By Dr. Bibin Cherian I first got involved through the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) during optometry school and quickly realized the importance of being active within the profession and community. Whether it’s through joining state or local associations, pursuing board certification, obtaining American Academy of Optometry fellowship, or engaging in volunteer opportunities, active involvement serves as a cornerstone for professional growth and advocacy for the profession. This is beneficial for both personal development and for patient care. Being involved allows young opt ..read more

In my fourth year of optometry school, I had the enriching experience of working within the Indian Health Services (IHS) during my placement in Montana. This opportunity not only proved to be highly rewarding but also sparked my interest in an unconventional career path within the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Surprisingly, this option had not been brought to my attention during my academic journey, prompting me to share insights into this lesser-known branch of our nation’s uniformed services. The Commissioned Corps is not part of the armed forces but rather a team of pub ..read more

Clay Fung  SCCO at MBKU OD Candidate 26’  In an ever-evolving political landscape, legislative changes carry immense potential to better the lives of underserved populations. These changes dictate the ways in which we live, impacting fundamental aspects such as equity and accessibility. In the world of primary health, this translates to changes in access to care, scope of practice, and freedom of choice. Optometry is no exception.  Entering optometry school, I was aware of the saying that “optometry is a legislative profession”. I imagine every student has echoed this phrase at ..read more

Graduation day is a momentous occasion, a culmination of years of hard work and training has paid off and you are now stepping into the exciting world of eye care. But amidst the celebratory confetti, a quieter reality lurks: student loan debt. For most graduates, managing and repaying those loans will be a significant part of their financial journey. Fear not, future optometrists! This blog post is your roadmap to navigating the often-daunting terrain of student loan debt and repayment. We’ll explore various options, delve into repayment plans, and equip you with resources to tackle this mo ..read more

Embarking on my optometry school journey amid the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a unique and challenging experience, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in an ever-changing world. In this era dominated by technology, the shift to virtual learning became a cornerstone for education, requiring students to embrace change and find innovative ways to thrive. I argue that adaptability cultivated during those challenging times would soon prove to be a valuable asset. While Zoom sessions became the norm for our education, another groundbreaking force was quietly making ..read more

Registration is now open for AOA on Capitol Hill, April 14-16, in Washington, D.C. Hope to see you there! AOA on Capitol Hill is the AOA’s single-largest annual advocacy event, directly connecting optometry’s advocates and leaders with our nation’s policymakers to advance and support optometric care in America. Lawmakers love hearing from optometry students because we are the future of our profession! Why did you decide to attend the event? In school, it is often mentioned that optometry is a legislative profession, but I failed to fully understand what that meant. It’s scary to think about ..read more

The AOSA Board of Trustees knows that as student doctors the thought of one day practicing optometry on our own can be daunting. Deciding and understanding things like “Should I do a residency?” “What sort of practice modality is right for me?” “Do I want to be my own boss?” or “What can I do to make my early career successful?” can be scary. That’s why we interviewed 10 amazing doctors about their transition from Student Doctor to Doctor of Optometry. Check out our video interview with Dr. Damaris Raymondi here and check out our Instagram posts on @theaosa for interviews from 10 other do ..read more

The Western Regional Conference (WRC) is a conference held annually by one of the three California schools hosted by AOSA leadership. Each year, the WRC rotates between the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry, Western University College of Optometry, and the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) at Marshall B. Ketchum University. In October 2023, SCCO had the opportunity to host the conference, inviting optometry students and pre-optometry students from the western part of the United States. At the WRC, students took part in AOA+ Pop-Up Sessions providing hands-on ..read more

Are you interested in opening your own practice after graduation? Or are you interested in working with larger industry sponsors? Well, you’re not the only one who has these questions, because there is such a WIDE range of modes of practice that exist in optometry! Optometrists can work in a variety of different modes of practice. These typically include but are not limited to corporate optometry, private practice optometry, military optometry, academic optometry or even OD/MD practices. All these modes have different advantages and limitations, but the following provides some highlights of a ..read more

We have some exciting updates in the profession of optometry from the East Coast featuring New Jersey and Massachusetts! New Jersey: The Garden State has recently introduced Assembly and Senate bills A.B. 5445 and S.B. 3841 to legislation! This is huge as New Jersey would like to increase optometrists’ ability to perform certain laser and other in-office procedures, including trabeculoplasty, iridotomy, and lump and bump removal! This legislation will also expand New Jersey optometry’s scope to vaccinate and increase prescription authority! Imagine receiving both a comprehensive eye examinatio ..read more