Pennsylvania College of Optometry - Iris Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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ALBERT FITCH, OD., F.A.A.O. President oi Coiiege Corporation Dean of Facuity Professor of Qptometricai Practice and Jurisprudence Feiiow, American Academy of Optometrists 10

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ISTRATION MH 2? i'

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ean's S dean ot the college, its reputation attects A me materially. The reputation ot a col- lege is based upon its product which is, and can only be, its graduates. Hence, the reputation ol a college is measured by the public, other professions, and members ot the same profession by the success and behavior ol' its graduates in their chosen lield. in order that the college may prepare the student lor as large a measure ol success as it is humanly possible, many lactors must enter into this preparation. This lact is rarely under- stood by the student, particularly by the student in a college ours, whose mission is the pre! paration ol its students to practice a profession which presents great opportunity lor service to manlcind and in lilce measure carries with it great responsibilities. It is my duty as Dean to lceep these responsibilities constantly in mind, and this otten leads to Constant changes loolcing toward increased etticiency. Some ol these changes have been seen by the present graduating class during their undergraduate years and very often the student has not realized their significance. The first evidence the graduf ate has of the value of this constant striving on the part ot his Alma lwater, lor a perfection which can never be reached but must always be the ambition ol all to attain, is when he is conlronted with his State Board examination. Subsequent evidence ol its value is seen as patient atter patient consults him in practice. He will then realize the value ot the funda- mentals which were taught him as cultural and as basic subjects in their application to the professional subjects so necessary as a prepara- tion lor his year ol clinical training. The worlc ol the student during his clinical year may be considered as the acid test ot a studentis fitness to assume the great responsibility which will be his alter graduation. IF a student cannot meet this test, in my opinion he is not a lit essage representative ot his Alma blater, tor it is in the clinic that we are able to determine it the future Doctor ot Optometry has the proper con- cept,ol the professional manis relationship to his patient. lt is there determined if he has protited by the high ideals that have been taught him, if he is able to apply the theories that also have been taught him and it he can correlate the conditions as revealed by the various steps in a complete ocular examination and come to a proper diagnosis and prognosis ot the case, and what is more important, if he can meet the discipline ol institutions caring lor attlicted human beings. It he cannot, then he is untiit to assume the responsibilities ol the professional man as encountered in his private practice. For a man or woman who is not capable ol being disciplined can rarely disci- pline himself. To the class ot 1936 l wish to extend my assurance that l have no tear lor the reputation ot' our college in your hands, tor I expect you to be carried to still greater heights by your acts and ideals. You have passed the very stringent tests we have required and you have proved to yourselves as well as to me, that you are the best prepared eye-specialists who have ever begun in practice. l used the Word Meye- specialistn purposely to include all types, the qualifying words being, ol course, Hbegun practiced, l am, however, trusting that you learned your optometrical jurisprudence well enough to lcnovv the line ot demarcation be- tween the practice ol Uptometry and allied practices. Both as individuals and as a class, l have held the 1956 group in high esteem and l sin- cerely wish to each and every member the greatest possible success. DR. ALBERT FITCH, Dpflll.