2020 Annual Report

Barbara Saltzman Center for Pediatric Eye Care Opens In April 2020, SUNY College of Optometry officially opened the Barbara Saltzman Center for Pediatric Eye Care which resides in the University Eye Center. Amid nationwide shutdowns and growing demand to meet patient needs, the new state-of-the-art pediatric eye care center opened for urgent vision needs. The Center also sees patients through the newly launched University Eye Center’s telehealth platform. The new Center, named in honor of the late Barbara Saltzman, who served as the President of the Board of Trustees for the Optometric Center of New York, is located in mid-town Manhattan on the College’s campus. The $3.3 million, 5,000 square foot facility is dedicated to accommodating the growing need for both basic and advanced pediatric eye care within the University Eye Center. “As health care workers across New York City continue to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, we recognize that thousands of patients still have other health issues,” said SUNY College of Optometry Vice President for Clinical Administration Liduvina Martinez-Gonzalez, MS, FACHE. “While we have resumed safe and limited capacity in-person visits, we are excited to offer private and secure telemedicine that allows our patients to interact with their providers remotely.” Construction on the state-of-the-art pediatric center began in April 2019 thanks to the support and generous contributions of many donors including a grant from the State of New York NYSUNY 2020 awards (in 2016) and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The Center features eight new exam rooms, a room for sensory-sensitive children (Chill Room), the ability to examine children with special needs, a child-friendly waiting area with interactive activities, and a dedicated area for optical dispensing.

“The launch of the Barbara Saltzman Center for Pediatric Eye Care is a remarkable chapter in SUNY College of Optometry’s history. It is a reflection of the dedication of many incredible individuals across the vision care industry who understand the significance of early and ongoing eye care interventions in improving the lives of children.” —Dr. David A. Heath, President, SUNY College of Optometry

22 SUNY Optometry