2024 MBKU Distinguished Alumni Awards

Jacqueline “Jacquie” M. Bowen, OD, ’92

Jacquie Bowen, OD is a 1992 graduate of Southern California College of Optometry at MBKU and completed a residency in ocular disease at Omni Eye Specialists in Denver. Dr. Bowen has owned and operated a private practice clinic where she recently partnered with MyEyeDr. in Greeley, Colorado. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Optometry She was initially elected to the AOA Board of Trustees at the 119th Annual AOA Congress & 46th Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry's Meeting® in July 2016 and elected to the office of president-elect during the 127th Annual AOA Congress & 54th Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry’s Meeting in June 2024. She is a past president of the Colorado Optometric Association (COA) and also served on the COA Board from 1998-2005. She is a member of the Northern Colorado Optometric Society and the Colorado Optometric Glaucoma Society and a legislative keyperson to Colorado. Dr. Bowen was awarded the Colorado Young Optometrist of the Year in 2000, Colorado Optometrist of the Year in 2012 and Colorado Distinguished Service Award in 2023. She has provided eye care to the community for more than 30 years and continues to be active in her community, serving with numerous civic, faith-based and music groups. She has been married to her husband, Doug, since 1990 and they have two adult sons and one daughter-in-law.

Donald Spaulding, OD, '79

Don graduated from SCCO in June of 1979 with the honor of Magna Cum Laude as class valedictorian. He immediately started as an Assistant Professor of Optometry at SCCO, and duties included the “special testing clinic and the Long Beach Naval Shipyard clinic. After his tenure at SCCO he became a partner in the private practice of Jerome Howard, OD in Upland which became a premier practice for the Upland/Ranch Cucamonga area. He also worked part-time in the practice of James Berbos, Sr., MD and at Pacific Eye Surgical Clinic caring for pre and post operative patient needs. He partially retired in 2021 when he sold his private practice to another SCCO graduate Ashmi Patel, OD, ’09. Don continues to work 2 days a month in Dr. Patel’s practice seeing his old patients. He is a member in good standing with the COA, participating in multiple Board testing and CE activities. Don served as a member of the Ontario Rotary Club for 42 years.  He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Community Foundation, volunteers for the Ontario Bob Hope USO at the Ontario Airport and is on the Citizens Patrol for the City of Upland Police Department. He is married to Judith and has one daughter Kaitlyn. Don currently resides in Rancho Cucamonga, CA and Carbon Hill, AL.

Michael Sullivan-Mee, OD, '90

A 1990 graduate of SCCO, Dr. Michael Sullivan–Mee was an early pioneer in Optometric Residency Education, as he served as past SCCO Adjunct Assistant Professor, Residency Supervisor, and Chief of Optometry at the Chinle Indian Health Service Comprehensive Health Care Facility.  This clinic was one of the first two programs in the IHS to receive accreditation by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education in 1993. He currently serves as Clinical Professor and Chair of the Department of Clinical Education at SUNY college of Optometry.  His impressive career includes serving as an Assistant Professor at the Northeastern State University (NSU)/Oklahoma College of Optometry where he was the Chief of Eyecare, Director of Surgery/Specialty Care Services, and primary instructor for the Ocular Disease retina course. He was a fixture in the VA system for nearly twenty years relocating to the New Mexico Veterans Administration Hospital in Albuquerque in the 2000s, Dr. Sullivan- Mee served as Director of Optometric Education, Chief of Optometry Section and as Acting Chief of Ophthalmology. He retired from the VA in 2019 and joined Eye Associates of New Mexico, a large private practice where he provided direct, full-scope clinical care primarily in the retina clinic and co-directed their residency program. Dr. Sullivan-Mee’s extensive experience in optometric clinical education includes adjunct faculty appointments at several academic institutions including the University of Houston College of Optometry and the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Dr. Sullivan-Mee has also been actively involved in leadership within Professional Optometric Associations including the American Academy of Optometry, where he has earned his clinical glaucoma (one of only 7) diplomate credential and currently serves as chair of the Scientific Program Committee and the Glaucoma Section Diplomate program. Dr. Sullivan-Mee is also an accomplished scholar who has published numerous research papers in peer-reviewed journals, presented many scientific abstracts at national or international meetings, and moderated over a dozen scientific paper sessions at conferences. He has delivered over 100 continuing education and invited talks on a variety of topics. He is truly a well- recognized and respected expert in glaucoma research and clinical care. 

Judy Tong, OD, FAAO, '91

Dr. Judy Tong graduated from SCCO in 1991.  She went on to complete a year-long residency program in Primary Eye Care at The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (Drexel University).   She is currently an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Residencies at Marshall B. Ketchum University.  She has been a full-time faculty since 1993 and was appointed to lead the residency department / programs in November 2003.  Dr. Tong’s impact on postgraduate residency education at SCCO, at the state and national levels, has been deeply profound.  Over the course of 21 years, she has made a significant impact on every optometry graduate that has pursued residency training, changing the trajectory of each of their professional careers.  She has mentored 31 cases regarding the benefits of pursuing post-graduate residency education and her hands-on approach has inspired hundreds of students. She has also established a Residency Mentor-Mentee program that is unique to SCCO, further bolstering the students through their journey. The students’ success in matching to their desired residency programs is Dr. Tong’s ultimate joy and success.   On a state level, Dr. Tong has created educationally rich opportunities for many optometry graduates at SCCO, and also for the graduates of the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science (formally known as University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry) and the College of Optometry at the Western University of Health Sciences. With her vast knowledge of residency education and an advocate for life-long learning, Dr. Tong has poured her heart and soul into growing the unparalleled SCCO affiliated residency programs as we know it today for the benefit of the next generation of doctors of optometry, educators, and leaders. She strategically established 20 additional robust residency programs across 6 different states to keep up with the needs of providing post-graduate education. Dr. Tong has co-authored over 60 Accreditation Council on Optometric Education self-studies and defended an equal number of programs to attain full ACOE accreditation for each of the residency programs.  With time and experience, Dr. Tong has become somewhat of an authority on residency education.  She has involved herself with pivotal decision-making roles with the ASCO tackling NAFTA and visa issues for Canadian student and resident candidates. There is no other residency administrator in the country that has accomplished this feat!

Judy is also rooted in advancing the profession one student at a time, one colleague at a time through her teachings of both Basic and Advanced Ocular Health Procedures, Anterior Segment Ocular Disease, Clinical Medicine, Injections, Lasers, Suturing, and Clinical Preceptorship.  Her foresight in the 1990s led her and Dr. Sawamura (COA Educator of the Year Recipient 2010) to develop a curriculum for SCCO students in advanced optometric procedures in Injections and Laser Procedures which led to it being the basis for the CSE portion of the National Board of Examination.  She also singlehandedly designed the Optometric Suturing curriculum and has influenced this practice in certain Veterans Administration and Indian Health Service residency programs.  She recently expanded the course in Clinical Medicine to bridge the practice of optometry and systemic evaluation which includes introducing Allergy testing in alignment with the current privileging for the Doctors of Optometry in California as well as nervous system evaluation, physical assessment and glycosylated hemoglobin testing.   She also spearheaded a team to launch glucose testing in the Primary Eye Care Service at the University Eye Center at Ketchum Health. 

Dr. Tong has presented 34 posters at the Annual Academy meetings, given over 250 invited lectures, and published several peer-reviewed journals.

She was class president during her 4th year in optometry school, President of the Asian American Optometric Society, Chair of the Disease Section of the Academy, Active Member on various Committees in ASCO, National Matching Service (ORMatch), Residency Special Interest Group (Residency SIG), and equally important, Active Member in good standing with the COA and AOA.

Dr. Tong’s own residency experience was a game changer.  It provided her with a set of tools to be a life-long learner and to care for complex patients utilizing evidence based practices and advanced technology.  Paying it forward, she would play pivotal roles in teaching and mentoring approximately 3000 optometry students, and in inspiring over 500 of these graduates to go onto completing their own residency training…forever changing their professional careers and all the while advancing the profession of optometry in California and across the nation.

Carmen Barnhardt, OD, MSEd, ’95

Carmen Barnhardt, OD, MSEd, is the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at Marshall B. Ketchum University. Previously, she served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs where she established the Student Achievement Center, Student Leadership Certificate program and other student services. Dr. Barnhardt has been a faculty member at the Southern California College of Optometry since 1996. She received her Doctor of Optometry and residency certificate in Pediatric Optometry and Vision Therapy from SCCO. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry and in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and a Diplomate in the Pediatric, Binocular Vision, and Perception Section of the AAO. Dr. Barnhardt completed a master’s program in education at California State University, Fullerton, and a Graduate Certificate in Student Affairs Administration at Colorado State University. Her areas of interest include student leadership development; student support systems, including academic and professional development, learning resources and advocating for health care students with disabilities; and health education, promotion and prevention.

Catherine Heyman, OD, FAAO, '93

Catherine Heyman, OD, is a 1995 graduate of the Southern California College of Optometry at MBKU. She is a Fellow and a Diplomate in the Binocular Vision and Vision Perception Section of the American Academy of Optometry and a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Her successful career includes previously serving as an associate professor and the associate dean of student affairs at MBKU’s Southern California College of Optometry, where she earned her Doctor of Optometry degree in 1993. She also was coordinator of the Disability and Accessibility and Pediatric Low Vision Clinics at the University Eye Center at Ketchum Health and coordinator of the vision program at Beyond Blindness. During her tenure at MBKU’s Southern California College of Optometry, Dr. Heyman held multiple positions including chief of the Low Vision Service, Faculty Council president and Instructor of Record of the Clinical Methods I and II courses. She has participated on national committees and lectured nationally on topics of pediatric low vision and optometric treatments of patients with disabilities. Her research involves participation in the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) and multiple studies comparing the accommodative response of children with and without visual impairment.

Dr. Catherine Heyman currently serves as the founding dean of High Point University’s new School of Optometry. It will be North Carolina’s first School of Optometry. The School of Optometry is HPU’s 13th academic school and the 9th academic school the university has established since Dr. Nido Qubein became president in 2005. Dr. Heyman envisions bringing to optometric education the HPU approach of using experiential learning, emphasizing life skills and interprofessional education.

Stephanie Woo, OD, FAAO, '11

Dr. Stephanie L. Woo was born and raised in Lake Havasu City, AZ. She graduated with Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arizona and graduated with honors from the Southern California College of Optometry in 2011. She completed a Cornea and Contact Lens Residency at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, where she was trained to fit highly irregular corneas. She was the recipient of the Gas Permeable Lens Institute Award for Clinical Excellence and also the John R. Griffin Award for Excellence in Vision Therapy. Dr. Woo is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Society. She authored the Gas Permeable Lens Expert column in Review of Contact Lenses. She authored several articles for the Contact Lens and Cornea section of the American Optometric Association. Dr. Woo co-authored the GP Insights column for Contact Lens Spectrum, and she is an active GPLI advisory board member. Dr. Woo currently serves as President of the Scleral Lens Society. Dr. Woo enjoys lecturing around the world on the subject of contact lenses and anterior segment disease. Dr. Woo owns Havasu Eye Center, Parker Vision Care, and Blythe Vision Care.

Chen Young, OD, '95

Dr. Chen Young's exceptional career reflects his unwavering commitment to healthcare excellence, community service, and leadership in optometry. Since 1995, Dr. Young has been a pivotal figure in Nevada's healthcare landscape, establishing 21 private practice clinics across Las Vegas, Henderson, Sparks, and Reno. These clinics, under his guidance, have become centers of innovation and patient care, serving hundreds of thousands of patients and providing comprehensive health assessments. Dr. Young's vision has not only advanced the field of optometry but has also significantly contributed to the well-being of the communities his clinics serve. Furthermore, his dedication to nurturing future optometrists is evident in his establishment of two scholarships: The Optic Gallery Private Practice Scholarship and the Sheryl Potter Memorial Scholarship. His impact is further amplified by the fact that 16 of the 35 doctors at Optic Gallery are proud graduates of SCCO.  Beyond his entrepreneurial success, Dr. Young has been a dedicated advocate for the profession, serving nine years on the Nevada State Board of Optometry, including three years as its President. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping policies that maintain the integrity and advancement of optometry in the state. Dr. Young's commitment extends to the future of the profession, as he proudly supports his son, Brandon Young, who is currently in his second year at SCCO, following in his footsteps. His influence on the community and the optometry field is profound, leaving a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.

Dat Bui, OD, '15

Dat Bui, O.D graduated from the Southern California College of Optometry in 2015.  He practices optometry on the Apple Campus in the heart of Silicon Valley, CA as their on-site eye doctor.  With a keen interest in ocular disease and healthcare technology, he began his career with over $230,000 in student loan debt. Through strategic budgeting, personal finance, and investing, he cleared this debt in just four and a half years. Dr. Bui is a staunch advocate for passive index funding, with a portion of his portfolio dedicated to technology stocks. He also manages a large residential five-plex in the Bay Area, CA. As a CEO/co-founder of ODs on Finance, optometry’s premier personal finance platform, he co-authored the Amazon best-seller, The Optometrist’s Guide to Financial Freedom & The Optometry Student’s Guide to Financial Freedom. Alongside this, he consults for technology companies, angel-invests in healthcare technology companies, aiming to guide new doctors and high-earning professionals toward wealth and financial independence. 

Raveena Garcha, PharmD, ’20

Raveena Garcha, PharmD, is a 2020 graduate of the College of Pharmacy at MBKU.  She completed her PGY1 training at Tucson Medical Center where she demonstrated an exemplary commitment to excellence in pharmacy practice.  She worked tirelessly across various clinical settings, including cardiology, oncology, critical care, and emergency medicine and internal medicine, gaining invaluable experiences that would shape her future career.  Her dedication to optimizing patient care and her ability to thrive in demanding environments were evident throughout her training. Dr. Garcha’s diverse experiences and outstanding clinical skills made her highly sought after upon her return to California. Currently serving as a critical care and emergency room pharmacist at Dignity Health Hospital, she continues to make a significant impact on patient outcomes and pharmacy education. In her role as a critical care pharmacist, Dr. Brar serves as a preceptor to pharmacy residents, providing invaluable mentorship, education, and guidance to the next generation of pharmacists. Her commitment to education and her passion for advancing the profession of pharmacy is truly commendable.

Aaron Hunro, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, ’20

Aaron is a 2020 graduate of the School of Physician Assistant Studies at MBKU. Despite him working as a PA-C for only a little more than three years, he has had numerous accomplishments. From helping train seasoned clinicians on a new system, precepting students, mentoring aspiring PAs, to helping save a man’s life at the Long Beach Marathon, he has done this with passion and gratitude. As a PA student, he began two traditions that continued even after he left, including recruiting pre-PA mentees to become standardized patients for MBKU’s PA students and he began the partnership with his friend, Jemal’s organization, Tena Health and MBKU. He continues to help recruit students to become standardized patients. Aaron has volunteered his time over the years to percept students and give insight and support. Along with this, he has helped interview prospective PA school candidates for MBKU, ensuring its continued tradition of excellence. Aaron continues to be actively involved with local universities such as CSULB, UCR, UCI and Chapman. He volunteers to speak with PA clubs and helps host and co-host events such as suture clinic and vitals workshops. Aaron also branched out to different areas of PA education and programs as he had an opportunity to teach a course to undergraduate students at Point Loma Nazarene University. In addition to teaching, he created a PA School Mini Boot Camp, a four weeklong program to provide students with a glimpse of PA school and to prepare them for their journey. Aaron’s greatest accomplishment is upholding the mission of MBKU, “to educate caring, inspired healthcare professional who are prepared to deliver collaborative, patient-centric health care in an interprofessional environment.

Alyssa Pack, OD, '20

Alyssa Pack, OD, ’20 completed her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, and graduated from the Southern California College of Optometry with Summa Cum Laude honors in 2020. In 2022, she opened her private practice, EyeCare at the Cove Optometry in La Jolla, with her husband Justin. Alyssa is an active leader in her professional community, serving in roles such as Communications Chair for the San Diego County Optometric Association and San Diego Ambassador for Optometry Divas. She currently sits as an advisor on the board for Oculogx’s OphthalGPT. She is dedicated to protecting the gift of sight—whether she is helping patients see for the first time with new glasses or contacts, introducing a new treatment to relieve dry eye, or supporting children’s sight through myopia management. She enjoys aerial yoga, hiking, and listening to podcasts. She also spends her downtime with her husband Dr. Justin Nguyen, ’20 and their dog, Mako. 

Andrew Perry, PA-C, '20

Andrew is a 2020 graduate of the Marshall B. Ketchum School of Physician Assistant Studies.  He was honored with the 2020 Clinical Excellence Award at graduation. After graduation and upon joining the team at Brea Urgent Care where he works as the lead PA, Andrew became a preceptor for an urgent care rotation for SPAS.  Andrew also recently started working at a Kaiser Permanente urgent care site where he is recognized for his ability to connect with his patients and colleagues. He is an excellent PA who represents SPAS at MBKU and the PA profession well. SPAS is grateful for his role as a preceptor and the feedback from students consistently praise his excellence in his role. Andrew is dedicated to delivering exceptional care within fast-paced healthcare settings. And he is dedicated to nurturing the future cohort of healthcare practitioners from SPAS at MBKU. He enjoys guiding and motivating the students and imparting his knowledge and enthusiasm for the profession.

Cathy Van Pham, PharmD, '22

Dr. Cathy Van Pham is a dynamic healthcare professional who has recently been promoted to Vice President of Operations for the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA). With a diverse background spanning pharmacy, business, and leadership, Dr. Pham brings a unique blend of skills to her new role.

Dr. Pham holds a Doctorate of Pharmacy from Marshall B. Ketchum University College of Pharmacy and an MBA from Northeastern University. Her career journey includes experience as a Corporate Trainer before pursuing her passion for pharmacy. During her time in pharmacy school, she demonstrated exceptional leadership, serving as President of her university's CPhA-ASP Chapter and Lead COVID-19 Vaccination Coordinator.

Recognized for her contributions to the field, Dr. Pham was honored with the CPhA Student of the Year award in 2021. In her role as VP of Operations, Dr. Pham will leverage her pharmaceutical expertise and business acumen to drive operational excellence and strategic growth. She is passionate about developing innovative solutions to enhance the healthcare industry and mentor the next generation of pharmacy professionals.

April Shaw, PA-C, ‘20

April Shaw graduated in 2020 from SPAS at MBKU. As a PA-C, her first position was in an internal medicine clinic in San Antonio, TX. She currently works for Arc Justice Health, a locum tenens company whose mission is to serve the underserved, and has worked with the Rosebud Sioux reservation in South Dakota and the Quartz Valley tribe in northern California. She has an upcoming assignment with the Navajo reservation in New Mexico. April chose to start a second career to serve in underserved areas and looks forward to many opportunities to do so. She has also started a Doctoral Program with a focus on Global and Emergency Medicine.  April is also a Registered Dietitian and holds a master’s in public health. She previously served in the Army and the United States Public Health Service. While on active duty, April was stationed at the CDC and worked in the World Trade Center Health Program for responders and Survivors of the 9-11 tragedy. She also deployed to Sierra Leone Africa for Ebola as the Epidemiology Surveillance Lead and Hurricane Katrina at the Response Team Headquarters. She retired after 27 years of active-duty service. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and hiking in her free time. 

Emily Stephey, OD, FAAO, ’17 

Emily Stephey graduated summa cum laude with her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) at Marshall B. Ketchum University in 2017. She then completed a residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease at HuHuKam Memorial Hospital in Sacaton, AZ. After residency, Dr. Stephey worked for a retinal specialist in Torrance, CA.

In 2020, she joined SCCO as full-time faculty with lecture, laboratory and clinical teaching responsibilities in the Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease department. She is the Chief of the Ophthalmology Consultation and Special Testing clinic service. Dr. Stephey has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and formed partnerships with ophthalmology groups for the betterment of patient care as well as student education. Recognizing that student doctors at SCCO could be better prepared with imaging analysis and clinical decision-making training, she single-handedly proposed, curated, and taught an elective course. This course showcases her innovative approach to education and commitment to advancing the field. Her initiative in formulating the elective course underscores her dedication to enhancing the educational experience of our students. By bridging the gap between didactic material and clinical application, she equips our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their future careers. Furthermore, Dr. Stephey's commitment to professional development extends beyond the classroom. She speaks professionally on a national level, sharing her expertise and insights with colleagues across the country. Her contributions to mentoring future residents and graduate students reflect her dedication to nurturing the next generation of optometrists. Dr. Stephey is actively engaged in community service outside of the SCCO campus. She participates in local career days, inspiring young minds to pursue careers in optometry. As a member of the Yorba Linda Sunrise Rotary Club, she contributes to various community initiatives, demonstrating her commitment to making a positive impact beyond the confines of her profession. She is a member of the Orange County Optometric Society and a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.