February 22, 2024- New York, NY: – Zi Rui “Jerry” Li, ’25, was selected as the recipient of the 9th Annual SUNY Optometry Student Innovator Award. The $5,000 award, sponsored by The Rick Bay Foundation, is designed to recognize and reward an original concept developed by an Optometry student or students that is impactful, viable and feasible in today’s optometric practice. While the inaugural program was held at SUNY Optometry, the concept currently spans 6 Optometry Schools across the country.
The prize-winning idea proposed by Li was a novel device that manages congenital strabismus to improve strabismus surgery outcomes. The concept will be recognized at the upcoming VM Global Leadership Summit at the Edison Ballroom in NYC in March.
The competition, in its 9th year, began in the fall when students were invited to submit abstracts related to innovations or improvements in clinical eyecare, research, practice management, optometric education, health care policy, community education, technology, social media and so much more.
All submissions are judged by a committee made up of SUNY Optometry faculty and administration with a short list of 3 – 5 innovations chosen for the program in early January. A judging panel was then assembled to view the 10-minute presentations at a live event on the College campus on February 21. After the presentations, the judges conferred to pick a winner which they announced during a reception with an official check presentation.
This year’s panel included Mr. Marc Ferrara, Consultant, Jobson Optical Group; SUNY College of Optometry’s Dr. Sarah Gleason, Assistant Clinical Professor, Dr. Tracy Nguyen, Associate Clinical Professor and Dr. Michael Sullivan-Mee, Clinical Professor and Chair, Department of Clinical Education. The evening was introduced by SUNY Optometry President, Dr. David A. Heath, who then handed over the moderating to Dr. David Troilo, Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs.
“Discovery and innovation drive the profession forward,” noted Dr. Troilo, “It is a pleasure to see the range of creative and innovative ideas our students bring to this competition. They are all outstanding. Their energy and ideas brighten the future of the profession and eye care.”
In addition to Li, the other SUNY finalists who presented their ideas included: Elianna Sharvit and Joanna Latek (Class of 2024) for SightSteady LensLatch, a device that allows practitioners to fasten their lens of choice to their slit lamp forehead rest; Shawn Matsumoto and Julianna Dolinski (Class of 2025) for marketable products to improve the efficiency of optometric patient care for students and optometrists; Gabriella Reale (Class of 2027) for EyeEduPlay, an app for smart phones to be used for Vision Therapy; and Win Pham and Phoebe Miller (Class of 2027) for OCTek, a VR design ensuring equal and efficient optometric treatment of patients.
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Contact: Rob Rosiello communications@sunyopt.edu
About SUNY Optometry
Founded in 1971 and located in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry is a leader in education, research, and patient care, offering the Doctor of Optometry degree as well as MS and Ph.D. degrees in vision science. The College conducts a robust program of basic, translational and clinical research and has 65 affiliated clinical training sites. SUNY Optometry is regionally accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; its four-year professional degree program and residency programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association. All classrooms, research facilities, and the University Eye Center, which is one of the largest optometric outpatient facilities in the nation, are located on 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in midtown Manhattan. To learn more about SUNY Optometry, visit www.sunyopt.edu.