Researchers at Marshall B. Ketchum University (MBKU) have received a $665,500 grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Eye Institute to study the relationship between a common childhood vision condition, convergence insufficiency, and reading performance. Six of the seven-member MBKU study team are pictured (l-r): front row, Dr. Kristine Huang, Dr. Raymond Chu and Dr. Carmen Barnhardt and back row, Dr. Susan Cotter, Dr. Eric Borsting and Ms. Sue Parker.
Researchers at Marshall B. Ketchum University (MBKU) have received a $665,500 grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Eye Institute to study the relationship between a common childhood vision condition, convergence insufficiency, and reading performance. The grant will fund the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial – Attention and Reading Trial (CITT-ART), a national multi-center clinical trial that involves optometry, ophthalmology, psychiatry, and education in evaluating how this eye-teaming problem impacts a child’s attention and reading performance.
MBKU is one of only eight locations in the United States participating in the clinical trial. The seven-member MBKU study team is comprised of: Professors Susan A. Cotter, O.D., M.S. and Eric J. Borsting, O.D., MS.Ed., Associate Professors Carmen N. Barnhardt, O.D., MS.Ed., and Raymond H. Chu, O.D., M.S.; Assistant Professors Angela M. Chen, O.D., M.S. and Kristine Huang, O.D., M.P.H.; and Research Study Coordinator Sue Parker. Drs. Cotter and Borsting also serve on the CITT-ART Executive Committee.
"Convergence insufficiency is a common vision disorder in which the eyes have a tendency to want to drift outward when reading or doing close work; unfortunately, it is often associated with poor reading performance and attention problems," said Dr. Cotter, who is the principal investigator of the study at MBKU. "This is the first large-scale randomized clinical trial to address this issue. Positive findings could lead to new therapies for some children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and reading problems. We are very excited that the National Eye Institute has funded our project and look forward to enrolling children into the study in the fall."
For more information please contact the CITT-ART Research Study Coordinator, Sue Parker at 714.992.7817.
Marshall B. Ketchum University
About Us
Rooted in a tradition of excellence in Optometry, Marshall B. Ketchum University's (MBKU's), vision is to reimagine the future of health care education by educating caring, inspired health care professionals who are prepared to deliver collaborative, patient-centric health care in an interprofessional environment.
Vision: To reimagine the future of health care education.
Mission: To educate caring, inspired health care professionals who are prepared to deliver collaborative, patient-centric health care in an interprofessional environment.
Core Values: Excellence, Integrity, Innovation, Compassion and Respect.
History
Marshall B. Ketchum University is now home to the Southern California College of Optometry and the School of Physician Assistant Studies. Named after the founder of the optometric institution in 1904, the change to a university structure addresses the growing demand for highly skilled health care professionals. MBKU will provide a diversity of health care education opportunities in an environment fully focused on medical professionalism, combining advanced clinical training with innovative teaching methods. The University confers a four-year, professional degree, Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) and a Master of Science in Vision Science (M.S.) degree. MBKU's School of Physician Assistant Studies expects to award a Master of Medical Sciences (MMS) degree. MBKU has recently announced plans to establish a College of Pharmacy.
The University's superior 110-year-old optometric clinical education program provides patient care experiences in community optometric clinics; exposure to the delivery of optometric care in multi-disciplinary settings; and experiences in practices serving a wide variety of ethnic and socio-economic patient groups. Marshall B. Ketchum University owns and operates two premier eye and vision care centers – University Eye Center at Fullerton located on its campus in Fullerton, CA, and University Eye Center at Los Angeles located on Broadway at Martin Luther King Boulevard near downtown Los Angeles.
Accreditations
Marshall B. Ketchum University: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Southern California College of Optometry: Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association.
School of Physician Assistant Studies: The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Marshall B. Ketchum University Physician Assistant Program.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status. The status indicates that the plans and resource allocation for the proposed program appear to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards, if fully implemented as planned. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.