SUNY College of Optometry president David A. Heath, OD.
NEW YORK —The State University of New York College of Optometry announced the official opening of the Barbara Saltzman Center for Pediatric Eye Care which resides in the University Eye Center. Amid nationwide shutdowns and growing demand to meet patient needs, the new state-of-the-art pediatric eyecare center is now open for urgent vision needs. The Center will also see patients through the newly launched University Eye Center’s telehealth platform. The new Center is named in honor of the late Barbara Saltzman, who served as the president of the Board of Trustees for the Optometric Center of New York.

Saltzman was passionately dedicated to the mission of the center. Her gift and involvement was reported by VMAIL in December of last year. Saltzman passed away in late January this year. The new Pediatric Center is located in Manhattan on the College’s campus. The $3.3 million, 5,000 square foot facility is dedicated to accommodating the growing need for both basic and advanced pediatric eyecare within the University Eye Center.

“The launch of the Barbara Saltzman Center for Pediatric Eye Care is a remarkable chapter in SUNY College of Optometry’s history. It is a reflection of the dedication of many incredible individuals across the vision care industry who understand the significance of early and ongoing eyecare interventions in improving the lives of children,” said SUNY College of Optometry president David A. Heath, OD, EdM. “As leaders in vision care, our goal at the College is to continue enhancing the patient experience through groundbreaking world-class services and innovation, which the Center allows us to provide.”
“As health care workers across New York City continue to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, we recognize that thousands of patients still have other health issues,” said SUNY College of Optometry vice president for clinical administration Liduvina Martinez- Gonzalez, FACHE. “Although in-person consultations are limited, we are excited to continue meeting the needs of our patients through the implementation of private and secure telemedicine that allows our patients to interact with their providers remotely.”

Construction on the state-of-the-art pediatric center began in April 2019 thanks to the support and generous contributions of many donors including a grant from the State of New York NYSUNY 2020 awards (in 2016) and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The Center features eight new exam rooms, a room for sensory-sensitive children (Chill Room), the ability to examine children with special needs, a child-friendly waiting area with interactive activities, and a dedicated area for optical dispensing.

More photos of the new pediatric center are posted here. Existing or new patients can schedule virtual consultations with a University Eye Center provider. Referrals are also accepted. For more information, visit www.sunyopt.edu or call (212) 938-4001.