Future Faculty Program

About the Future Faculty Program

Building on the success of the Summer Institute for Faculty Development (SIFD), the Future Faculty Program (FFP) was formed for the purpose of providing residents and graduate students with an opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their success in an optometric academic environment as career-long, productive faculty members. The FFP, first held in 2011, attracts the most promising residents and graduate students from the schools and colleges of optometry who have demonstrated a strong interest in pursuing a career in academic optometry. The program is centered on the unique and important issues that graduate students face as they embark on a career in optometric education and is comprised of formal presentations, workshops, small group discussions, one-on-one mentoring opportunities and shared activities in the areas of teaching and learning, scholarship and academic culture. Each participant develops a long-term career plan with specific goals, objectives and action strategies. Participants are mentored in this process by the program leadership and other participants.

Applications are currently being accepted. Applicants must receive approval from their Dean/President prior to applying. Please contact Jennifer Rubin, Manager of Career and Leadership Development, for additional details.

How To Apply

Participant Application Process:

Applicants will be required to apply and submit a short biography, CV, and a personal essay stating why they are interested in pursuing a career in academic optometry. Applicants will be reviewed and selected by representatives from the Future Faculty Program Committee and contacted to register for the program.

The application window opened on October 4, 2023, and closes November 15, 2023. There is $25 registration fee if you register before November 10, 2023. Once your application has been accepted you will be notified to register and pay for the program (please note the date you applied will be the date that determines the cost of the program). 

To apply, fill out the application.

Selection Criteria:

Approximately 20-25 residents and graduate students, and five mentors will be selected for the program. Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time graduate program at an ASCO member institution and have demonstrated a strong interest in pursuing a career in academic optometry.

 

Key Program Offerings

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

In 2011, ASCO launched the first Future Faculty Program (FFP) for the purpose of providing graduate students with an opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their success in an optometric academic environment as career-long, productive faculty members. In 2014, the program was expanded to include residents. This program attracts the most promising residents and graduate students from the schools and colleges of optometry who have demonstrated a strong interest in pursuing a career in academic optometry. The FFP is comprised of formal presentations, workshops and shared activities. Each attendee develops a long-term career plan with specific goals, objectives and action strategies that are shared with the mentors. Attendees are encouraged to share their goals with their institution, along with the information gained at this program to extend our reach. Attendees are mentored in this process by the program leadership and other attendees. Subsequent programs were offered in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2020 and were very successful.

Program Goals:

Provide residents and graduate students with an opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their success in an optometric academic environment as career-long, productive faculty members.

Targeted Participants:

This program is geared toward individuals that have an OD degree or are earning a PhD degree, not for students concurrently obtaining an OD and a Master’s or PhD degree.

Funding:

ASCO and Wal-Mart have generously supported the FFP; thus, the hotel, meals (during the program), evening reception, printed materials, and administrative expenses are funded for the first applicant from each institution. The schools and colleges are asked to fund airfare, ground transportation, and incidentals for the first applicant. For each additional participant, the institution must cover the entire cost of the program for that individual. Affiliate members must cover the entire program cost for all participants. Please note that this information is subject to change.

Three specific areas will be addressed:

1) Teaching and Learning
2) Scholarship, and
3) Academic Culture

Keynote speakers and program facilitators will present topical areas for discussion. The impact of the program upon each participant will be evaluated both at the conclusion of the program and over the ensuing year. Participation on the longer term outcome assessment is an obligation of all attendees.

Topics:

  • Finding your path in academia (Panel)
  • Academic Culture
    Clinical track versus tenure track
    Private school versus public school
    Promotion
    Governance
  • Presentations
    How to get in CE circuit
    How to entice participants
    How to make the presentation clear
  • CV versus Resume
    What are the similarities
    What are the differences
    What are they used for
  • Participant-Mentor Program Meetings
  • Looking for Jobs in Academia
    Interview Process
    Types of jobs
    Where to look for jobs
    Interview
  • Clinical/Didactic Education
    Break out into groups that are clinical educators (primary FTE) v. didactic educators
    Clinical education group can focus on evaluation and feedback with student learners
    Clinical education group can focus on how to be an effective preceptor
    Didactic education group can focus on teaching style, assessment, and feedback
    Didactic education group can work on teaching the millennial generation (i.e., turning point clickers, etc.)
  • Participant-Mentor Program Meetings

What Faculty Say

The Future Faculty Program (FFP) gives optometry residents and graduate students the opportunity to learn more about careers in academia. How do you get a job in academia? How do I create a strong curriculum vitae? What is the interview process like? How do I negotiate? What should I look for in a contract? What are the differences between private and public schools? How do people promote through the ranks?

FFP also provides mentorship and a community of people interested in the same thing: a career in academia. The program has moved to a virtual format so more people can participate. I’d encourage anyone who has thought seriously about a career in academia to apply. 

— A. Mika Moy, OD, FAAO,  University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry

Meet FFP’s Program Leadership

Co-Chairs

Heather A. Anderson, OD, PhD

Dr. Anderson is an Associate Professor and the Chair of Research and Graduate Studies in Vision Science at The Ohio State University, College of Optometry.

She received her doctorate of optometry and PhD in physiological optics from the University of Houston.

Dr. Anderson teaches clinical methods and procedures in the lecture and lab setting at OSU. Dr. Anderson conducts research investigating the visual system and optical treatment strategies for individuals with Down syndrome. Her topical areas of interest include accommodation, binocular vision, pediatrics and special populations.

Dr. Anderson’s work has been funded by the National Eye Institute. In addition to her independent research, Dr. Anderson is engaged in the conduct and promotion of vision research at the national level by serving as an Investigator in the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group, serving as the Chair of the American Optometric Association’s Council on Research, serving as a member of the American Academy of Optometry Research Committee, and serving as a member of the National Down Syndrome Society’s Scientific Advisory Board.


Lindsay Sicks, OD, FAAO, FIACLE, FSLS

Dr. Sicks graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a BA in Biology and went on to complete her OD at Illinois College of Optometry.

Following graduation, she completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. While in Oklahoma, she was certified in and performed therapeutic anterior segment laser and minor surgical procedures.

Currently, Dr. Sicks serves as an attending optometrist for third- and fourth-year interns in the Cornea Center for Clinical Excellence at ICO. She is also involved in the didactic training of students in specialty contact lenses and ophthalmic surgical procedures including injections, minor surgical procedures, and anterior segment laser therapy.

She has delivered continuing education and presented research and posters at both national and international meetings.

Dr. Sicks serves on the American Academy of Optometry Foundation Board and is also Vice Chair of the AAO Leadership Committee, helping to manage activities of the Flom Leadership Academy. She is also a member of the Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators Communications Committee and is a Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths Coach.

In her spare time, she loves cooking and planning adventures with her husband and three children.