ASCO News
ROCKVILLE, MD, May 16, 2014 – The Allergan Foundation has awarded a competitive Focus Grant to The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry’s (ASCO) to support the Be a Doctor of Optometry: Put Your Future in Focus video. The Allergan Foundation joins Luxottica in supporting ASCO’s initiative to promote the Doctor of Optometry profession.
The video, previously viewed nearly 4,000 times, is available on ASCO’s YouTube channel and website.
“The Allergan Foundation’s generous support of our career video is greatly appreciated and demonstrates their commitment to the future of optometric education and will allow us to continue appealing to the most qualified and diverse applicants to our schools and colleges,” says Dr. Jennifer Smythe, ASCO President and Dean of the Pacific University College of Optometry. “Our hope is that viewers of the video will learn about the Doctor of Optometry profession and all it has to offer – making a difference in their patients daily lives and excellent work/life balance, to just name a few. As it says in the video, ‘optometry is limitless.’”
The recruitment video highlights students, professors and Doctors of Optometry talking about what students learn and what they can expect from the profession once they graduate, as well as demonstrates the caring aspects of the profession and the more high tech aspects of optometry. It is the latest marketing tool developed for the ASCO-American Optometric Association Joint Project on Further Developing a Robust, Diverse, and High Qualified National Applicant Pool. The video complements the True Stories booklet and the ASCO website, hoping to increase the number, quality and diversity of applicants to the 21 schools and colleges of optometry in the 50 states and Puerto Rico.
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The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is a non-profit association representing the interests of optometric education. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Rockville, Md., ASCO is committed to achieving excellence in optometric education and to helping its member institutions prepare well-qualified graduates for entrance into the profession of optometry. Its membership encompasses the schools and colleges of optometry in the 50 states and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States are affiliate members.
ROCKVILLE, MD, March 28, 2014 – The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry’s (ASCO) Be a Doctor of Optometry: Put Your Future in Focus video is partially funded through a contribution from Luxottica. The video is available from the ASCO website and newly launched YouTube channel.
“ASCO greatly appreciates Luxottica stepping forward and recognizing the challenges the schools and colleges of optometry face in attracting the most highly qualified and diverse applicants to rewarding careers as Doctors of Optometry,” says Dr. Jennifer Smythe, ASCO President and Dean of the Pacific University College of Optometry. “The video reinforces what many optometrists already know, Doctors of Optometry have unlimited career opportunities, great success at achieving work/life balance and are primary health care providers that make a real difference.”
The video promotes the Doctor of Optometry degree and the optometric profession. It shows students, professors and Doctors of Optometry talking about what students learn and what they can expect from the profession once they graduate, as well as demonstrates the caring aspects of the profession and the more high tech aspects of optometry.
The video is the latest marketing tool developed for the ASCO-American Optometric Association Joint Project on Further Developing a Robust, Diverse, and High Qualified National Applicant Pool. The video complements the True Stories booklet and the ASCO website, hoping to increase the number, quality and diversity of applicants to the 21 schools and colleges of optometry in the 50 states and Puerto Rico.
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The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is a non-profit association representing the interests of optometric education. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Rockville, Md., ASCO is committed to achieving excellence in optometric education and to helping its member institutions prepare well-qualified graduates for entrance into the profession of optometry. Its membership encompasses the schools and colleges of optometry in the 50 states and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States are affiliate members.
ASCO, as a Friend of the Health Resources and Services Administration, requested an increase in funding to HRSA due to impending budget cuts. Read the funding request letter and Congressional testimony.
Optometry Associations Come Together
Four of the leading associations meet to build better Communications and Understanding
January 30, 2014
Associations:
American Optometric Association, AOA
Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry, ARBO
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, ASCO
National Board of Examiners in Optometry, NBEO
Committee Name:
Inter-Organizational Communications and Cooperation Committee, IOCCC
Dallas, Texas, January 12/13, 2014 – Leaders of American Optometric Association (AOA), Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO), Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), and the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) held a facilitated two day meeting with the expressed desire to come to a better understanding of each organization’s operating realities, vision for the future and stakeholder requirements to build an enhanced and formal working relationship with the goal to better serve their respective stakeholders and the general public’s desire for high quality eye care.
