​Conexus is proud to announce Chesterfield County public schools as our school partner for the upcoming study aimed at validating VisioCheck data, and VSP and Rotary are joining the effort as well.
 
As part of the study, Conexus will deliver its technology based, comprehensive children’s vision program, VisioCheck, to 1,650 3rd grade students who will also receive the traditional chart  screening from their school nurse.  Rotary, through their previously announced support of our programs, will provide the funding for the screening portion of the study.
 
They will not only provide programming for the 1,650 3rd grade students, but to generate additional time savings for the school nurses they will also provide VisioCheck for the nearly 1,850 PK and K students in the schools that will participate in the study.  The provision of VisioCheck for PK, K and 3rd fulfills the screening grade requirements of the current state mandate for the elementary schools and allows the nurse to place full focus on their screenings for the study.
 
All children referred through either the traditional screening or Visiocheck  (estimated to be approximately 400) will be invited to receive an onsite eye exam and glasses at their school. The results of the eye exam will be used to validate the screening processes.
 
Danny Singer, Conexus Board member and Vice President, Vision Service Plan,  Labs,  has secured a VSP mobile clinic for the study.  The mobile clinic will offer onsite free eye exams and glasses for referred, participating students.  The clinic will visit each of the 16 schools participating in the study over the course of several weeks later this fall.
 
Conexus is grateful for the support of so many wonderful partners to help advance improved vision programs for students!

The Council for Pediatric Vision has approved VisioCheck, Conexus’ comprehensive technology-based children’s vision program, as “best practice” for vision screenings in children through five years of age. This approval is based on existing scientific studies of the equipment combined with years of practical application of the complete program, including the screening and VisioCheck’s exclusive process for communicating results, facilitating follow up, and managing data. 
                                                                                     
In its desire to expand the best practice recommendation of VisioCheck to include all school-aged children, the Council acknowledged the need for a controlled study to substantiate the five years of program data we have collected through VisioCheck delivery in grades K through 12.  The study, managed through VCU Medical Center under the direction of Evan Silverstein, MD, will compare the overall effectiveness of VisioCheck to traditional chart-based screenings in a mass screening environment.  While the screening technology is being used throughout the United States, and our own experience and analysis have indicated a significant advantage in efficiency and accuracy, changes to the broad recommendations for mass screenings for school-aged children require definitive evidence of these advantages. This is the first study of its kind to be conducted, and the outcomes are expected to have a substantial influence on vision screening recommendations nationwide.
                                                         
The foundational work for the study is being finalized.  Program activity to support the study is expected to take place in the fall of 2016, with release of the study’s results anticipated in early 2017.


Click here for more information about the Council for Pediatric Vision

Ed Greene, former President of The Vision Council and Dr. Charles “Bo” Pegram were both honored separately on June 6, 2016 with the Joseph E. Nichols Award.

The Joseph E. Nichols Award, only awarded five times since being established in 2004, is named in honor and memory of Mr. Nichols.  Mr. Nichols founded the organization as the National Association for the Prevention of Blindness, Virginia Affiliate in 1957 and provided many years of dedicated service and leadership.  The award is to recognize the most distinguished level of service to Conexus, with special emphasis given to some of Mr. Nichols’ most admirable qualities: leadership, strength of character, dedication, selfless service, and longevity.

Ed Greene was recognized at the June 6th board meeting by former Conexus Board Chairman, Conexus Golf Classic Chairman, and 2012 Nichols award recipient, John Locher.  Mr. Locher and the Conexus Board offered their resounding praise for Ed's service and his work for Conexus, most especially through the transition from Prevent Blindness Mid-Atlantic.

Just 12 hours later at the Kroger-sponsored awards dinner at the Conexus Golf Classic, 2010 Nichols Award recipient and former Conexus Board Chairman Steve Dickinson presented the honors to current Board Chair, Dr. Charles “Bo” Pegram in front of a crowd of 240 tournament guests, Conexus board members and staff, and event volunteers.

“Both of these men have been deserving of this award for years,  most especially for their work in leading us through the transition from PBMA,” says Tim Gresham, Conexus President and CEO.  “We were waiting for just the right occasion and audience, because it truly is the highest award of service offered through our organization.  We have been very fortunate to have had some of the most talented and exceptional leadership over the years.  I couldn’t be more pleased with the opportunity to recognize Ed and Bo with this well-deserved honor,” says Gresham.

Greene and Pegram now join the following distinguished list of past honorees:
2004 – General John P. Henderson Jr., ret.
2006 –  John D. O’Neill, Jr., Esq.
2007 – A. Dale Cannady
2010 – Stephen Y. Dickinson
2012 – John P. Locher

On May 29,2015 Conexus was awarded a challenge grant in the amount of $114,500 from the Cabell Foundation.   The award was a 1:1 matching grant, challenging Conexus to raise a matching $114,500 from a diverse range of supporters within one year of the award.  Conexus was able to secure the final portion of the match in late April, completing the challenge requirement. 

The capital funds raised through this effort have been and are being used to finalize the last portion of the office renovation, which included replacing one of the failing HVAC systems, purchasing additional technology for the field and back end office support, and adding a vehicle to our fleet, allowing us to replace an aging 1998 Ford van.  Conexus is excited to expand Visiocheck and technology based programming into the community and use these resources to position the organization for next steps.