(PRESS RELEASE) ROCKVILLE, MD — The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is thrilled and very appreciative to announce the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) has donated $50,000 to ASCO’s public awareness campaign, Optometry Gives Me Life (OGML).
OGML was launched in March 2019 and was developed due to a downward decline in recent years of qualified applicants to the first-year classes, and the lack of diversity amongst the applicants, of the 23 schools and colleges of optometry. The goals of the campaign are: to recruit at least two applicants with a GPA > 3.0 from their undergraduate institution(s) for every available training slot in a US-based optometry program; increase by 100% the number of highly qualified applicants from Hispanic/Latino and African American/Black backgrounds; and maximize the percentage/number of high school students who are aware of optometry as a career option.
After two full application cycles, the results are promising. ASCO experienced a 4.7% increase in the just recently completed OptomCAS application cycle. This is on top of the 3.7% increase experienced in 2019-2020. The diversity of the applicant reached new heights as well. This is the first time that 6% of the applicant pool was African American/Black and 13% Hispanic/Latino. This was a 14.3% and 19.4% increase from last year.
“The American Academy of Optometry is proud to support ASCO’s on-going initiative towards increasing a diverse applicant pool for those wishing to pursue optometry as their career path,” says AAO President Timothy McMahon, OD, FAAO. “Students are the future of any profession, and as the continuing education association for optometrists seeking to practice at the highest levels of care, we are committed to ensuring we instill best practices as a part of their on-going education following graduation. Supporting their campaign demonstrates our commitment to students as they progress through their careers and increasing diversity within the profession.”
“Through their donation the Academy shows the value of our campaign to the optometric community and we couldn’t be more grateful,” says ASCO President Dr. Kelly Nichols. “Support from the Academy, along with industry and organization contributors, including all of the schools and colleges of optometry, will allow this campaign to continue and grow, reaching potential applicants for years to come. Our diversity efforts are a particularly important component to the campaign, mirroring the work of the Academy. ASCO is grateful to the membership and leadership of the Academy and for this generous gift.”