A Letter to the Editor from College of Medicine Dean Westfall

By News Staff

| Dear College of Health Professions Friends,

I was delighted to read about the 20th anniversary of the Ophthalmic Medical Technology Program and the longstanding excellence of the OMT program in the recent Health Professions newsletter. It

Dear College of Health Professions Friends, I was delighted to read about the 20th anniversary of the Ophthalmic Medical Technology Program and the longstanding excellence of the OMT program in the recent Health Professions newsletter. It almost seems like yesterday when the College of Health Professions (CHP) and the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute collaborated to establish this vital program for our state. While flattered to have been mentioned in the article, I do wish to emphasize that the initiative was truly a team effort. The OMT program's establishment and phenomenal success would have been impossible without the visionary leadership of Dr. Ronald Winters, then Dean of the CHP, and his outstanding academic and administrative team represented by then Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Pat Monoson. Many may not realize that Dr. Winters and Dr. John Shock, my predecessor at the Jones Eye Institute, were next door neighbors before the OMT came to fruition. I can almost picture these two leaders, now Emeritus Professors, talking over the fence about the possibilities and great potential for the future OMT program! Best wishes, Christopher T. Westfall, MD, FACS Executive Vice Chancellor, UAMS Dean, College of Medicine Former Director, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute

College of Medicine Dean Christopher Westfall

almost seems like yesterday when the College of Health Professions (CHP) and the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute collaborated to establish this vital program for our state.

While flattered to have been mentioned in the article, I do wish to emphasize that the initiative was truly a team effort. The OMT program’s establishment and phenomenal success would have been impossible without the visionary leadership of Dr. Ronald Winters, then Dean of the CHP, and his outstanding academic and administrative team represented by then Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Pat Monoson.

Many may not realize that Dr. Winters and Dr. John Shock, my predecessor at the Jones Eye Institute, were next door neighbors before the OMT came to fruition. I can almost picture these two leaders, now Emeritus Professors, talking over the fence about the possibilities and great potential for the future OMT program!

Best wishes,

Christopher T. Westfall, MD, FACS
Executive Vice Chancellor, UAMS Dean, College of Medicine
Former Director, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute