NECO Opens New CTC at Beacon Street

August 29, 2025

Cheers, applause, and the snip of a ribbon marked a new chapter for NECO on Monday, August 25, as the College officially opened its brand-new Clinical Training Center (CTC) at 424 Beacon Street.

The celebration drew nearly 100 trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, students, donors, corporate partners, and community leaders—everyone united by one goal: preparing the next generation of optometrists in a space designed to reflect the very best of modern clinical education.

Howard Purcell, OD’84, NECO President and CEO, set the tone with a heartfelt welcome.

“The Clinical Training Center you’re about to see represents a bold step forward in our mission to educate the next generation of optometrists,” Dr. Purcell shared. “It’s more than a facility—it’s a symbol of NECO’s commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and community-centered care.”

Joining Dr. Purcell at center stage were Board Chair Rick Heller, Director of Facilities Shawne Gillies, and student leaders Loveth Aleburu and Holly Scheiber. Together, they cut the ceremonial ribbon, officially opening a facility that is already reshaping how students learn and train.

A Space Built for the Future of Eye Care

The $2.6 million project was carefully designed to replicate real-world optometry practices while giving students more opportunities to hone their skills. Among its highlights:

Expanded practice time: An additional practice bay gives students 20–22 more hours each week to sharpen clinical techniques.
Collaborative learning: Two state-of-the-art teaching bays flow into a dedicated demonstration room, creating a dynamic environment for group instruction.
Cutting-edge technology: Students gain hands-on experience with digital refractors, retinal cameras, and visual field machines.
Deeper industry partnerships: With access to the latest tools, NECO strengthens collaborations with leaders in eye care innovation.

Each year, the CTC will host more than 1,000 hours of instruction and over 17,000 student-led practice visits, cementing its role as the heart of NECO’s clinical education.

A Community Effort
Dr. Purcell recognized the many hands that brought the project to life—including faculty and staff leaders Shawne Gillies, Dr. Jennifer Reilly, Dr. Jeffrey Ho, Dr. Tim Bossie, Traci Logan, Ben Cohan, Dr. Bina Patel, Rich Dahill, and Julio Valenzuela. Special thanks also went to Jones Architecture Inc. and Bowdoin for turning vision into reality.

“This milestone would not be possible without the generosity of our donors, the dedication of our corporate partners, and the leadership of so many in this room,” Dr. Purcell noted. “Thank you for believing in our mission and investing so thoughtfully in the lives of our students.”

From Wonder to Wow
As tours wrapped up, students guided guests through the gleaming new bays, proudly showcasing the tools they’ll soon be using. The excitement was contagious.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said a student attendee. “But after walking around the new CTC, I’m blown away by how beautiful it is. I can’t wait for us to start using the space later this week.”

Leading the Way
For NECO, the CTC is more than a new facility—it’s an investment in the future of eye care. As one of the nation’s top producers of practicing optometrists, the College sees the center as essential to sustaining its leadership role and preparing graduates to deliver the highest level of patient care in communities across the country.

NECO Opens New CTC at Beacon Street

Cheers, applause, and the snip of a ribbon marked a new chapter for NECO on Monday, August 25, as the College officially opened its brand-new Clinical Training Center (CTC) at 424 Beacon Street.

The celebration drew nearly 100 trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, students, donors, corporate partners, and community leaders—everyone united by one goal: preparing the next generation of optometrists in a space designed to reflect the very best of modern clinical education.

Howard Purcell, OD’84, NECO President and CEO, set the tone with a heartfelt welcome.

Joining Dr. Purcell at center stage were Board Chair Rick Heller, Director of Facilities Shawne Gillies, and student leaders Loveth Aleburu and Holly Scheiber. Together, they cut the ceremonial ribbon, officially opening a facility that is already reshaping how students learn and train.

A Space Built for the Future of Eye Care

The $2.6 million project was carefully designed to replicate real-world optometry practices while giving students more opportunities to hone their skills. Among its highlights:

Expanded practice time: An additional practice bay gives students 20–22 more hours each week to sharpen clinical techniques.

Collaborative learning: Two state-of-the-art teaching bays flow into a dedicated demonstration room, creating a dynamic environment for group instruction.

Cutting-edge technology: Students gain hands-on experience with digital refractors, retinal cameras, and visual field machines.

Deeper industry partnerships: With access to the latest tools, NECO strengthens collaborations with leaders in eye care innovation.

Each year, the CTC will host more than 1,000 hours of instruction and over 17,000 student-led practice visits, cementing its role as the heart of NECO’s clinical education.

“This milestone would not be possible without the generosity of our donors, the dedication of our corporate partners, and the leadership of so many in this room,” Dr. Purcell noted. “Thank you for believing in our mission and investing so thoughtfully in the lives of our students.”

From Wonder to Wow
As tours wrapped up, students guided guests through the gleaming new bays, proudly showcasing the tools they’ll soon be using. The excitement was contagious.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said a student attendee. “But after walking around the new CTC, I’m blown away by how beautiful it is. I can’t wait for us to start using the space later this week.”

424 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02115

Copyright ©2025 New England College of Optometry

news@neco.edu

NECONews is published by the NECO Marketing & Communications Deparment

NECO Opens New CTC at Beacon Street

Cheers, applause, and the snip of a ribbon marked a new chapter for NECO on Monday, August 25, as the College officially opened its brand-new Clinical Training Center (CTC) at 424 Beacon Street.

The celebration drew nearly 100 trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, students, donors, corporate partners, and community leaders—everyone united by one goal: preparing the next generation of optometrists in a space designed to reflect the very best of modern clinical education.

Howard Purcell, OD’84, NECO President and CEO, set the tone with a heartfelt welcome.

Joining Dr. Purcell at center stage were Board Chair Rick Heller, Director of Facilities Shawne Gillies, and student leaders Loveth Aleburu and Holly Scheiber. Together, they cut the ceremonial ribbon, officially opening a facility that is already reshaping how students learn and train.

A Space Built for the Future of Eye Care

The $2.6 million project was carefully designed to replicate real-world optometry practices while giving students more opportunities to hone their skills. Among its highlights:

Expanded practice time: An additional practice bay gives students 20–22 more hours each week to sharpen clinical techniques.

Collaborative learning: Two state-of-the-art teaching bays flow into a dedicated demonstration room, creating a dynamic environment for group instruction.

Cutting-edge technology: Students gain hands-on experience with digital refractors, retinal cameras, and visual field machines.

Deeper industry partnerships: With access to the latest tools, NECO strengthens collaborations with leaders in eye care innovation.

Each year, the CTC will host more than 1,000 hours of instruction and over 17,000 student-led practice visits, cementing its role as the heart of NECO’s clinical education.

“This milestone would not be possible without the generosity of our donors, the dedication of our corporate partners, and the leadership of so many in this room,” Dr. Purcell noted. “Thank you for believing in our mission and investing so thoughtfully in the lives of our students.”

From Wonder to WowAs tours wrapped up, students guided guests through the gleaming new bays, proudly showcasing the tools they’ll soon be using. The excitement was contagious.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said a student attendee. “But after walking around the new CTC, I’m blown away by how beautiful it is. I can’t wait for us to start using the space later this week.”

424 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02115

Copyright ©2025 New England College of Optometry

news@neco.edu

NECONews is published by the NECO Marketing & Communications Deparment

From Wonder to Wow
As tours wrapped up, students guided guests through the gleaming new bays, proudly showcasing the tools they’ll soon be using. The excitement was contagious.

424 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02115