The IOCCC held phone conferences this past summer to develop goals, agendas and operating guidelines for their first face-to-face (F2F) meeting. The IOCCC anticipates that its next F2F meeting will be sometime later this summer following the annual meetings of ARBO, ASCO and AOA, all in late June.
Goals and Outcomes of the IOCCC
The overriding goals and outcome for the IOCCC:
- To build a more structured environment for the exchange of ideas. Optometric community adjustments are driving organizational change; therefore, the IOCCC wishes to have an ongoing understanding of each organization’s current operations and their vision for the future.
- To enhance the systematic dialog and working relationships between the organizations in an open environment to facilitate synergism among the organizations to better serve the optometry community.
- Enhance regular lines of inter-organizational communications for constructive conversations.
These gatherings are more for understanding and dialog on vital optometry issues of the day, not the typical agenda packed with action items. The desire is to come to a common understanding of issues seen through the different stakeholders’ lens and possible strategies to find synergistic solutions. Following are some of the items discussed.
- Organizational independence, authority & responsibility
- Multi-organizational board membership
- Financial, strategic, and organizational structures and alliances
- Maintenance of licensure
- Accreditation of continuing education
- Board certification & maintenance of certification
While this was the IOCCCs’ first F2F meeting on issues that warrant considerable additional dialog, it was the unanimous consensus that this was a very productive first step to help facilitate the organizations’ goals to better serve their representative stakeholders.
The group agreed that an ongoing, open and honest dialog between their groups will prove beneficial for each of their organizations, members and the general public.
Organizational Representatives (alphabetical by organization):
AOA = American Optometric Association
- Mitch Munson, O.D., AOA President, Practice: Highlands Ranch Vision Center, P.C. (Colorado)
- Chris Quinn, O.D., AOA Board of trustees (New Jersey)
- William Reynolds, O.D., AOA Board of trustees, Practice: Richmond, KY
ARBO = Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry
- Ernie Schlabach, O.D., ARBO President (Virginia)
- Michael J. O’Hara, J.D., Ph.D., ARBO Board, Nebraska Board of Optometry, Professor,
Finance, Banking, and Real Estate Department, College of Business Administration, University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Greg Moore, O.D., ARBO Board, Practice: Appalachian Eyes LLC (Charleston, WV and Ashland, KY)
ASCO = Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
- Jennifer Smythe, O.D., ASCO President, Dean, Pacific University College of Optometry (Oregon) NOTE: absent due to illness
- David Heath, O.D., M.Ed., ASCO Immediate Past-President, President, SUNY College of Optometry (New York)
- Richard W. Phillips, O.D., ASCO Secretary/Treasurer, President, Southern College of Optometry, (Memphis)
NBEO = National Board of Examiners in Optometry (Charlotte, NC)
- Nancy Peterson-Klein, NBEO Past President, Michigan Board of Optometry
- Jack E. Terry, O.D., Ph.D., NBEO Executive Director (North Carolina)
- Alan J. King, O.D., NBEO President, Practice: King Family Eye Clinic, (North Dakota)
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The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is a non-profit association representing the interests of optometric education. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Rockville, Md., ASCO is committed to achieving excellence in optometric education and to helping its member institutions prepare well-qualified graduates for entrance into the profession of optometry. Its membership encompasses the schools and colleges of optometry in the United States and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States are affiliate members.
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry’s Cultural Competency Case Study Competition Open to Optometry Students and Residents
Awards Totaling $5,000
ROCKVILLE, MD, January 16, 2014 – Optometry students at the 21 accredited schools and colleges in the 50 states and Puerto Rico, and optometry residents, are encouraged to apply for ASCO’s Cultural Competency Case Study Competition for Students and Residents.
