Career Opportunities for ODs in Academia

Teaching & Research Needs

Need More Optometry FacultyTeaching Needs

Profession is growing More schools Expansion of Scope requires greater

range of expertise Fewer instructors with ODs are teaching

basic science in optometry schools

Need More Optometry FacultyResearch Needs

Current production of OD, PhDs or OD, MS is just a trickle

There are many topics in “Traditional” Optometry that need research

Biomedical topics, i.e. within the expanded scope, have only a handful of OD researchers

Why Bother with Science? Every instrument, every procedure, every

treatment you use in clinic has a background in science

Smart clinicians ask why? Leads to basic, translational & clinical studies

that improve patient care Optometry’s authenticity & legitimacy is

enhanced because ODs do research Optometry must not simply be a consumer of

knowledge, it must contribute as well.

Academic Entry Points Traditional: MS and PhD programs Residency: Many provide teaching

responsibilities; often needed for faculty positions

NEW: K12 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program– Training in Clinical/Translational research--Is not necessarily a degree program

K12 NEI Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program (NEI website lists six programs)

UC Berkeley Optometry Wilmer Univ. of Penn Duke Harvard-Mass Eye & Ear Univ. of Illinois

K12 http://www.nei.nih.gov/funding/neifm.asp

Three to five years of training Purpose: support career development of

clinical scientists Translate basic science advances to

clinic Berkeley program offers your current

faculty salary Possible to get release & return to

current institution

Graduate Programs at Schools and Colleges of Optometry Indiana University: MS, PhD MCPHS: OD/MPH NECO: MS, OD/PhD with Boston University Nova Southeastern: MS The Ohio State University: MS, PhD Pacific University: MS, MEd PCO at Salus University: MSc SCCO at Marshall B. Ketchum University: MS SUNY: MS, PhD UAB: MS, PhD UCB: MS, PhD University of Houston: MS, PhDhttp://www.opted.org/about-optometric-education/graduate-programs/

Major Sources of Financial Support Fee remissions, stipends, teaching &

research assistantships, & training grants from the institutional graduate program

NIH- Loan Repayment Program, up to $70,000

AOF Ezell Fellowships Individual NIH K23 (clinician scientist) or

KO8 (research training) grants

Summary Little or no tuition/fees: $0 out Receive a modest stipend for living

expenses: some $ in Potential to increase salary through KO8 or

K23 (e.g.$60-80K/year) grants: a lot of $ in Potential to have a substantial portion of

Optometry school loans repaid: reduce debt Very competitive for teaching or research

jobs

How to get started? If you like to ask why, enjoy the discovery

process, or want to advance the state of patient care, then a post-OD degree may be for you

Talk to the research director at your school To see if research is appealing, some

optometry schools have NEI supported summer research programs that will pay you a stipend, including: IU, NECO, OSU, UCB, UH