2021-Annual-Report

SUPPORT FOR SCHOLARS AND SERVICE

Remembering OCNY Trustee Harold Spielman, 1927–2021 SUNY College of Optometry and the Optometric Center of New York (OCNY) mourns the passing of OCNY Trustee Emeritus Harold (Hal) Spielman on September 30, 2021. He was 94 years old. A well-known New York philanthropist and advocate for education and

Dennis and Lesley Gehr Scholarship Sarah Taj, Class of 2025 Alumni Scholarships Arden Niedfeld, Class of 2025 Anna Camporese, Class of 2025 Alumni Memorial Scholarship Anastasia Dakis, Class of 2025 Dr. Jerome Weiss Scholarship Stephanie Schwartz, Class of 2022 Wilshinsky Scholarship Samjhana Mandal, Class of 2022 Mary and Samuel Gurkin Memorial Scholarship Natalie Duider, Class of 2023 Philip and Sylvia Soden Memorial Scholarship Avalena Linksy, Class of 2023 P. Gregory Hess Scholarship Howard Ho, Class of 2024 NYSOA Dr. Alden Haffner Scholarships Gulnoza Azieva, Class of 2023 Jacob Rosenberg, Class of 2023 NJAO Scholarship Sweta Patel, Class of 2025 Ann Boby Mathews, Class of 2025 The Dr. Sandra Goldman Cohen ’82 Memorial Scholarship Min Kyung Kim, Class of 2022 Dr. Sanford and Claire Levy Scholarships Mackenzie Reed, Class of 2024 Sarah Walsh, Class of 2024 Elaine Doxtader, Class of 2023 Andrew Rouse, Class of 2022 Natalia Constantine, Class of 2025 Dr. Mark S. Feder Scholarship for Clinical Excellence in Primary Care Jared Rahn, Class of 2022

SUNY Optometry Students Give Thanks for the Generosity of Donors The SUNY College of Optometry and its foundation, the Optometric Center of New York (OCNY), recognized 42 exceptional current students during the College’s annual Scholarship Presentation Program on November 19, a day that brought together scholarship recipients and donors to celebrate academic achievement and philanthropy. Since the event launched over 10 years ago, the OCNY and its donors have established over 20 scholarships and provided nearly $350,000 in awards annually. Among the newly established scholarships for students is the Dr. Sandra Goldman Cohen ’82 Memorial Scholarship. The gift of $100,000 was made possible through the support of family, friends, and colleagues of Dr. Cohen, whose career and private practice in optometry spanned nearly 40 years with a focus on pediatric care and clinical work with various hospitals throughout the New York metro area. “She loved being an optometrist and was an inspiration to others. We know several people who became optometrists because of how she inspired them,” said Dr. Cohen’s brother Richard. “She was a loving, caring person who was not afraid to put herself out there. She was someone who would buy a sandwich for the homeless or invite a stranger into her home if they needed help. Through this scholarship, she will continue to help people for years to come.” Also added to scholarships is the Omni Eye Scholarship for Clinical Excellence in Glaucoma Care in the amount of $25,000. An affiliate clinical training site of the College for over 30 years, Omni Eye Surgery of New York is led by Founder/CEO Christopher Quinn, OD, who serves as an OCNY board member.

healthcare, Mr. Spielman’s connection with the College began as a close friend of SUNY Optometry Distinguished Professor Emeritus Nathan Flax, OD, the first chief of vision therapy at the College. Mr. Spielman joined the OCNY board in 1984 and served as board president for eight years during his trusteeship. His many contributions to scholarship, research, and patient care at the College earned him the distinguished Benjamin Franklin Medal. Mr. Spielman’s involvement with New York City and the state higher education system extends beyond the College to include work as a teaching fellow in art at his alma mater, City College of New York, where he earned a degree in sociology and established the multidisciplinary Spielman Social Science Lab at CCNY in 2007. He also served on the New York State governor’s commission on graduate school education. “Hal’s guidance, leadership, and generous spirit will be deeply missed,” said Dawn Rigney, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the OCNY. “We are honored that his legacy will continue through his annual scholarship and that future optometry students will have the privilege of seeing his philanthropic spirit in action.” A native of Canada and WWII US Army veteran, Mr. Spielman co-founded the international marketing and communications research company, McCollum Spielman Worldwide (MSW) in 1968, retiring as chairman after 40 years of service. His extensive career includes president of the Market Research Council, president of the Copy Research Council, research advisor to the Ad Council, and chair of multiple conferences for the American Marketing Association and Advertising Research Foundation. Following his retirement from MSW in 2008, his peers elected him to the Market Research Hall of Fame. On the home front, Mr. Spielman gave back to his community of Sands Point, Long Island, through long-standing participation in town board and park commissions, including serving as a member of the Foundation Board of the Port Washington Public Library, where he led the renovation of the Harold & Jacqueline Spielman Children’s Library.

2021 Scholarships Essilor Luxottica Excellence in Optics Diana Geraghty, Class of 2023 Dr. Nathan and Laura Millman Scholarships Laura Medina, Class of 2024 Gurleen Klair, Class of 2024 Shaoheng Chen, Class of 2024 Sakshi Vasiu, Class of 2024 Max Herbik, Class of 2024

Dr. Harold Solan Memorial Scholarship Courtney Allen, Class of 2023 Jeff White Memorial Scholarship Max Herbik, Class of 2024 Omni Eye Scholarship for Clinical Excellence in Glaucoma Care Andrew Rouse, Class of 2022 Scott Tasker Folsom Scholarships Dupri Lin, Class of 2023 Tiffany Y. Chen, Class of 2023 Diana Geraghty, Class of 2023 Eden Nourmand, Class of 2023

Barbara Saltzman Scholarship Christina Canellos, Class of 2025 Fred Friedfeld Memorial Scholarship Julie Lin, Class of 2022 Milton Scholarships Brooke Goonetilleke, Class of 2022 Frank Kolami, Class of 2024 Melody Kordnaij, Class of 2022 Grace Ji, Class of 2025 Arturo Vale, Class of 2025 Sakshi Vasiu, Class of 2024 Stephen Murray, Class of 2022

Scan the QR code to learn more about the OCNY or to make a donation: sunyopt.edu/giving/.

34 SUNY OPTOMETRY ANNUAL REPORT

ANNUAL REPORT 35