$2,500 will be awarded to one optometry student; $2,500 will be awarded to one optometry resident.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to view ASCO’s Guidelines for Culturally Competent Eye and Vision Care and program requirements prior to submitting a case study.
“This award is made possible through the generosity of Walmart,” according to Christine Armstrong, ASCO’s Director of Development. “Walmart has fully funded ASCO’s Cultural Competency Initiative since 2008 with donations totaling $90,000, demonstrating a genuine commitment to optometric education.”
“At Walmart and Sam’s Club, it is important to us that our workforce provides solutions for the communities that we serve,” according to Richard Rothman, RPh, Director, Talent Acquisitions – Health and Wellness, Walmart Stores, Inc. “It is with this solid foundation of diversity and inclusion that Walmart Health and Wellness is proud to continue to sponsor ASCO’s cultural competency curriculum, which helps to educate students about the cultural differences of their patients.”
This award continues ASCO’s efforts to promote cultural competency at its institutions and keep its Guidelines for Culturally Competent Eye and Vision Care document current.
Submissions will be accepted between February 17 and April 14, 2014.
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The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is a non-profit association representing the interests of optometric education. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Rockville, Md., ASCO is committed to achieving excellence in optometric education and to helping its member institutions prepare well-qualified graduates for entrance into the profession of optometry. Its membership encompasses the schools and colleges of optometry in the United States and Puerto Rico. A number of optometry schools outside the United States are affiliate members.
Contact:
Kimberly O’Sullivan
Director of Communications
301.231.5944 ext.3019
kosullivan@opted.org
On Oct. 30, more than 900 prospective applicants and representatives from optometry institutions participated in ASCO’s first optometry virtual fair.
The fair was an opportunity for students to ask questions from the comfort of their own computers as they consider if optometry is the right profession for them. For those who are currently involved in the OptomCAS application process, it allowed them to ask specific questions about their applications to the schools and colleges they are considering.
Comments from the participants as well as schools and colleges representatives were overwhelmingly positive.
A sampling of comments is below:
“I LOVE IT!” Potential student
“I like how you have multiple representatives from each school. It has allowed for a variety of questions to be answered.” Potential student
“I particularly enjoyed talking to current students.” Potential student
“It was also helpful to see what questions others were asking, as some have asked questions I didn’t think of myself.” Potential student
“[I liked] the quick feedback to my specific questions.” Potential student
“Representatives were very welcoming and informative.” Potential student
“… it has been nice to connect at once with all the schools I’ve been researching for so long!” Potential student
“I’ve been impressed with the depth of the answers given to me by some of the representatives.” Potential student
“It [is] a fantastic way to get better understanding of the schools and programs.” Potential student
“Going well. Busy in the chat room. I like it a lot. It allows us to reach more students in a cost effective way.” School or College of Optometry representative
“It’s great – love being able to connect with so many students from across country all at once.” School or College of Optometry representative
“Going great – we are having a blast. Well organized and has been constant.” School or College of Optometry representative
“On average we had about 47 students per school and college of optometry participating during the fair,” according to Paige Pence, ASCO’s Director, Student and Residency Affairs. “Our hope is to offer future fairs and build on this momentum and continue educating students about the wonderful profession of optometry.”
If you’re interested in ASCO’s schools and colleges of optometry or wish to be notified of future fairs, please email ppence@opted.org.
Download ASCO’s True Stories brochure here.
We are pleased to announce that Optometric Education is now indexed on Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com/).
Current indexing in Google Scholar is from 2000 until the current edition.
The current edition, as well as all past editions of the journal can be found here.
Optometric Education is announcing a future theme edition, which will focus on all aspects of interprofessional education.
The deadline to submit articles for this theme edition is June 30, 2014.
The theme edition is tenatively scheduled for publication in November 2014.
For additional information on the theme edition contact Dr. Aurora Denial, deniala@neco.edu.
