Over the past few months I’ve written extensively about my concerns for the future of our profession. This is an emotional issue and, as you might expect, has generated a good deal of comment. In fact, no topic has ever generated more email with the exception of the very divisive topic of board certification—or what we call board certification.

From colleagues across the country, the general consensus—with virtually no dissent—has been that we have too many schools, too many graduates and a profession that, if it doesn’t right itself will soon, be in serious trouble. Rarely have I seen so many on the same page on a single issue. Unsurprisingly, some in academia don’t see these concerns in the same way and have taken my comments as personal attacks on their institutions or have convinced themselves that I have declared a holy war on optometric education. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Here is the truth as I see it. Every academic institution has an inviolable duty to serve the public good by producing qualified, knowledgeable and skilled graduates. This starts with the admission process where entering students must be selected that can be molded into capable clinicians and successful practitioners. Our institutions have an obligation to the profession at large to responsibly plan for the needs of the public and ensure that its graduates can achieve professional success and financial independence. Ideally, this process should be self-regulating, as it has historically been in other professions. Organizations such as ASCO, the AOA and the ACOE should approach with balance and transparency and discourage new and existing programs that fail to meet the needs of the public and the profession. The most recent ASCO/AOA optometric manpower study and its subsequent spin was neither balanced nor transparent.

Let me make it clear that I don’t think the problem is our new schools. The problem is too many schools. I recently visited Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry, and I was honestly blown away by how the program has evolved and grown since its inception. Likewise, I have visited older programs that are excellent. Truth be told, some newer and some older programs have not kept up, and their continued existence should be in question. Common sense planning suggests that we clearly don’t need more than one program serving a single city or state unless there are truly extenuating circumstances.

Our organizations must take strong charge of controlling our profession’s future. That control starts with the number and quality of our educational programs. However, we all must have a voice in this. I am asking you to complete this simple open questionnaire about your perceptions regarding optometric education, the number of programs we have and need and of the quality of current optometric education. Let your voice be heard.

Do you believe that our educational institutions are meeting the needs of the pubic and the profession? Yes No Don't know For current needs are there (too many / just enough / too few) optometric programs. too many just enough too few For future needs are there (too many / just enough / too few) optometric programs. too many just enough too few Are you concerned about optometry school admission standards and decreased candidate pools? Yes No Are you concerned about the quality of current optometric grads? Yes No

Arthur B. Epstein, OD, FAAO Chief Medical Editor artepstein@optometricphysician.com