Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry’s Dr. Satya Verma Named to National Optometric Hall of Fame

Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry’s Dr. Satya Verma Named to National Optometric Hall of Fame

Satya Verma, OD ‘75, FAAO, DPNAP, Diplomate, associate professor, and director of the Externship Program at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University, has been named as one of the 2020 inductees into the National Optometric Hall of Fame.

Being named to the National Optometry Hall of Fame is another honor to Dr. Verma’s long list of awards and accomplishments as he closes in on his 50th year at Salus University and PCO, which he will celebrate in 2021.

He follows Salus president Michael H. Mittelman, OD ‘80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, a 2019 inductee, into the NOHOF.

Dr. Verma has served Salus PCO in various capacities that include: secretary and president, Faculty Organization of PCO (FOPCO); chair, Protection of Human Subjects Committee; member, Learning Resources Committee; Judicial Committee; Academic Standards Taskforce; Accelerated Doctor of Optometry Program Taskforce; Tenure Committee; and chair, Tenure Committee.

He started the first low vision service at PCO’s clinical facility and wrote the first lab manual for low vision. He was clinical supervisor for the Philadelphia Interdisciplinary Health and Education Program (PHIHEP), Contact Lens and Low Vision service and has been part of the Externship Program since its inception. He also developed the Clerkship Program for second-year students. He also started the Community Eye Care Service program, clinical teaching for students and providing eye care to the homebound elderly population in Philadelphia, the first of its kind. He also developed and has been teaching an elective course in geriatric optometry for Salus PCO students.