Alumni Focus for 2015
Alumni Focus on Jim Bieber (OD'68)
December 1, 2015
Because he grew up close by, Ohio State was a comfortable fit for Dr. Bieber. After graduating with a B.S. in 1964, he served as an optometry officer in the Air Force for three years and then returned to the College of Optometry for more coursework and graduated with his O.D. degree in 1968. Later that same year he opened up his first practice in Upper Arlington.
Alumni Focus on Royland Samms (OD'95)
November 1, 2015
Dr. Samms was born in Jamaica, but moved to Canada when he was very young. He became an American citizen during his fourth year of optometry school at Ohio State. He is currently self-employed at Atlantic Vision Care—Hamilton, Bermuda. His practice does a little bit of everything, including a lot of time caring for keratoconus patients.
Alumni Focus on Cayti McDaniel (OD'08)
October 1, 2015
Being a Buckeye since birth, Dr. McDaniel graduated from the Ohio State OD/MS in 2008. She is the Chief of the BVP Clinic at Ohio State Optometry Services and sees patients on a regular basis. She also teaches an OPT III course, Vision of Children, about understanding the primary care examinations of infants, toddlers and children.
Alumni Focus on Christine Myers Mikolaj (OD'08)
September 1, 2015
Dr. Mikolaj decided in middle school that she wanted to be an eye doctor. She received her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2008. She currently works at Simpson Optical in Lexington, KY, a general practice where they see everything from pediatrics to geriatrics. She loves helping people see better and loves being able to give everyone a chance to go through life with the best vision possible.
Alumni Focus on Frank Bickle (OD'78)
August 1, 2015
Starting optometry school in 1974, Dr. Bickle fondly remembers receiving of his acceptance letter from Ohio State in the regular mail, before emails and cell phones. He is self employed, currently practicing primary care optometry with emphasis on contact lenses and medical treatment at ProCare Vision Center in Granville, Ohio.
Alumni Focus on LeVelle R. Bristow Jenkins (OD'88)
July 1, 2015
Dr. Jenkins received her Doctor of Optometry degree in 1988 and specialized in pediatrics. She was the Director of Outreach and Engagement at the Ohio State College of Optometry where she helped open eye clinics in underserved areas in Columbus; Dr. Jenkins was also a Director of Externships and Assistant Professor of Clinical Optometry. She retired from Ohio State Optometry in 2007.
Alumni Focus on Lindsay Florkey (OD'04)
June 1, 2015
Having an interest in the medical field since the age of nine. Dr. Florkey chose optometry because of the variety of modes of practice and the ability to own a business. It also has given her the opportunity to have a family life as well. She is the CEO of her practice. She makes all day to day operations decisions in addition to seeing patients.
Alumni Focus on Timothy D. Fries (OD'04)
May 1, 2015
Getting his first pair of glasses as a kindergartener, he knew from his first visit to the doctor's office that he wanted to be an optometrist when he grew up. Dr. Fries loves being able to make a positive impact on people’s lives. He says, "There is nothing like seeing the smile on the face of someone who gets glasses for the first time and can see all the things they have been missing." He is self-employed and owns three optometry offices in Central Ohio.
Alumni Focus on Kathy Rudolf (OD'09)
April 1, 2015
After she finished undergraduate studies in business at Penn State, she took a part-time job as an optician and found that she really liked the field. She moved into office management, obtained an MBA and moved to territory management with a small optical chain. After hiking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, the dedication and rigors of this adventure made her realize that challenges can be met and those challenges make life more fulfilling and so she formed a plan to pursue her OD degree.
Alumni Focus on William O. Schuller (OD'65)
March 1, 2015
Oringinally born in St. Loius, Missouri, Dr. Schuller was raised in Youngstown and Cleveland, Ohio. He chose Ohio State because of its strength in the sciences and health care professions. Now retired, he enjoys hiking, touring historical sites, and visiting with family and old friends. Dr. Schuller established an endowed merit scholarship at the College of Optometry in honor of his brother, John.
Alumni Focus on Stephanie Baxter (OD'08)
February 1, 2015
A native of Struthers, Ohio, Dr. Baxter sought an established, student-focused optometry program. She chose Ohio State because of its reputation for excellence and small class size. After graduating, she never would have guessed that she would move to Michigan because of her husband's residency, but she loves her offices and enjoys the Metro Detroit area and all it has to offer.
Alumni Focus on Mark H. Rinkov (OD'73)
January 1, 2015
Dr. Rinkov grew up in Columbus and has always been a Buckeye fan. In his second year of business school, he met Dr. Leonard Supman from Kingsport, Tennessee during a Christmas vacation visit to a fraternity brother's home. During his stay, Dr. Supman exposed him to the world of optometry. Upon returning back to school, he switched to arts and sciences and pursued his goal of becoming an optometrist. Dr. Rinkov graduated with his O.D. degree in 1973.
