SUNY College of Optometry President Dr. David Troilo and Dr. Melissa Levine Attend Private Audience at the Vatican

NEW YORK—SUNY College of Optometry has announced that David Troilo, PhD, president, and Melissa Levine, OD, assistant clinical professor, attended a private audience at the Vatican in Rome on Saturday, December 13, 2025. The invitation, which the college noted is reflective of its “growing global reach and the international impact of its leadership in education, research and patient care,” was extended through a unique professional connection with Alessandro Spiezia, the official optician to the Holy See, who has provided eyecare services to Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.