ASCO Inspiring Future ODs Ambassador Program

Become an Inspiring Future ODs Ambassador!

Register to be a part of the Inspiring Future ODs program and be up to date with the latest news about the program.

ASCO’s Inspiring Future ODs program is an educational effort that encourages Doctors of Optometry and optometry students to speak to prospective applicants and community members about optometry as a rewarding future career. According to ASCO data, Doctors of Optometry are the profession’s best advocates. If you have a patient in your office or any other young person you think could contribute to and benefit from the profession of optometry, consider assisting that person in gaining further insight and information about this fulfilling career choice.

ASCO launched an exciting public awareness campaign called, Optometry Gives Me Life in 2019 (note the success of the campaign in the application numbers listed below). This campaign is aimed at undergraduate students who are seeking a career in STEM and healthcare. ASCO is also pleased to offer free materials below that will help start the conversation in your office or your community.

2022-2023 OptomCAS Application Cycle
3% increase in size of applicant pool; 3% increase in year four of the campaign of Black and Latino/Hispanic applicants (increased from 479 to 495 applicants); and 85% of applicants had a 3.0 GPA or higher.

2021-2022 OptomCAS Application Cycle
1% increase in size of applicant pool; 4% decrease in year three of the campaign of Black and Latino/Hispanic applicants (decreased from 499 to 479 applicants); and 84% of applicants had a 3.0 GPA or higher.

2020-2021 OptomCAS Application Cycle
4.7% increase in size of applicant pool; 18% increase in year two of the campaign of Black and Latino/Hispanic applicants (increased from 424 to 499 applicants); and 81% of applicants had a 3.0 GPA or higher.

2019-2020 OptomCAS Application Cycle
3.7% increase in size of applicant pool; 10% increase in year one of campaign of Black and Latino/Hispanic applicants (increased from 384 to 424 applicants); and 83% of applicants had a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Thank you to all the corporate contributors who has supported the Optometry Gives Me Life campaign.♦

AVAILABLE MATERIALS

Futureeyedoc.org Website
This Optometry Gives Me Life website features videos of five very engaging and successful Doctors of Optometry showcasing the reasons they chose the career of optometry and how they are able to find time to fuel their personal passions too.♦

Find Your Charge Through a Career in Optometry Marketing Card

This informative marketing card from the Optometry Gives Me Life campaign conveys to prospective students how Doctors of Optometry impact the lives of real people while allowing them to live their best life.

It explains the admissions process, different career paths for optometrists and highlights the locations of the schools and colleges of optometry.

A QR code is also included that will take prospective students to the futureeyedoc.org website where they will learn about five very engaging and successful Doctors of Optometry showcasing the reasons they chose the career of optometry.

To request copies of the marketing card for your office or presentation, please contact Paige Pence, Director of Student and Residency Affairs at ppence@opted.org or feel free to download the PDF to print on your own.♦

Optometry Gives Me Life Webinar
This webinar complements the resource-rich toolkit for practitioners and others interested in sharing why optometry should be a profession of choice. Components of ASCO’s public awareness campaign, Optometry Gives Me Life, the webinar, and its companion tool kit, includes videos of three featured Doctors of Optometry, downloadable artwork for posters and brochures, and sample social media posts. To receive the tool kit, which includes downloadable materials, email Paige Pence at ppence@opted.org.♦

Optometry Gives Me Life Posters
Posters of our engaging Doctors of Optometry can be displayed in your optometry office or used out in your community at your local high schools, undergraduate institutions, given out during career fairs, etc.♦

“Be a Doctor of Optometry” PowerPoint Presentation
This presentation is available to be used to speak about the profession of optometry. It contains everything you need to know about optometry from learning what Doctors of Optometry do, types of practice available, career outlook and educational requirements.♦

Other Resources for the Promotion of Optometry as a Career

Eye on Optometry Blog 
The ASCO blog contains information about the profession, including, “Dear Pre-Optometry Students,” “A Day in the Life of an Optometrist,” “A Day in the Life of an Optometry Student,” “What it Takes to be a Competitive Applicant,” “Taking the OAT,” “Why You Should Join, or Start, a Pre-Optometry Club,” and “The Importance of Shadowing in Pursuing an Optometry Career.”♦

ASCO YouTube Channel 
Includes videos and podcasts about all the exciting things going on in optometric education.♦

Other Applicants and Advisors Resources 
This page of the ASCO website sends you to various additional pages of information that future optometry students would find useful as they explore the profession.♦

If you would like us to stay in touch with you about the Inspiring Future ODs program, please complete the registration form. We will provide you updates when new marketing materials are available and any other exciting news about the Optometry Gives Me Life campaign.

We would like to thank you for your commitment to optometric education and your willingness to promote optometry through the Inspiring Future ODs program!

Contact Paige Pence, Director of Student and Residency Affairs, at 301-231-5944, x3077 or ppence@opted.org.