2016 Fact Book

61 In the third and fourth years, optometry students provide supervised, direct-patient care in five university- operated clinical facilities jointly known as the Eye Care Institute. The fourth year is entirely clinical, with intensive training within the Eye Care Institute as well as in affiliated primary care, specialty, and medical/ surgical care facilities. Students in the fourth year can take advantage of additional opportunities for practical clinical experience by selecting programs from more than 45 external clinic sites affiliated with the College of Optometry. In addition to the professional program, the college offers postgraduate residency training in a variety of clinical settings, including primary care, pediatric, low vision, cornea, and contact lens optometry residencies within the Eye Care Institute and hospital-based and ocular disease residencies at affiliated clinical sites. The college also offers a master’s degree in clinical vision research. This online program equips the optometrist, optometric educator, and other health professionals with the in-depth knowledge necessary to conduct scientific research directed at clinically relevant questions. The program also provides a bridge between clinical care and vision science. The college conducts a wide range of research in ocular disease, optics, contact lenses, and vision science. These research projects are funded through grants from internal funds, private companies, and the National Eye Institute. Through the Eye Care Institute, the college provides primary and specialty eye care to the general public, including services that are offered at reduced cost to underserved populations who otherwise would not receive eye care. College of Osteopathic Medicine The College of Osteopathic Medicine, which admitted its charter class in 1981, is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association and is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. The mission of the College of Osteopathic Medicine is to provide learner-centered education, both nationally and internationally, for osteopathic medical students, postgraduate trainees, physicians, and other professionals. Through its interprofessional programs, the college prepares competent and compassionate lifelong learners; supports research, scholarly activity, and community service; and advocates for the health and welfare of diverse populations, including the medically underserved. The college offers a full-time, four-year course of study leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. In addition, it offers a complement of distinguished graduate and community-education programs. These include the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics (M.S.B.I.), Master of Science (M.S.) in Disaster and Emergency Management, Master of Science (M.S.) in Nutrition, and Master of Science (M.S.) in Medical Education degrees. Certificate programs include public health, informatics, and social medicine. Concurrent and dual degree options include the D.O./J.D., D.O./ M.P.H., D.O./D.M.D., D.O./M.B.A., D.O./M.S.B.I., and D.O./M.S. (areas of focus include health law, nutrition, or medical education for example). The D.O. program strives to prepare high-quality, compassionate physicians with an emphasis on primary care disciplines and their vital role in rural, urban, and underserved communities. As a result, more than half of our alumni practice in family medicine, internal medicine, or general pediatrics. A significant number of our graduates also choose other specialties or sub-specialties. The innovative curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, guiding students to a holistic, osteopathic approach to medicine, and correlating basic scientific information with fundamental clinical application. Students are exposed to clinical settings in their first semester, which begins to prepare them for the real world of medicine. A systems approach to classes integrates material learned from the various departments so that clinical aspects, pathophysiology of diseases, and disorders of each system are addressed. Throughout the course of study, the principles and practice of osteopathic medicine, including manipulative techniques, are applied in specific fields, and attention is given to the fields of community medicine, geriatrics, minority medicine and the humanities. Students can also undertake basic or applied research or scholarly study under faculty supervision.