Jennifer Smythe. Dean of the College of Optometry. Pacific University.
Recently ASCO’s Director of Communications sat down with Dr. Jennifer Smythe to discuss her role as ASCO President.
ASCO: What will be your main priorities this coming year?
Dr. Jennifer Smythe: We have great momentum with the marketing campaign we have been working on and we will continue to promote the optometric profession and to achieve our goal of increasing the applicant pool to our 21 schools and colleges of optometry. We want the world to know we’re optometry and this is what we do.
Interprofessional education is also important to me because collaborative care is the future. We need to be thinking about what health care will look like and how it will evolve while continuing to enhance the overall wellbeing of the patient.
I also hope to learn what all of our schools and colleges are doing and what unique experiences we can share with our faculty and students of optometry. We need to keep on top of the changing technology and tools in the field of optometric education as well as ways to best communicate with our students. I will support all of our member institutions in any way I can and offer resources including my time and the talents of our faculty, committees and board of directors. Allocating resources for a grant program and other important initiatives are in ASCO’s future.
ASCO: How will ASCO help in implementing your priorities?
JS: We have so much expertise! We don’t have to necessarily look outside ourselves for resources. We will continue tapping into member institutions as well as ASCO staff. Establishing an IPE task force is on the forefront and staff at ASCO headquarters will be vital in making this group cohesive and functional.
ASCO: What are you looking forward to the most during this coming year?
JS: Hearing from all the institutions about their programs and ideas and what is working for them and what is not. I’m a lifelong learner and I am looking forward to learning from my colleagues. Such as: learning what barriers our schools and colleges have overcome; what opportunities are offered to our schools and colleges; what issues other health professions are facing; what can I learn that will benefit my institution, and so on.
I’m also looking forward to connecting with students and keeping communication fresh and current.
ASCO: Will your duties as Dean of Pacific University, College of Optometry change during your presidency?
JS: My role will not change. The time to be ASCO President came at a great time. Timing is everything. This is my sixth year as Dean of Pacific University, College of Optometry. I know my role and the needs of the position and it allows me to carve out time for ASCO while still being involved with optometric education. I have an extremely supportive team and am supported by our Provost and President.
ASCO: Where did your passion for optometric education come from?
JS: My story is probably similar to many. I grew up in a small town in Alaska — Kodiak, Alaska. I worked for a Pacific alumnus because my original aspiration was to join his practice in pediatrics. However, during my second year in optometry school, my contact lens professor, Cristina Schnider, influenced me and I wanted to learn more from her. She got me involved in research. I was her teaching assistant and her second contact lens resident.
I love academia because every day is different. I am constantly challenged. It is one thing to know it. It’s another thing to convey the information to students. Being able to use research to validate clinical anecdotes was fun for me. Research is fascinating because you may have a theory in your mind but you need to go out and find if that theory is true or not.
ASCO: What piece of advice would you give to a student who is interested in becoming an optometrist? Or a student who has the aptitude but may not know about optometry? A parent? A current optometrist or mentor?
JS: This is very apropos. My son is a junior at Pacific and is pre-optometry. To a student or potential student I’d say to shadow as many optometrists as you can and learn about the specialty areas in optometry so you have a broad understanding of what optometrists do, and what opportunities are available. I’d also tell the student the curriculum is very challenging. Success starts with not only identifying what you want to do but also WHY you want to do it. That is why shadowing an optometrist is so important. I would encourage a potential student of optometry to seek out alumni from various schools and colleges to learn about which institution is best for them.
We need to do a much better job at sharing information about our profession to high school and college students, not just with pre optometry and health advisors. Being a doctor of optometry positively impacts someone’s life almost instantly. Applying a contact lens to someone is amazing. It’s like painting leaves on the trees. The profession is rewarding, you help people and you’re constantly learning. We also play important roles in managing the overall health of our patients.
