In February, several NECO alums and residents including Jeanne Hopkins ,OD ’91, Amy Sickinger, OD ’21, Jenna Pyle, OD ’21, Anastasia D’Amico, OD ’24, and current NECO residents Clarice Bouvier, OD ’25 and Allison Wu, OD joined Partners for Visual Health (PVH) to visit two clinics in Santa Ana and San Miguel, El Salvador. PVH partners with ASAPROSAR, a local health clinic, which focuses on increasing vision care to rural communities. 

Over six days, the clinics saw over 1,800 patients(!), performed 128 surgeries, and dispensed over 1,500 glasses and sunglasses. It was a great opportunity for NECO alumni and residents to serve rural and underserved communities but also to gain exposure to another nation’s health care system and social determinants of health, treat complex ocular disease, and work with US and international colleagues.

As we welcome spring, we’re refreshing our alumni records, and we invite you to take part.

Please take a moment to:

  ●  Update your contact information
  ●  Share feedback on the alumni website
  ●  Send us your latest news and accomplishments

Keeping your information current allows us to highlight alumni achievements, strengthen our professional network, and ensure you receive important updates, events, and opportunities.

Thank you for helping keep NECO’s alumni community connected, visible, and thriving.

NECO will attend OptiFair, the annual trade show that brings together optometrists, opticians, and clinical staff from across Canada for networking, continuing education, and hands-on workshops showcasing the latest advancements in the profession.

We will also welcome newly committed students at a mentorship meet-and-greet, helping them build meaningful connections as they begin their journey at NECO.

We will be hosting an alumni reception the evening of March 21st. Join us to reconnect with classmates, expand your professional network, and celebrate the accomplishments of our NECO community. Together, these events strengthen relationships, spark new ideas, and support the next generation of optometrists.

NECO is pleased to welcome two lecturers from the Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College, who will each present a continuing education presentation during the month of March.

Hyaluronic Acid Facial Injections & Ocular Complications: Diagnosis, Management,
and Patient Education

Speaker:
Hadas-Ben-Eli, B. Optom, MSc, PhD, FAAO

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2026
6:00–7:00PM 

Free | Live via Zoom | 1 hour pending COPE

Headaches & Visual Function:
The Role of Binocular Vision & Accommodation

Speaker:
Rachel Eichler, OD

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026
12:00–1:00PM 

Free | Live via Zoom | 1 hour pending COPE

Ioanis “Yianni” Panagiotopoulos, OD, MPH ‘07 and his ocular research company, NorthEast Eye Research Associates (NEERA Eye), announced FDA approval with 510(k) clearance for the CASIA 2 OCT in July 2025. NEERA Eye worked as a single-center site for the Tomey Corporation to recruit and test over 200 subjects at their satellite office in Woburn at Avant LASIK SPA. 

Lenna Walker, OD '18, and her husband Brian Hunke, welcomed Lydia Jane Hunke on February 10, 2026, at 12:01 PM in Richmond, Virginia, weighing 5 lbs, 12 oz. Congratulations to the entire family on this new addition!

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We want to hear from you! Whether you've opened a new practice, published a paper, started an innovative company, got married, had a baby, or learned of someone's passing, keep your NECO classmates informed. 

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Boston, MA 02115
(617) 587-5700

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