOSH members from AZCOPT, five optometrists, a licensed optician, a registered nurse and several other incredible volunteers worked together to serve nearly 2,000 patients alongside other doctor and optometry students from Aguascalientes, Culiacan, Durango Santander, and Sonora.

Mission trips provide students with incredible hands-on experience. Not only was the club able to help many patients, but the students were also able to learn and practice their skills. The club would like to thank Michael Kozlowski OD, President and Mission Co- Coordinator as well as the other esteemed faculty and AZ VOSH members for making this event possible.

You are invited to join Alicia Feis, O.D., FAAO, Dean, Arizona College of Optometry, and AZCOPT faculty and staff for a complimentary reception and optional tour of campus.

Friday, April 19, 2024 - Saturday, April 20, 2024

Registration link:
https://online.midwestern.edu/public/eventreg.cgi?event_no=9129

We look forward to welcoming you. 🤓

Find out where the residents are from! ✨ Here are some details about the twelfth annual Resident’s Day including the full schedule. There will be a printed program available during the event. Thank you to all the sponsors making this possible. If you have not registered and would like to sign up you can do so by going through the following links

Optometrist Registration Link:
www.midwestern.edu/residentsday2024

Alumni Registration Link:
www.midwestern.edu/residentsday2024/alumni

Also, don’t miss out on Happy Hour at Zipps presented by Arizona Optometric Association!

You are invited to join Alicia Feis, O.D., FAAO, Dean, Arizona College of Optometry and AZCOPT faculty and staff for a complimentary reception and optional tour of campus on Friday, April 19, 2024. All AZCOPT Alumni Reception is from 4:00 to 5:30 PM in the Catus Wren Foyer. Please come enjoy appetizers, drinks and time to re-connect as well as golf cart tours of campus. The AZCOPT Class of 2014 Reunion Dinner will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 PM (reserved for the class of 2014).

Register online at www.midwestern.edu/alumni/alumni-events✨

For more information on the reception, tour or Reunion Dinner, please contact Kimberly Hastings at (623)572-3780 or email [email protected]

Please join us on Saturday, April 20, 2024 for our twelfth annual Residents’ Day presented by the Arizona College of Optometry!

Optometrist Registration Link:
www.midwestern.edu/residentsday2024

Alumni Registration Link:
www.midwestern.edu/residentsday2024/alumni

For more information please contact Lisa Carlson at [email protected]

Dr. Kenworthy led a group of 4 docs (Fintelmann, OMD, Huang, OMD and Helmuth, OD) in an inter-disciplinary event for biomedical students and AZCOM students that have an interest in ophthalmology. 👁️ There were 24 students that participated. The ODs spoke for 30 minutes about what an optometrist and ophthalmologist do, how they work together to provide comprehensive eye care and also how we do it here at the Eye Institute. 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ After the presentation, the students were divided into 2 groups. Group one went to the VR lab and learned how to use the BIO, Direct Ophthalmoscope and slit-lamp virtual reality units. The other group learned how to do a slit-lamp exam on an actual patient. After 30 minutes the groups switched.✨

About 12 of our own optometrists assisted in the pre-clinic and VR labs.

🔍🧠 Case Study: 📊👁️

A 47-year-old white male who presented with a history of a left parietal stroke, and sought a comprehensive exam due to a sensation of “things just disappear.”
👁️‍🗨 Visual Field Examination: A visual field examination unveiled a textbook-perfect homonymous hemianopsia, revealing a loss of vision in the same corresponding field of both eyes.

💡 Clinical Implications: The presence of a homonymous hemianopsia following a left parietal stroke sheds light on the intricate interplay between neurology and ophthalmology. This case underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to patient care, integrating neurologic evaluation with ophthalmic assessment to unravel complex visual disturbances. 💼🧠

Share your insights on this captivating case! How would you approach the management and further evaluation of this patient? 💬🔍

🍀 Dr. Matthew Roe: A Tribute to Irish Roots! 🎻🍀

🎭 Irish Dances and Parades: Dr. Roe’s childhood reverberated with the rhythm of Irish dances. Both he and his sister took center stage as Irish dancers in a local troupe. Imagine the joy of attending parades, proudly carrying the banner for a bagpipe band in the spirit of Crossmolina, County Mayo! 🎶👯

🌍 A Tour of Irish Magic: The magic of Ireland came alive for Dr. Roe as he toured the country with the University of Notre Dame Marching Band for St. Patrick’s Day parades. The warmth and hospitality of the locals left an indelible mark, shaping his commitment to connecting with others over a meal and a chat. 🍽️🗣️

🎶 Music, Arts, and Nostalgia: For the Roe family, traditions centered around music and the arts. Bagpipes, though an acquired taste, hold a special place in Dr. Roe’s heart, evoking waves of nostalgia. Celtic harp music, a gentle backdrop in his office, invites a touch of Irish serenity. 🎵🎨

👀 A Glimpse into Dr. Roe’s Irish Soul: His love for Irish music and arts extends beyond childhood memories. Dr. Roe cherishes the joy of witnessing professional Irish dancing in city pubs, a testament to his enduring passion for the culture that shapes him. 💃🕺

Friday, March 15th is the last day to apply to the 2024 AZ-POP program! If you are interested in potentially pursuing optometry as a career, this could be your chance to experience and learn all about optometry, optometry school and the application process!

New this year, selected applicants will receive a copy of the OAT Prep Book Secrets 2023-2024 - Optometry Admission Test Study Materials [4th Edition] upon completion of this year's program in addition to an OptomCAS application waiver!

https://tinyurl.com/AZPOP2024

Each year students have the opportunity for special distinction with the American Academy of Optometry at the annual meeting 👁️ This past year, three third year students achieved their student fellowship. From left to right: Thuy Vu, Nizette Basoco, and Danielle Hollands. Congratulations! 🎊

🌸 Honoring Women’s History Month: Spotlight on the Ladies of Our Clinic! 🌟🚺

💪 Meet the Ladies: Swipe left to meet the incredible women who form the heartbeat of our clinic. From optometrists and technicians to administrators and support staff, each of them brings a unique brilliance to our AZCOPT family. 💼👩‍⚕️👩‍💻

👩‍⚕️ Empowering Patient Care: Behind every eye exam, every diagnosis, and every smile shared, there’s a woman making a difference. Their commitment to empowering patient care is both inspiring and transformative. Today, we express our deepest gratitude for their contributions. 🌟💖

Our students and faculty recently traded their white coats for hiking boots and conquered the trails at Tom's Thumb. 🥾🔆

One of our fourth year students got to work alongside Dr. Torrence Watkins to provide free eye exams at the Phoenix Rescue Mission Changing Lives Center. Over 40 women received exams to get updated prescriptions and new glasses free of charge.

WATCH: Doctor provides dozens of free eye exams at Phoenix Rescue Mission A Valley ophthalmologist provided dozens of free eye exams on Tuesday to help those in need get a clearer view of the road ahead.

We wish you all a happy Thanksgiving!! At AZCOPT, we are so thankful for all of our students, faculty, staff, and patients.

As a reminder, our clinics will be closed today and tomorrow. We will see you all again on Monday!

Our 4th year students finished up their fall quarter rotations last week! Best of luck as they get ready to start at their next rotation site!

Throwback to a great (and busy!) Academy meeting last month! We had several students, residents, faculty, and alumni present posters and lectures. We also had 3 students, Thuy Vu, Joshua Reese, and James Bradt, compete at the EssilorLuxottica Academic Challenge. And last but certainly not least, we had 2 students, Cole Rayfield and Cayden Carpenter, win the VSP/AAOF Practice Excellence Scholarship! Keep up the amazing work, AZCOPT!

Happy Halloween from AZCOPT!! 🎃👻

🚨Tonight is the EssilorLuxottica Academic Challenge! Three of our talented AZCOPT students will be competing against the other optometry schools in a battle of optometric knowledge. Come out and support Thuy Vu, Joshua Reese, and James Bradt!!

Time: 8:00 pm
Location: House of Blues, 225 Decatur Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

Are you currently attending the AAO meeting in New Orleans? Then stop on by the Midwestern booth at the exhibit hall! We would love to chat with you!

Last weekend our 1st year students participated in the annual White Coat Ceremony. This ceremony marks a big step in their journey towards becoming optometrists. Congrats 1st years! 👏👏

Our 2nd year students are getting some great experience working with pediatric patients this quarter! Every fall quarter, the OD2s go on weekly vision screenings at local schools to help identify kids who may be struggling with undiagnosed visual issues. Keep up the great work, AZCOPT 2nd years!

EYE bet our first year students had a BALL making these eyeball models! 👀 And yes, their arts/crafts abilities are way better than our pun abilities.

AZCOPT students, get ready! Tomorrow is the annual Back to School Bash!! It will be an exciting battle between 1st years, 2nd years, 3rd years, and 4th years/faculty/staff. Who do you think will win the title this year??

Our OD2 students had a busy Friday afternoon! They participated in the first ever dental screening event where they got to assess various visual skills that could affect a dental student's ability to adapt to their loupes. Both the OD2 and first year dental students seemed to have a blast! Great work, AZCOPT!

🚨LAST DAY TO REGISTER! Please join us this Wednesday for a FREE live virtual synchronous CE event! Register at: midwestern.edu/ophthalmology

Welcome to the Arizona College of Optometry! We are thrilled to have the Class of 2027 here for their first day of class. They have a lot to learn but are already off to a fantastic start!