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