Apr 12
Penn Theatre Plymouth, MI
TicketsDr. Sarah Hinkley, O.D.
Low Vision Specialist, Professor, Michigan College of Optometry
andMelanie Elliott
Doctoral Candidate, Michigan College of Optometry
Pick of the Litter— Puppies helping people
Program Description
Dr. Sarah Hinkley, O.D. and doctoral candidate Melanie Elliott from Michigan College of Optometry presents information about how our eyes work and what happens when they do not work as expected. The experts explore low vision, blindness, and other visual impairments and how people living with these conditions can lead productive lives because of advances in medical and assistance technology.
Representatives from Leader Dogs for the Blind will also be on site to discuss their important role in changing thousands of lives and bringing new hope and independence to those with visual impairments. A demonstration of the Penn Theatre’s Dolby Accessibility Solution system will also be featured.
Film Synopsis
Pick of the Litter is a wonderful reminder of the extraordinary relationships we have with our dogs, especially those that we work beside each day.
Pick of the Litter follows a litter of puppies from the moment they’re born and begin their quest to become guide dogs for the blind. Cameras follow these pups through an intense two-year odyssey as they train to become dogs whose ultimate responsibility is to protect their blind partners from harm. Along the way, these remarkable animals rely on a community of dedicated individuals who train them to do amazing, life-changing things in the service of their human. The stakes are high and not every dog can make the cut. Only the best of the best. The pick of the litter.
With deft storytelling skill, directors Dana Nachman and Don Hardy (the two previously co-directed the feature docs The Human Experiment, Witch Hunt, and Love Hate Love) introduce us to a group of unique canine characters along with their human counterparts. Pick of the Litter is a wonderful reminder of the extraordinary relationships we have with our dogs, especially those that we work beside each day.
Photo credit: IFC Films
About the Speaker
Dr. Sarah Hinkley is a Professor and Chief of Vision Rehabilitation Services at the Ferris State University Michigan College of Optometry. She graduated from Mesick High School in 1997. After graduating from the Michigan College of Optometry in 2004, she began a position in a large private practice in Ohio specializing in pediatrics, vision therapy and learning related vision disorders. Since returning to MCO as faculty, she has had didactic and clinical responsibilities in the areas of developmental vision, vision therapy, clinical problem solving, and low vision rehabilitation. Dr. Hinkley is the recipient of many national, state, and local grants and awards. She serves on the editorial review boards of Optometry and Visual Performance and Vision Development and Rehabilitation. She is a certified Michigan Low Vision Specialist and a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and the American Academy of Optometry. Dr. Hinkley was awarded 2009 Michigan Young Optometrist of the Year, 2015 Michigan Optometric Keyperson of the Year, 2014 Visionary of the Year, 2016 MCO Alumnus of the Year and Outstanding Professor of the Year for the Third Year Class in 2008-9. She serves as the Alumni Coordinator for MCO in addition to her teaching responsibilities. She serves as chair of MCO’s Strategic Planning Committee and Tenure Review Committee. She has served her profession as a member of the American Optometric Association’s Health Promotion Committee and the Michigan Optometric Association’s chair of the Healthy Eyes Healthy People Committee. Dr. Hinkley founded and administers the Students in Need of Eyecare program providing comprehensive eye care and glasses to area children lacking access to care.
Melanie Elliott is a lifelong resident of Plymouth, Michigan and graduated from Salem High School in 2014 before receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2017. Melanie went on to graduate studies at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor where she received a Master of Science degree in Molecular and Integrative Physiology. She is currently in her third year of study in the doctoral program at Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University. Melanie is the president of MCO’s student branch of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH) and optometry student government mental health liaison. She is interested in specializing in ocular disease.