Elkins Park, PA - Satya B. Verma, OD, associate professor and assistant director of the Externship Program at Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry, has started his two-year term as president of the National Academies of Practice (NAP).
Dr. Verma is only the second optometrist to become the president of this prestigious organization, which represents 14 health care professions, including audiology, dentistry, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatric medicine, psychology, social work, speech-language pathology and veterinary medicine.
“I hope that during my term as president, we can reach out to the parent organizations of these professions and develop and improve on inter-professional collaboration. Together we can improve the quality and delivery of better health care in the U.S.,” said Dr. Verma.
Prior to his election as president, Dr. Verma, a nationally known expert on geriatric optometry, served as chair of the optometry academy within NAP. In addition, he serves on the board of the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, is chair of the Asian Indian Professionals Scholarship Committee, and is a member of the Public Health and Programs Committee for Prevent Blindness. He also serves as the University’s student-faculty liaison to the American Academy of Optometry, and is chair of the Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee and Committee on Academic Promotions at Salus University.
Dr. Verma has received numerous awards and honors. He is the recipient of the Life Fellowship Award from the American Academy of Optometry and the James A. Boucher Award of Excellence from the National Academy of Practice in Optometry. He was named as Optometrist of the Year by both the American Optometric Association (1998) and the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (1987, 1986). He was also selected as a Delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Aging.
About Salus University
Salus University, founded as the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1919, today is a diversified, globally recognized professional academic center of learning that offers a wide range of degree programs in the professions of Optometry, Audiology, Physician Assistant, Public Health, Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Biomedicine and Occupational Therapy. The University has more than 1,100 students, including PhD candidates, and more than 10,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, please visit www.salus.edu.
