On March 21, the Boards of Directors of ASCO and the American Optometric Association (AOA) held a daylong joint meeting, their second joint meeting in two years. To start this year’s meeting, which was held in Fernandina Beach, Fla., each organization reviewed its current challenges and initiatives. ASCO President Dr. Jennifer Smythe highlighted ongoing communications […]
ASCO announced the recipients of three 2014 Special Recognition Awards. Dr. Barbara Fink, Associate Professor of Optometry and Vision Science and Chair of the Diversity Enhancement Committee, The Ohio State University College of Optometry, won the Dr. Jack Bennett Innovation in Optometric Education Award. Dr. Yi Pang, Assistant Dean for Research and Associate Professor, Illinois […]
ASCO continues to take steps to fulfill its strategic communications plan, most recently creating its own YouTube channel and launching a blog for prospective optometry students. The creation of the YouTube channel coincided with the release of a new video titled “Be a Doctor of Optometry: Put Your Future in Focus.” It is the latest […]
ASCO continues to offer a diversity-related mini-grant program, although some changes are taking effect this year. For 2014, the program focuses specifically on the development of a more diverse optometric applicant pool. The grant program’s new name — Developing a Diverse Applicant Pool in Optometric Education Mini-Grant Program — reflects the new focus. Schools and […]
ASCO recently completed its annual Faculty Data, Research Funding and Student Data reports. According to the Faculty Data Report for Academic Year 2013-2014, the total number of 1.0 FTE faculty at the 21 ASCO member institutions increased 1.6% compared with the previous year, from 682 to 693. In addition, 49.5% of 1.0 FTE faculty members […]
ASCO joined the nearly 200 organizations aligned with Friends of HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) in signing a funding request letter sent in March to leaders of the Appropriations Committees and Subcommittees in the U.S. House and Senate. Friends of HRSA, led by the American Public Health Association, is dedicated to improving health through […]
On behalf of ASCO, Dr. Linda Casser, Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, has submitted abstracts for a webcast and poster presentation to the Institute of Medicine’s Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education. The abstracts have been accepted and will be published components of the Forum’s next workshop, Scaling Up Best […]
ASCO is pleased to announce that Essilor, a leading manufacturer of optical lenses, has signed on to sponsor the Association’s online newsletter, Eye on Education. Essilor designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of lenses for improving and protecting eyesight. It is a pioneer in the design and production of progressive, high-index and anti-reflective-coated eyeglass […]
ASCO President Dr. Jennifer Smythe was among several eyecare experts interviewed for a Ladies’ Home Journal article, “Better Vision After 35: Your Eyesight Questions, Answered.” She responded to queries such as “I’ve worn contacts for distance correction since I was a teenager, and now that I’m over 40, I think I need reading glasses, too. […]
Vibrant Seattle was the backdrop to the fall meeting of the Board of Directors of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). During the Oct. 22 meeting, as a first step in implementing the President’s Priorities set by Dr. Jennifer Smythe, members of the Board participated in a mini-workshop on best practices in […]
