Faculty and Staff News
Optometry
General News
As a kid, Andrew Gurwood, OD ‘89, Resident ‘90, FAAO, would come to work at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) with his father, Irving Gurwood, OD ‘66, and watch him educate students in the lab along with Robert Berman, OD ‘51, and Jerome Hirsch, OD ‘49.
“That’s how I got the idea that I wanted to be an eye doctor like him,” said Dr. Gurwood, professor of Clinical Sciences and now co-chief of Suite 3 at The Eye Institute (TEI), PCO’s clinical facility. “Becoming a resident at the institution was infinitely prestigious so that became my goal and plan.”
And, 35 years later, Dr. Gurwood still loves teaching students at PCO. He is among the faculty and staff who were recently recognized at Drexel University’s annual service recognition reception at World Cafe Live.
“It’s like drawing or sculpting; you start with raw materials that are unfinished and then you shape them into a polished clinician,” said Dr. Gurwood, adding that working with a team has given him purpose, is gratifying and has kept him current in the growth and evolution of the profession of optometry. “The process permits you to continue your own journey and growth. I learn as much from my students as they learn from me. Plus, it’s fun. If it weren’t, I wouldn’t have stayed.”
Fabiana Perla, EdD, COMS, CLVT, remembers her first day at PCO 30 years ago. She was a student in the Low Vision Rehabilitation master’s program and on that first day, she met Audrey Smith, PhD, CLVT, COMS, then associate professor in the Department of Graduate Studies and now professor emerita.
“I instantly knew I was in the right place,” said Dr. Perla, now chair of the Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) programs, Salus at Drexel University. “The program was part of Graduate Studies and the classes were in the basement of the building next to The Eye Institute (TEI). Although small and windowless, the programs had the warmth and excellence they carry today.”
As someone who likes growth and new challenges, the opportunities Dr. Perla has had over her years at the University kept her here.
“I never thought I would work in the same place for 30 years,” said Dr. Perla. “But I have experienced enough growth and challenges to keep me engaged, evolving and on my toes.”
In addition to Drs. Gurwood and Perla, below are the faculty and staff honored with 2025 service awards including:
40 years: Elise Ciner, OD, FAAO, PCO.
35 years: Andrew Gurwood, OD ‘89, Resident ‘90, FAAO PCO; Helene Kaiser, OD ’89, FAAO, PCO.
30 years: Fabiana Perla, EdD, COMS, CLVT, BLVS; Lynn Greenspan, OD, PhD ‘17, FAAO, PCO; Wendy Sontag, PCO.
25 years: Tracey Robbins, BLVS; Shawn Thomas, office of the Dean of Students; Ed Sloskey, retired.
20 years: Jill Leslie, instructional media services.
15 years: Victor Bray, MSC, PhD, FNAP, Audiology; John Fitzgerald, DO, FACOG, Physician Assistant; Alexis Abate, Marketing Communications; Lachelle Smith, MS ’04, CRVT, LVT, BLVS; Alison Wilk, library; Brooke Kruemmling, PhD, COMS, PCO.
10 years: Elizabeth Sedunov, AuD, Audiology; Michael Spiers, Physician Assistant; Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, Speech-Language Pathology; Christopher Esposito, information services; Caitlin Vitoria, instructional media services; Marietta Dooley, library; Amanda Lusaitis, office of the Dean of Students; Robert Barsotti, PhD, PCO; Dawn Ciccarone, MS, OTR/L, CLVT, PCO; Laine Higa, OD, Resident ‘15, PCO; Bisant Labib, OD ‘14, Resident ‘15, FAAO, PCO; Stephanie Leburg-Jett, OD ‘16, FAAO, PCO; Alice Lim, OD ’18, Resident ’19, FAAO, PCO; Jasmine Campbell, sponsored projects; John Gaal, TEI.
Five years: Savanna Hailu, Alumni Relations; Jessica White, Audiology; Lori Hume, Audiology; Cara Orr, PAC, Physician Assistant; Kelly Salmon, SLPD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLT-LANA, NDC, Physician Assistant; Caren Cremen, Communications; Michael Morsch, Communications; Ta’Mar Ellensworth, BLVS; Stella Lee, GISP; Joan Wolff, library; Amy Bevin, office of the Dean of Students; Karen Hanson, office of the Provost; David Meltzer, OD ‘02, FAAO, PCO; Anagloria Potts, PCO; Timothy Oakley, information technology; Chaitali Baviskar, MHSA, TEI; Alena Hackett, TEI.
