Seeing the World - Illinois College of Optometry

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© WDuran 2011 For members of the U.S. military, keeping their eyes focused on the mission at hand is a top priority, both literally and figuratively. From soldiers on the ground in combat to pilots flying in formation to Coast Guard members participating in search and rescue operations, keeping everything properly in sight is a serious concern. Several ICO alumni have combined both their love of country and love of the optometric profession to provide vision care all over the world in support of U.S. troops and their families. “Vision is huge,” says Lt. Megan Rieman, OD ’06, who practices at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla.. “The one test people fail the most often is vision, so the standards are pretty stringent.” U.S. Army Capt. Kavit Beyersdorf, OD ’09, works at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital at Fort Polk, La., practicing full-scope general optometry and treating and managing active duty soldiers, retirees and eligible dependents. “As you can imagine, my patients vary in age, demands and complexity. I have seen patients as young as a newborn with a PHPV cataract to a 90-year-old retired veteran with wet ARMD,” Dr. Beyersdorf says, adding, “I practice the same as a civilian optometrist -- the only difference is that I perform an exam in camouflage and combat boots.” Lt. Manoj Abraham, OD ’07, stationed at the Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Ill., the first fully integrated Department of Defense/Veterans Administration hospital, agrees that working with military personnel and their families allows for a broad practice. “We get to see everything in the military and it is because we are the front 18 / Summer 2011 / ICO MATTERS Vision & Valor ICO alumni serve their country and their profession By Lynn Petrak line of eye care at home in military bases or abroad in deployment. You have to know a little bit about everything because sometimes you are the only provider at a location and all the patients – kids, military spouses, and military retirees – have to go through you,” he says. A LEgACy LEGACY OF OF SERVICE Col. Floyd Morris, OD ’48, is a legend within military optometry. He was the first optometrist to be commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and was involved in the development and use of contact lenses in aviation. He also was one of the founders of the Air Force Optometric Society. Today, the Col. Floyd M. Morris Award is given to the Air Force Optometrist of the Year. Being in the military offered him a chance for other optometric endeavors besides patient care, says his daughter, Nancy Smith, who spoke with ICO ICO Matters Matters on behalf of her father because he was too ill at the time to be interviewed. “What the military gave him was an opportunity to do so much more than practice optometry,” she says. “He was always interested in the research end of the field and got to do a lot of that.”
“My military career has helped me become more confident in managing complex cases that I previously would have referred to an ophthalmologist” In one instance, he was asked to evaluate and prescribe contact lenses for In one instance, he was asked to evaluate and prescribe contact lenses for an Israeli pilot who sustained a torn cornea when his canopy exploded an Israeli pilot who sustained a torn cornea when his canopy exploded during the Six Day War. during the Six Day War. “This lens permitted the pilot to continue to fly for the Israeli Air Force “This lens permitted the pilot to continue to fly for the Israeli Air Force and ultimately become a civilian pilot for El Al,” says Ms. Smith, who and ultimately become a civilian pilot for El Al,” says Ms. Smith, who noted that her father received a medal from the Israeli Air Force for that noted that her father received a medal from the Israeli Air Force for that accomplishment. accomplishment. That same spirit of innovation continues today. Lt. Chris DeAngelis, OD That same spirit of innovation continues today. Lt. Chris DeAngelis, OD ’06, practices at the Naval Hospital in Lemoore, Calif., as an aerospace ’06, practices at the Naval Hospital in Lemoore, Calif., as an aerospace optometrist, where he is responsible for aviators and support personnel optometrist, where he is responsible for aviators and support personnel of 18 active F/A-18 fighter squadrons, three training squadrons and five of 18 active F/A-18 fighter squadrons, three training squadrons and five carrier air wings stationed, as well as the members of NAS Fallon, Nev. He carrier air wings stationed, as well as the members of NAS Fallon, Nev. He points out that working on an aircraft carrier is a unique experience that points out that working on an aircraft carrier is a unique experience that demands a skilled provider, mainly because the office constantly moves demands a skilled provider, mainly because the office constantly moves during an eye exam. during an eye exam. “One of the most stressful clinical situations was removal of a corneal “One of the most stressful clinical situations was removal of a corneal foreign body with a slit lamp while the ship was pitching back and foreign body with a slit lamp while the ship was pitching back and forth,” Dr. DeAngelis recalls. forth,” Dr. DeAngelis recalls. Likewise, Dr. Abraham says that working within the military health- Likewise, Dr. Abraham says that working within the military healthcare systems leads to a certain resourcefulness. “I have fitted many kercare systems leads to a certain resourcefulness. “I have fitted many kerataconus lenses using one brand of diagnostic lens set because that is ataconus lenses using one brand of diagnostic