Bisant A. Labib, OD, FAAO, Dipl. AAO, says she felt a spark the moment she met Pacific University College of Optometry’s faculty and learned how united and committed they are to the program and the profession. “Everyone’s heart is in the right place,” she says, “and that drove my decision to make such a big move.”
Dr. Labib was named Dean of Pacific University College of Optometry, and she arrived on campus in July. Dr. Labib most recently served as associate dean at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus at Drexel University where she oversaw academic affairs and programs. A full professor, she also directed the clinical internship program and served as co-chief the primary care service at The Eye Institute.
Dr. Labib graduated from Pennsylvania College of Optometry and completed a residency in primary care with an emphasis in ocular disease at The Eye Institute. It was there that she discovered her passion for education. “It was a phenomenal place to learn, with complex medical cases and a great patient base.”
Externship experiences drew her back for an ocular disease residency that emphasized teaching as much as direct care. “I fell in love with teaching,” she says, “and immediately joined the faculty when I finished my residency. I got to teach, precept and run programs,” she says. “It was the perfect setup for this transition.”
A STRONG FOUNDATION
Dr. Labib says she is most excited about the creative possibilities at Pacific. “Optometry is expanding rapidly while the applicant pools remain stable,” she says. “That dynamic forces you to highlight your school’s strengths and build on a strong foundation.”
The Forest Grove campus has exactly that. “The college has always been an integral part of Pacific’s history and legacy. It’s been around for 80 years and built such a strong foundation within the community that I can only see it continuing to thrive,” she says. “Pacific feels like one big family with a shared goal and that aligns perfectly with how I see education and the future of optometry.”
GETTING TO KNOW THE STUDENTS
The campus has been quiet since Dr. Labib arrived. But now that she is settling in, she looks forward to the arrival of both the optometry school students and even the undergraduate students who potentially are a pipeline to the optometry program. And she is eager to meet the school’s alumni. “Alumni are a driving force and the reason many students choose to come to Pacific.
Even though Dr. Labib’s role is administrative, she is open to opportunities to teach or precept if possible. “If there is an opportunity to interact directly with the students in whatever ways, I will absolutely do that,” she says. “Staying involved keeps you connected,” which becomes particularly important in today’s rapidly evolving, technology-driven educational landscape.
Read our story about optometric leadership at the schools and colleges of optometry here.
