Page 15 - ASCO Annual Report 2019
P. 15

 ADVANCING OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION
One Student At A Time
     Students interested in a STEM field or healthcare profession are a special bunch.
Often time we hear students say they want to make a difference. Change the world. Find a cure. Give back to society and humanity in a meaningful way.
Optometry does all of that and more.
Becoming a Doctor of Optometry offers an enviable work/life balance, a very good salary, and many ways to give back to one’s community, examples including volunteering, mission trips and free clinics.
And don’t forget how Doctors of Optometry help patients the most – by helping patients protect their vision – our most valuable sense.
In 2019, ASCO, together with our volunteers, set in motion policies and valuable resources for students.
Of particular note, many of our schools are now accepting GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) scores
in addition to the OAT (Optometry Admission Test) when applying to an optometric institution.
Of value to all students is the completion of the Wellness Statement in 2019 by the schools’ Student Affairs Officers.
Student wellness and mental health have taken prominence in the health care conversation and we are proud to offer our voice to this important issue.
Students are quickly becoming a valuable asset to ASCO when wanting to spread news to other students. Through a student guest authoring an ASCO blog post, taking over a social media feed during the AOA or Academy’s meeting, or being a subject expert during one of our podcasts, optometric students volunteer their time and help spread the news about the wonderful profession they are about to enter.
ASCO Wellness Statement
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) encourages all member institutions to promote an educational setting that encourages and supports physical, mental and social well-being for all their students, faculty and staff.
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