Dr. Melissa Trego Appointed Dean of Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry

PCO Melissa Trego (1)

Dr.  Melissa Trego ’04 was recently announced as the new dean of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO). She is the first female graduate of PCO to hold this title. In her new role, Dr. Trego is responsible for the development, implementation and assessment of PCO’s academic programs, personnel and fiscal resources, as well as maintaining the program’s accreditation status.

Dr. Trego has acted as interim dean for PCO since May 2016, which has greatly prepared her for new role as dean.

“I am honored and humbled to be selected as the next dean of PCO,” she said. “I am fortunate enough to be working closely with some pretty incredible faculty every day, educating our students and caring for our patients.”

Dr. Trego brings more than 10 years of optometric clinical expertise and academic leadership to the position. After earning her Doctor of Optometry from PCO in 2004, she held a two-year primary care residency at The Eye Institute (TEI) of Salus University. She then became an instructor for PCO and a clinical instructor at TEI, while earning her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Cardiff University in the United Kingdom. From there, she rose through the ranks as an assistant professor, associate dean of Optometric Academic Affairs, associate dean of the Accelerated Scholars Program and ultimately interim dean. Dr. Trego, along with the current associate dean of the Scholars Program Dr. Beth Tonkery, was instrumental in the development of the University’s Accelerated Scholars Program, the first three-year Doctor of Optometry program in the U.S., which has seen much success in its first graduating class this past May.