lens set because that is the only company that has the military account in my area,” he says. “I the only company that has the military account in my area,” he says. “I have learned not to limit myself in what I can offer to patients because have learned not to limit myself in what I can offer to patients because it is not covered. The service forces you to be a better optometrist.” it is not covered. The service forces you to be a better optometrist.” THE THE ICO DIFFERENCE Albert S. Licup, OD ’06, is now in private practice in Oak Park, Ill, Albert S. Licup, OD ’06, is now in private practice in Oak Park, Ill, but served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy for three years, where he but served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy for three years, where he screened recruits for vision as part of his work at the naval health screened recruits for vision as part of his work at the naval health clinic in North Chicago. He says his experience at ICO strengthened clinic in North Chicago. He says his experience at ICO strengthened his skills in both the military and private practice. “It was very solid his skills in both the military and private practice. “It was very solid clinical foundation, which helped ease transition into practice right clinical foundation, which helped ease transition into practice right away,” he says, adding that he was also grateful to take elective courses away,” he says, adding that he was also grateful to take elective courses in key business subjects like billing and coding. in key business subjects like billing and coding. Dr. DeAngelis agrees. “The in-depth didactic training and diverse clini- Dr. DeAngelis agrees. “The in-depth didactic training and diverse clinical experience at ICO gave me the skills and confidence to handle any cal experience at ICO gave me the skills and confidence to handle any clinical situation,” he says. “While attending flight school, the study clinical situation,” he says. “While attending flight school, the study habits that I adapted while at ICO allowed me to complete Aviation habits that I adapted while at ICO allowed me to complete Aviation Pre-flight Indoctrination as well as ground school with outstanding Pre-flight Indoctrination as well as ground school with outstanding marks.” marks.” Just as ICO prepared them for military service, these alumni say serv- Just as ICO prepared them for military service, these alumni say serving the country has made them better optometrists. “My military ing the country has made them better optometrists. “My military career has helped me become more confident in managing complex career has helped me become more confident in managing complex cases that I previously would have referred to an ophthalmologist,” cases that I previously would have referred to an ophthalmologist,” Dr. Beyersdorf says. “It has helped develop my leadership abilities to Dr. Beyersdorf says. “It has helped develop my leadership abilities to manage employees, and provided me insight on what is required to manage employees, and provided me insight on what is required to establish a successful business.” establish a successful business.” Being in the military is not without challenges, however. “Not only Being in the military is not without challenges, however. “Not only do I have to be an excellent clinician, but I am also expected to be a do I have to be an excellent clinician, but I am also expected to be a soldier,” Dr. Beyersdorf says. “Being a soldier comes with other various soldier,” Dr. Beyersdorf says. “Being a soldier comes with other various obstacles: physical training, being away from family, deployments, obstacles: physical training, being away from family, deployments, training exercises, weapons qualification and various other Army re- training exercises, weapons qualification and various other Army requirements. I have learned to adapt to change and focus on accomquirements. I have learned to adapt to change and focus on accomplishing the mission at hand.” plishing the mission at hand.” But even when it becomes difficult to balance optometry and military But even when it becomes difficult to balance optometry and military service, none of these alumni would have it any other way. service, none of these alumni would have it any other way. “I got to fly a small prop plane and I got to hover in a helicopter,” “I got to fly a small prop plane and I got to hover in a helicopter,” Dr. Rieman says. “Not many of my classmates can say that was part of Dr. Rieman says. “Not many of my classmates can say that was part of their job.” their job.” Lynn Petrak is a freelance writer based in the Chicago suburbs. Lynn Petrak is a freelance writer based in the Chicago suburbs. She may be reached at lynnpetrak@sbcglobal.net. She may be reached at lynnpetrak@sbcglobal.net. Summer 2011 / ICO MATTERS / 19 Summer 2011 / ICO MATTERS / 19
Page 1 and 2: Seeing the World ICO Graduate Bring
Page 3 and 4: 10 14 18 20 10 28 “My military ca
Page 5 and 6: W e are justifiably proud of the ex
Page 7 and 8: infocus NAP Recognizes ICO Alumni T
Page 9 and 10: infocus ICO Has Strong Showing on N
Page 11 and 12: infocus Financial Aid Team Recogniz
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Page 15 and 16: With this method, they identified m
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Page 19: Thomas BoBka, od ’82 DirEctor of
Page 23 and 24: 2011 AwArd winners LAwrence P. Feig
Page 25 and 26: Registration Form Also available on
Page 27 and 28: class NOTES 1948 Sol Tannebaum (MCO
Page 29 and 30: Douglas C. McIntyre, NICO, of Lumbe
Page 31 and 32: a second look Pamela Lowe current p

Seeing the World - Illinois College of Optometry

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