On Sight
University Vision Care and Research Centers Newsletter
September 1998 Page 1
BIRTH OF A NEW NAME!
By S. Stadnicki, RNC
Upon the recommendation of Gregory Eastwood MD, College of Medicine President, the Department of Ophthalmology has changed its name to better reflect the mission of the Upstate Medical University. The central mission of SUNY Upstate Medical University is the education of professionals in health care and biomedical research. Excellence in patient care and the generation of new knowledge (including understanding disease, technology and therapy) are intrinsic to this mission.
The old moniker, "University Hospital Eye Institute," no longer adequately illustrates all that the Department of Ophthalmology is or all we plan to become. Vibrant and growing, the title University Vision Care & Research Centers, better describes our focus, purpose, and dynamic response to vision care needs and future eye wellness of the world community.
University Vision Care & Research Centers have three primary components: academic, clinical and research. The physical "command center" the academic and clinical components is located at the University Center for Vision Care (CVC), Suite 340, 550 Harrison Street in Syracuse, New York.
Academic
Our academic component not only provides educational opportunities to our own 6 ophthalmology residents, but also to residents of other medical disciplines as an elective (approximately 3 per year). In addition, 12-20 medical students rotate through a special clerkship every six weeks. 8-10 of these students per year choose ophthalmology as an elective area of concentrated study and clinical experience. The Department also provides elective experience to residents and medical students external to SUNY Upstate Medical University, including eye pathology study not otherwise available to University of Buffalo residents.
The Department sponsors, supports, and lends the CVC's facilities to continuing medical education and professional development activities of community physicians and ophthalmic associates. We also provide and support continuing education, professional development training, and certification testing of Central New York ophthalmic technical support staff. Last, but certainly not least, we plan to expand our services to include monthly patient education programs on eye topics of general interest to the community we serve.
Academic + Clinical The University Center for Vision Care houses a full service ophthalmology center which provides general vision care, consultations in all ophthalmic sub-specialties, specialized evaluation and management services, eye surgeries and laser therapies.
The Department has an extensive roster of expert community-based ophthalmologists who volunteer time, services, and invaluable knowledge in support of academic and clinical programs. Ali Khorrami, MD, PhD, is the department's newest full-time physician member. He performs specialized retinal care, including surgery and laser therapy, while also serving as a primary attending physician.
As faculty members, our attending physicians teach future generations of ophthalmologists. These skilled professionals interface with residents, medical students, and patients to discuss causes, treatments, and prevention of eye disorders.
Partnered with our physicians are nationally certified ophthalmic technicians and surgical assistants. These highly qualified individuals provide patient care and promote community education activities focused on maintaining eye wellness and optimizing vision.
Academic + Clinical + Research In addition, many of our academic/clinical faculty also serve as researchers studying a variety of adult and pediatric eye disorders. They complement the dedicated, internationally recognized research scientists of the University Center for Vision Research (CVR). As you will see in this newsletter, the University Center for Vision Research is less a physical entity than the University Center for Vision Care. It is an umbrella term to describe the primary research units of Barry Knox PhD, Mary Pierce PhD, Barbara Streeten MD, and Jack Sullivan MD, PhD. These units are located at Weiskotten Hall in conjunction with the Departments of Pathology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Physiology.
Academic + Clinical + Research = University Vision Care & Research Centers Together, the University Vision Care & Research Centers offer the expertise and dedication of leading physicians and research scientists to provide medicine with advances in research, innovation in patient care, and quality instruction in the practice of ophthalmology
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