Short term training: Professional Students in Optometry Schools

Ohio State University, Columbus OH

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract The long-term objective of this program is to expand the number of optometrists trained in research within the profession of optometry to ensure a strong pipeline of individuals available to address the visual and ocular needs of the aging population through rigorous clinical and basic research. This program achieves this goal by exposing optometry students to vision research early in their clinical degree program through a short-term training program in vision research. By exposing optometry students to research early in their clinical program, students are still agile to expand their educational goals, such as by subsequently enrolling in a combined OD/MS degree, or even later earning a PhD in vision science. This proposal is a renewal of a successful 25 year short-term training program whose 213 past trainees have been involved in producing more than 250 scientific abstracts and 78 peer-reviewed publications. In addition, 125 past trainees have completed or are pursuing a Master’s Degree in Vision Science, and 10 have completed and 2 are pursuing a PhD in Vision Science at The Ohio State University. The graduate program in vision science at The Ohio State University has a long track record of training optometrists for careers as clinician scientists. The program has yielded many NIH funded investigators, clinical trialists, and significant contributors to the field of vision science. Support is requested for eight training slots per year to provide a 3 month training experience in research for optometry students in the summer months following their first year of the optometry program. The program is housed within the College of Optometry at The Ohio State University and led by the Chair of the Graduate Program in Vision Science. Participating faculty include 20 members of the graduate faculty in Vision Science who each run independent research labs and are involved in the training of MS and PhD students enrolled in the graduate program in Vision Science. The faculty’s specific areas of research include, but are not limited to refractive error, ocular embryonic development, color perception, pediatrics, cataractogenesis, vision rehabilitation, anterior surface and contact lens, adaptive optics, and corneoscleral biomechanics. Trainees appointed to this award will be paired with individual faculty advisors and conduct research projects throughout the course of the training period. Training will also include weekly seminars in responsible conduct of research, bi-weekly attendance at vision science seminars, participation in journal club discussions, and a formal presentation of their research at the end of the program in a public forum. Trainees are also encouraged to submit research findings for presentation at scientific meetings and to publish results following completion of the training period. Continued support of this program and an expansion of training slots from 6 to 8 will contribute to the scientific literature and engage future independent clinician scientists who perform vision research.