The 2017 graduates of the UAB School of Optometry had made it a ritual to countdown to exams, the ends of semesters and the many other milestones through their years of optometric education, recalled class president Veronica Ferris-Metzger, O.D., in an address to her classmates.
But as she stood beside them on Friday, May 12, at the School of Optometry’s 44th Annual Convocation and Hooding Ceremony, Ferris-Metzger encouraged her fellow graduates to savor the present moment.
“We’ve spent four years together being shaped didactically and clinically by our faculty. Now that we’re finally here, let’s listen to the sundial mottos,” she said, referring to her newly acquired interest in sundials after listening to the trending podcast S-Town.
Part of the podcast offers a history lesson on sundials, which are often engraved with mottos about the passing of time: “Make haste but slowly,” “An hour passes slowly, but the years go by quickly,” and Ferris-Metzger’s favorite — “Use the hours, don’t count them.”
Thirty-seven optometry students were honored at the ceremony, held at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. The students, now optometrists, will join practices in 10 different states, and 11 will receive additional training in optometry through residency programs across eight states.
Twelve residents received postdoctoral certificates recognizing completion of programs offered by the School of Optometry. Another student, who will receive her dual OD/MS degree in Vision Science, was also recognized.
Kelly K. Nichols, O.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., dean of the School of Optometry, congratulated all graduates on their accomplishments.
“Your diligence, perseverance and commitment has been rewarded,” she said.
The graduates were also addressed by Lynn Hammonds, O.D., a School of Optometry alumna and president of SECO International. Hammonds is the first woman to be elected president of the globally recognized association for optometrists since 1933.
“Almost 25 years ago I was sitting where you are sitting,” Hammonds said. "Now, I am the past, and you are the future."
She encouraged students to “be the change,” and recalled her role in changing Alabama law for optometrists. When she graduated in 1991, her state license allowed her to diagnose but not to treat. “I was pretty darn frustrated at that,” she said. “I wasn’t able to use my education to the fullest.” She joined other Alabama optometrists in grassroots efforts and in raising money.
“We all came together to do what had to be done to get the law changed,” she said. “Have the courage to step out of your box and be the change.”
Hammonds said she is amazed at the advances made in eye care during her career. For instance, the disposable contact lens industry was only just beginning when she graduated.
“I can say with confidence that we are better optometrists today than we were 25 years ago,” she said. “Who knows what eye care will look like in the future or what advances there will be in your careers?”
View all photos of the ceremony here.
The graduates of the Class of 2017 and where they will practice or attend residency:
Steve Abercrombie, Jr.
Practice in Atlanta, Georgia
Sarah Margaret Berry
Residency in Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease at the Chillicothe/Columbus VA Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio
Spencer B. Boozer
Practice at Boozer Eye Care Associates in Cullman, Alabama
Brett Aaron Bryant
Practice north of Atlanta, Georgia
Adam D. Burns
Practice at Isthmus Eye Care in Madison, Wisconsin
Elizabeth Bexley Cameron
Optometric Fellowship in Ocular Disease Management and Vision Rehabilitation at the Department of Ophthalmology at the UAB School of Medicine
Caleb T. Cart
Practice near Charleston, West Virginia
Chelsea Nicole Chandler
Practice at Vision Source of Jacksonville in Hokes Bluff, Alabama
Kelly K. Cleary
Practice at Vision Source of Albany, Georgia
Lashaundra R. Dangerfield
Residency in Ocular Disease/Primary Care at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center in Tuscaloosa Alabama
Carey M. Dillard
Practice in Alabama
Christopher D. Easley
Practice in Atlanta, Georgia
Veronica M. Ferris-Metzger
Residency in Pediatric Optometry at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colorado
Grant P. Fowler
Practice at Hamilton Vision and Eye Care in Hamilton, Alabama
Karen Mireya Gonzalez
Practice Braun Eye Care in Dalton, Georgia
Katherine Rebecca Greer
Practice at Insight Eye Care in Fort Payne, Alabama
Courtney M. Hazelwood
Residency in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation/Pediatric Optometry at Neuro-Vision Associates of North Texas in Plano, Texas
Nettie Rainer Hines
Practice at Image Optical in Madison, Mississippi
James Andrew Ho
Residency in Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease at Gallup Indian Medical Centero in Gallup, New Mexico
Ilana Ginsburg Hrozencik
Practice in Atlanta, Georgia
Aldina Jakupovic
Practice in Atlanta, Georgia
Grace Catherine Kimrey
Practice at Precision Eye Care in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Christopher Hahn Lee
Residency in Geriatric and Low Vision Rehabilitative Optometry at the Birmingham VA Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama
Whitney Mitchell Lowe
Practice in Birmingham, Alabama
Kathryn Claire Mowrer
Practice at Bessemer Family Eye Care in Bessemer, Alabama
Christina S. Nguyen-Canter
Residency in Primary Eye Care at the Indiana University School of Optometry in Westfield, Indiana
Nathania Capistrano Nhouyvanisvong
Residency in Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease at Chinle Hospital in Chinle, Arizona
Kate Elise Oliver
Residency in Ocular Disease/Low Vision Rehabilitation at the Kansas City VA Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri
Pritesh S. Patel
Practice at Gulfcoast Eye Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Samara Dudley Perryman
Practice at Family Eye Care Center in Troy, Alabama
Ellen L. Prewitt
Residency in Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Stephanie Michelle Ross
Practice at Ross Eye Care Group in Atlanta, Georgia
Betsy M. Stevenson
Practice at Eye Care Associates in Clanton, Alabama
Megan Brianna Swaringen
Practice in Western North Carolina
Lindsey Marie Vallejo
Practice in Nashville, Tennessee
Heather L. Vaught
Practice at Vaught Eye Associates in Conway, South Carolina
Trang B. Vo
Practice in Louisiana
Optometrists who completed additional training through residency programs offered by the School:
Feyi Aworunse, OD
Family Practice Optometry
Timothy Lewis Bradshaw, OD
Ocular Disease at Omni Eye Services of Atlanta
Halie Ann Cottrill, OD
Geriatric and Low Vision Rehabilitative Optometry at Birmingham VA Medical Center
Jessica Paige Kenney, OD
Ocular Disease at Omni Eye Services of Atlanta
Becky A. Luu, OD
Pediatric Optometry
Forrest Walker Manning, OD
Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center
Iris Miao, OD
Cornea and Contact Lens
Tatevik Movsisyan, OD, MS
Geriatric and Low Vision Rehabilitative Optometry at Birmingham VA Medical Center
Lisa Prejean
Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center
Jessica G. Schiffbauer, OD
Ocular Disease at Omni Eye Services of Atlanta
Alyanna A. Schild, OD
Ocular Disease at Omni Eye Services of Atlanta
Allison Jean Treleaven, OD, MS
Geriatric and Low Vision Rehabilitative Optometry at Birmingham VA Medical Center
Recipient of Master of Science in Vision Science:
Sarah Margaret Berry
Thesis title: "A Comparison of Number and Letter Acuity in Patients with Dementia"