As a parent I’m absolutely thrilled my son has decided to enter a profession where he’ll thrive. There are so many opportunities for him. I have great pride when I think of his future. It requires a significant investment but there’s a significant demand for optometrists. I’d encourage parents to educate their children about the field.
To current optometrists I say, “We need you!” We need optometrists to send us students. Roll up your shirt sleeves and open your doors to students and have honest conversations about the profession. Talk to them about what they do on a daily basis. What rewards they gain by being an optometrist. Doctors of optometry are the most influential group to the entering class of optometry students. Not their health advisors or college professors, but current doctors of optometry.
ASCO: Congratulations on being the first female president of ASCO. Would you care to comment?
JS: I’m happy and proud to be the president of ASCO and proud to be the first female president. I feel this is an organic natural reflection of the changing demographics of the student population.
Can I brag for a moment? The first female president of the American Academy of Optometry, Joan Exford, Dori Carlson the first female president of the American Optometric Association, and I all received degrees from the Pacific University, College of Optometry!
ASCO: Speaking of Pacific University, College of Optometry, this is your opportunity to “plug” your institution. Tell us something about Pacific that we may not know.
JS: We are a really vibrant and unique community. Our university is very diversified. There are ten other health profession programs at our institution. As a college of optometry we have done a wonderful job expanding the scope of practice in Oregon and using that in our curriculum.
We focus on behavioral optometry and are very loyal to our roots. When we see a patient, we learn how we can enhance that patient’s life by improving their vision and health. That is behavioral optometry. It’s a privilege to work with an individual and help him or her become more functional and successful through their eyes and vision. That is Pacific’s fundamental core.
ASCO: On a more personal note, tell us about you a little. What was the last vacation you took? Last good book you read; any hobbies, etc.
JS: I took a vacation to France his summer. It fed my interest in history. Paris is the most amazing city on the planet. That was my last true vacation. I like to read a lot. I enjoy historical fiction and I’m in the middle of Maeve Binchy’s latest book. She writes about people in interesting ways and develops characters you want to get to know better.
I also enjoy cooking. I would consider myself a foodie and love trying new restaurants. My family and I enjoy playing games, especially my 16 year old daughter, and when I can I also garden.
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ASCO awarded six schools and colleges of optometry with Practice Management Education (PME) Awards in 2013 in its inaugural year. A PME Award provides seed funding of up to $2,000 for developing and implementing activities or programs that are designed to supplement the practice management educational experience for optometry students. The activity/program’s framework should strengthen the institution’s commitment to practice management, enhance student education and promote the success of the student as a future practitioner, and be transferable/of benefit to other institutions. Awards can be used to fund seminars, outside speakers, and mentoring/guidance programs for graduating optometry students. The grant program is funded directly by ASCO, and members of the ASCO Academic Affairs Committee serve as application evaluators.
This year’s recipients of PME Awards are:
*Illinois College of Optometry (for outside speakers to teach billing/coding and legal aspects of optometry)
*MCPHS University School of Optometry (to cover honoraria for outside speakers for two courses in practice and business management)
*Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University (for a program designed to give future doctors of optometry an opportunity to experience the loan process, the purchase of a business, and contract negotiations, and to be on both sides of the interview process)
*Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University (for honoraria and travel expenses for experts who will participate in a course presenting policies and procedures involving billing and coding, and implementation of The Affordable Care Act)
*Southern College of Optometry (for the Focus on the Future program at the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence featuring a panel presentation to raise awareness about the variety of career options in optometry — such as solo or group practice owner, retail model, institutional or military practice, etc.)
*University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry (for a day-long lecture designed to increase the number of graduates who start a private practice, including segments on retiring student debt and advanced billing and coding)
PME Award application requirements can be found at https://optometriceducation.org/for-member-institutions-faculty/faculty-development-and-data/practice-management-education-award/; questions can be directed to Carol Brubaker, ASCO’s Manager of Professional Affairs, at cbrubaker@opted.org.
