New Optometry Schools
by Saysha Blazier, SCCO Trustee
As students across the country representing our profession we are about to welcome three new schools to our optometric community: University of the Incarnate Word School of Optometry (UIW), located in San Antonio, Texas, Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry (AZCOPT), located in Glendale, Arizona, and Western University College of Optometry (WUCO), located in Pomona, California. How does an optometry school come to exist? These schools must gain pre-accreditation classification of "Preliminary Approval" by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education. The ACOE will review the preliminary approval classification annually during the first three academic years of the program through written reports and/or site visits as deemed necessary by the Council. Not less than 12 months prior to graduation of the program's first class, the ACOE will visit the program at the University's invitation to determine accreditation status. If the program is found to meet the standards of accreditation, the classification of accredited will be granted from the date of evaluation visit, which will occur prior to the graduation of the first class. At this point all three schools have pre-accreditation classification of “preliminary approval”.
Each of the three new schools plan on their first class entering this Fall of 2009, with an expected four year degree as doctor of optometry in 2013. The optometric programs look similar to that of the current, existing 19 schools of optometry in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with the first and second year of the program emphasizing basic health sciences, optics, and visual science, as well as being introduced to clinical practice through laboratories and introductory clinical courses. Visual consequences of disease are introduced in the second year. The third year, divided between a didactic and a clinical setting, emphasizes the diagnosis and treatment of ocular dysfunction and disease. The fourth year is intensive clinical training that will include on-campus and off-campus externship rotations.
The mission of the University of the Incarnate Word School of Optometry is to educate and prepare future leaders in optometry through excellence in education, patient care, vision research, and public service, within a context of faith and personal development. The University of the Incarnate Word School of Optometry will encompass two clinical facilities – one will be located at the School of Optometry building and a second clinic will be located in east San Antonio. UIW will be the only faith-based School of Optometry in the United States.
Dr. Hector Santiago, new dean of Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry comments: “With a greater prevalence of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and glaucoma in the aging population, the demand for optometric services is expected to increase significantly — at least 21% — during the next decade, as this population increases.” He states that AZCOPT “is a unique institution providing the highest standard of education and training to serve the needs of Arizona, the region, and the nation. You will have the opportunity to learn and practice the art and science of optometry with students in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and the health sciences.”
Western University College of Optometry (WUCO) has three distinctive elements: Interprofessional Education, early entry into patient care, and a focus on rehabilitative optometric services including neuro-optometric rehabilitation. A key goal of the proposed curriculum is to support and encourage collaboration between the various health professions. Interprofessional integration will be incorporated into the curriculum in several areas. It is anticipated that in the first year of the curriculum, optometry students will be enrolled in several didactic courses with the medical, dental, and podiatric students, including: Introduction to the Study of Medicine, The Molecular and Cellular Basis of Medicine, Medical Ethics, Introduction to Disease, Behavioral Health and others. Dean of WUCO, Dr. Elizabeth Hoppe, comments “Our graduates will be prepared to represent optometry as an integral member of the health care team. Our goal is not only to benefit from collaborative opportunities with other professions but to also help educate all other health care disciplines represented on our campus about the value of working with optometrists to maximize the health and well-being of their future patients.”