2019 NSU Fact book

72 NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY to the Doctor of Optometry degree. Students in the extended program take courses with the full-time students, but have a reduced course load. Coursework covered in the first two years of the traditional full-time program is covered in three years in the extended program. The last two years of both programs are identical and are taken concurrently. A unique program in NSU’s College of Optometry is the one-year Preparatory Optometry Program (POP). POP allows motivated post-baccalaureate students to learn side-by-side with other health professional students as they demonstrate their readiness for the rigors of optometry school. Since the profession is constantly evolving, optometric physicians require an educational program that meets the challenges of technological and medical advances and supports patient-oriented clinical research. As primary vision care professionals, students are trained in pathology, diagnostic and therapeutic drug therapy, and modern techniques in imaging and lasers. Stu- dents also receive instruction in binocular vision, optics, contact lenses, and refraction—fields that have traditionally been the foundation of the profession. The didactic focus of the first two years of study encompasses coursework in medical sciences, optics, and the vision sciences. In preparation for direct patient care, students also study general optometric theory and methods; ocular pathology; and the diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision anomalies. Some of the medical sciences are taught in classes with other health care disciplines, reflecting the Health Professions Division’s philosophy of interprofessional education. 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 aŠliated 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 aŠliated with the College of Optometry. In addition to the professional program, the college oŒers 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 aŠliated clinical sites. The college also oŒers 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, autism, 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 the highest-quality, patient-centered eye care to the community while delivering excellent clinical training of student optometric physicians. A full spectrum of primary and specialty eye care services is available, including services that are oŒered at reduced cost to underserved populations. Specialty services include treatment for pediatrics and binocular vision, vision therapy, sports vision, traumatic brain injury, special populations, cornea and contact lens, dry eye and ocular surface disease, glaucoma, macula and diabetic eye disease, low vision rehabilitation, geriatrics, electrodiagnostics, and emergency eye care. Addition- ally, NSU’s College of Optometry oŒers a large selec- tion of aŒordable and designer frames to meet all eyewear needs for children and adults at each of its on-site opticals. College of Pharmacy NSU’s College of Pharmacy, an internationally known leader in pharmacy education and research, with groundbreaking initiatives and visionary curricula, provides a competitive edge to future pharmacists Colleges and Academic Centers