Third-year WUCO students hard at work in the Supplement Facts for Health Care Professionals course. (Photo by Jeff Malet, Western University)
A new elective course — Supplement Facts for Health Care Professionals — was offered for the first time this spring to third-year students at the Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry (WUCO). Professor of Nutrition Dr. Ron Waltman, a chiropractor who was contracted to teach the class, said the goals of the class are to provide an overall understanding of what is in a food or supplement and to teach students how to answer patient questions about what’s in a supplement, if a certain supplement is good for them, or if a supplement is recommended.
“Like it or not, every eyecare professional must be able to respond professionally to patient questions regarding diet and supplementation,” Dr. Waltman said. “This expectation is the new norm for eyecare professionals. Actually, this is the new norm for all health care professionals.”
Also: Optical Polymer Research Inc. announced a collaboration with WUCO researchers to develop a new generation of anti-microbial contact lens materials.