Chicago College of Optometry - Focus Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 11 text:

From the DEAN EUGENE FREEMAN OD., Ph.D. A vocation evolves into a profession when those members of the vocation who are both competent and scrupulous band together to form a central organization, the prime purpose of which is to afford a guarantee to the public that anyone who is a member of the association has accepted the ideals and responsibilities of professionalism. The technical lcnowledge and slfill of the professions are so highly specialized that the layman is rarely able to evaluate the quality of the professional services which he purchases. He is not only forced to reserve his own judgement until after the worlt of the professional man has been completed, but even then he is frequently still unable to malce an informed and intelligent evaluation. The professions are accepted by society because they are founded on trust, instead of the law of caveat emptor. From this point of view, the professions are essentially those vocations which have evolved beyond the culture of claw and fang into a civilized community guided by the Golden Rule. The point of view expressed above can be summarized for worlcing purposes in a very simple state- ment: a profession is an honored and slcilled ethical vocation. While this statement is admittedly too broad to serve as a precise logical definition, it approaches closer to the essence of the term, profession than many of the definitions which have been proposed formally for the term. Our own profession of optometry has clearly evolved beyond the development of special skills, be- yond the development of a high minded and humane code of ethics, and is achieving public recognition as an honorific profession. Over 50 years of devoted public service, with continuously widening horizons of functions and public responsibilities, and a corresponding elevation in educational and professional standards have been required to bring our own profession of optometry to its present full-fledged maturity.

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From the PRESIDENT MORTON L. ABRAM L.L.B., D.O.S. To the graduates of June, 1953, I extend warmest congratulations upon this happy occasion. You have successfully completed your formal optometric education, and are well onthe way to achieving the goals for which you have been preparing these past years. I have faith that each of you WILL achieve these goals. As you leave CCG., remember that you take with you our best wishes fora future that is replete with happiness and success. We at the college stand ready and willing to assist you in any way that we can. Although you are leaving college, do not forget that optometry is a profession that lends itself to further study. Keep abreast of new developments. By being aware of new trends, you are furthering Icnowledge of the profession to others as well as to yourself. Optometry is continually delving into new fields of visual care. Programs of research are being con- ducted in child vision, motorist or highway vision, industrial vision, telescopic lenses for the near blind, and contact lenses. Yet, most important of all, it is the future of the profession itself with which you must be concerned. It remains for YOU to spread the word-to use every available medium and opportunity to disseminate information to the general public about your profession. Talte advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Talk about latest strides in child vision and school programs, about motorist or highway vision and improved street lighting, about industrial vision and the widespread use of safety lenses. Discuss contact lenses and telescopic spectacles for the near blind. Let the public Icnow that optometry has been the actor, director, and producer in these performances, that optometry has been behind the scenes in every one of these accomplishments! So much can be clone to publicize the field. The challenge is yours, take hold of it, study it, what can you do with it? The ball is in your hands now, Doctorl I'Iow fast, and how far can you travel with it? Good Luck! O

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES . :il f I , 1 , W' N ' . ' V ' 7 'iv - 'S , ef , V 2 If , .1 YN:-S Z 5 af 1 ir ,ff F' , in gm I A 'E fiwm A f 0? , f 1, V w N 'X 5l5A K. I 5' mwah , W X M7 R47 M 'Mv dfigf' y. :fr . giafip XS ,HxgA. f' A1'ff gW :ML e,Vv'Q: q,4 ,F - kgE7 g,v.1f f fgmrfgfr 1- V 1 ,, 'ips J' 5-:J-432-5. R w' 4 H - .-,' - sri' ' -xx- WE I P g 4, ,I 1' Q6 Y if :Mig wfw, 2 Q iw f E is M51 bg fi! X, xxx 4 K, V ' 'M V 'ix EUGENE FREEMAN OD., PhD. Vice-President and Dean MORTON L. ABRAM L.L.B., D.O.S. President H. S. WODIS OD., D.O.S. Registrar Librarian SHIRLEY COHEN .W E 8 ALBERTA YOCAS E. R. TENNANT OD., DOS. Clinic Director :mr ' . Q. ADMINISTRATION