Minorities in Optometry
Not only is there a place for minority students in optometry, but minority optometrists are in demand. Today, there are approximately 32,000 optometrists practicing nationwide. Some 600 (or less than two percent) come from minority backgrounds. Clearly, you as a minority student interested in a health care profession that is both personally and financially rewarding, can confidently choose optometry.
Minorities are drastically underrepresented in the optometric profession at present. There is a real danger that this problem will continue to grow if the opportunity that optometry offers is ignored.
Since most states have less than 10 minority optometrists and are anxious to welcome more, you will find yourself in a very enviable position as a Doctor of Optometry.
The Pennsylvania College of Optometry invites you to help us assure that a more representative number of future optometrists will be minority practitioners. So if you are looking at the health care professions in search of a challenging career, one that will serve a deep social need and also give you added prestige in your community, I urge you to investigate the profession of optometry.
Minority Student Affairs Office
The Pennsylvania College of Optometry's Office of Minority Affairs exists to help minority students. The Office coordinates the recruitment of minority and disadvantaged students and provides enrichment and counseling programs. It acts as the focal point for all minority student affairs and as an advocate for minority students. The College has taken a leadership role in increasing the number of minority optometrists. Several times, the College has been commended for its efforts by the National Optometric Association, the professional society for minority practitioners.
The Summer Enrichment Program
The Office of Minority Affairs directs a summer program for minority students and students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have completed the College's prerequisite courses and who have been accepted for admission. This program helps students make the adjustment from an undergraduate experience to professional school in a relaxed atmosphere. The tuition-free, six-week program includes mini-courses in gross anatomy, microanatomy, neuroscience, pathology, biochemistry, physiology, and theoretical optics, as well as clinical observation and study skills.