Newsletter | October 2020

Latest News

• Head's Report

  2020 has certainly not been what we expected! I’d like to sincerely thank our students and staff for the level of initiative shown to create a different but highly meaningful teaching experience in the current circumstances.

• NHMRC Investigator Grant Success

  The Department would like to congratulate Dr Lauren Ayton of the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences on her award of an NHMRC Investigator grant.

• Seeing Beyond Lecture: Corneal Neuro-Immunology - Are social distancing measures between nerves and immune cells important for a healthy cornea?

  Many patients present with corneal disease linked to complex corneal pathophysiology, which can make clinical diagnosis and treatment challenging. In this dual lecture, we will present clinical and research perspectives on the fascinating interplay between corneal nerves and immune cells.

• University of Melbourne Excellence Awards

  The Department’s Associate Professors Michael Pianta and Laura Downie have been recognised through the University’s Excellence Awards for their work developing CrowdCARE (Crowdsourcing Critical Appraisal of Research Evidence).

• NHMRC Development Grant awarded to Associate Professor Laura Downie for dry eye innovation

  Congratulations to Associate Professor Downie on her 2020 NHMRC Development Grant.

• 50-year anniversary

  The Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at Melbourne will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023, and is asking former students to contribute stories, photos and other memorabilia to enable recognition of all 50 years of the Department of Optometry at the University.

• 2020 Doctor of Optometry Student Conference (ODSC)

  The 2020 Doctor of Optometry Student Conference (ODSC) was held on 17th and 18th September and this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, was held online for the first time.

• COVID -19 and its effect on our Teaching program

  Friday 13 March was the date when the first staff member at the University of Melbourne (not from Optometry and Vision Sciences) tested positive for COVID-19. We had started our Overseas Externship Program for 2020 and had just confirmed placements for all 74 final year students.

• New Teaching Spaces on Level 1 200 Berkeley St

  During April/May as the Department moved to our new Building our new Preclinic and Practical laboratory teaching spaces were set up on Level 1.

• Connections with overseas partners continues via Zoom webinars

  Staff and students have learnt lots about the use of Zoom over the last 6 months.

• Interprofessional Education Facilitator Training for Optometry Educators

  The Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences is pushing forward with an increased prominence of Interprofessional Education in its programs by running Interprofessional Education Facilitator Training for staff across the Faculty.

• Alumnus Award 2020

  Congratulations to Dr Carol Lakkis our 2020 Alumnus Award winner.

• Inspiring Student Award

  Congratulations to Shehnah Wala our OD student Award winner.

• Melbourne Eyecare Clinic (MEC, formally UMeyecare)

  It will come as no surprise to all the primary care practitioners that the last few months have created ups and downs in operations in the new Eyecare clinic at 200 Berkeley Street.

• Publications

  DOVS publications appearing in PubMed over the March 2020 - August 2020 period.

• UMOSS

  Though this year has taken a very unexpected turn and impacted greatly on UMOSS’s planned events, it has provided us with an opportunity to flex our creative muscles and shift focus on to new projects and prospects.

• Vale Dr Genevieve Napper

  The Department would like to pay tribute to Dr Genevieve Napper who lost a courageous battle with cancer on Friday, June 26, 2020.