Dear Alumni and Friends,
Spring is always and exciting time at colleges and universities nationwide. Commencement ceremonies typically take place this time of year, and students are excited about their summer plans while also looking forward to advancing in their programs as their terms come to an end. At MBKU, we are looking forward to the 114th annual commencement ceremony of the Southern California College of Optometry on May 23, 2018. We will welcome 100 new graduates into the profession of optometry and two graduates will receive a master's degree in Vision Science. I'm also pleased to share that 24 students from the Class of 2018 and two graduates from the Class of 2017 will advance on to residency programs.
The spring edition of Ketchum Magazine features SCCO’s residency programs. Our institution boasts a notable network of residency sites, but it’s not just the sheer number of sites that is impressive, it’s the depth and breadth of these programs that truly sets them apart. This doesn’t happen by accident. The commitment of our faculty, staff and alumni have propelled SCCO to become among the leading schools in the nation in the size of its residency program. In fact, MBKU’s alumni network is enhancing not only our residency program for SCCO, but our preceptor affiliations across all of our programs. It is with the deep commitment of our alums in identifying rich and diverse clinical settings that our outreach and residency programs have grown and matured over the years.
With two classes of PA students practicing now, we have come to value and appreciate how critical these alums are to the recruitment of new preceptors for the School of Physician Assistant Studies. There is a great need for high-quality preceptors and when our alums can take part in facilitating connections with these health care providers, it continues to enhance the already strong PA program we have here at MBKU. And while we don’t have any alums yet in our College of Pharmacy, I predict we will find success among our pharmacy alums assisting their alma mater in the recruitment of preceptors as well.
This past April marks the fifth anniversary of Marshall B. Ketchum University and as President, I can’t help but be proud of the progress we’ve made while also looking forward and becoming excited about our future. The spring of 2020 will represent the first time MBKU will graduate students from all three of our professional programs. I am so grateful to all the faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends affiliated with MBKU. These people represent the hidden heroes of our University and I hope that you will enjoy reading about them in Ketchum Magazine.
Warm Regards,
Kevin L. Alexander, OD, PhD
President