PURSUiNG MEdicAl cAREERS AFtER SERviNG thEiR cOUNtRy

MESSAGE FROM THE DEANCollege of OptometryHow’s the “view” out there? It’s looking very sunny at theCollege of Optometry!The College has completed a number of milestone eventsthis past year, including the successful completion of theacademic year for three full classes of students. Ourinaugural class began its final-year rotations on May 29through a disseminated network of externship sites.Elizabeth Hoppe, OD, MPH, DrPHOur students have been very busy honoring the University’scommitment to community engagement. A recent review ofthe College’s level of community engagement found thatduring the 2010-11 academic year, the College performed 52community-based vision screenings, which accounted for160 faculty hours and 432 student hours. The College’soutreach program touched the lives of 8,790 adults andchildren, including 350 people who were screened in Haiti,1,853 in Mexico, and 1,000 in Peru. Local outreach targetedchildren, athletes from Special Olympics, veterans, and thehomeless, in addition to members of the general public.It is our hope that, through our outreach efforts, improvedvision and eye health will impact independence,employability, and the ability to learn, and may ultimatelylead to a higher quality of life for those served.28 Western University of Health Sciences