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Charles F. Mullen

Challenges and Opportunities in Optometry and Optometric Education

Optometric Education in Crisis

COVID-19, Racial and Ethnic Unrest Making the Situation Worse

Higher Education including Optometric Education is in crisis because of declining enrollments. There is too much student capacity and not enough demand. There are 2.9 million fewer college age students than 8 years ago. Ninety-three colleges and universities have closed or merged since 2016, and Clayton Christensen of Harvard predicts 50% of the 4000 colleges and universities will be bankrupt, close or merge by 2035.

Schools and Colleges of Optometry must act now by developing and implementing strategies to deal with the Crisis. The following Power Point slides delineate:

  1. Causes of Higher Education Crisis
  2. Causes of Crisis in Optometric Education
  3. COVID-19 Pandemic is Making a Fragile Situation Worse
  4. The New Normal in Optometric Education
  5. Contingency Plans Needed to Address Virus Spread and Violence
  6. Racial and Ethnic Unrest
  7. Financial Concerns
  8. Structural Issues Contributing to Crisis
  9. Marketing and Advocacy Initiatives
  10. Innovative Strategies
  11. Fragmentation in the Practice of Optometry
  12. Issues Facing Optometry
  13. Re-Imagine Optometric Education
  14. Enhance Appeal of a Career in Optometry
  15. Elements of a New Educational Model
  16. Partnering With Ophthalmology Residency Programs

Crisis in Optometric Education (PowerPoint)
Crisis in Optometric Education (PDF)

Additional Resources

  • Mergers and Consolidations of Optometry Colleges and Schools
  • The State of Optometry Specialties and Subspecialties
  • Changes Necessary to Include Optometry in the Graduate Medical Education Program (GME)

August 20, 2020 by Charles F. Mullen

Signature Papers

  • Optometry Specialty Certification Boards Provide a Uniform Indicator of Advanced Knowledge and Skills
  • A New Paradigm for Optometry
  • Optometric Education in Crisis
  • Opportunities Lost – Opportunities Regained
  • Mergers and Consolidations of Optometry Colleges and Schools
  • Transformation of Optometry – Blueprint for the Future
  • Required Postgraduate Clinical Training for Optometry License
  • Why Optometry Needs the American Board of Optometry Specialties (ABOS)
  • The Future of Optometric Education – Opportunities and Challenges
  • A Strategic Framework for Optometry and Optometric Education
  • Changes Necessary to Include Optometry in the Graduate Medical Education Program (GME)
  • Unresolved Matters of Importance to Optometric Education
  • Illinois College of Optometry Commencement Address (Video & Transcript)
  • Charles F. Mullen’s Speech at the Kennedy Library: Development of NECO’s Community Based Education Program
  • Illinois College of Optometry Presidential Farewell Address (Video & Transcript)
  • Commitment to Excellence: ICO’s Strategic Plan
  • Illinois College of Optometry and University of Chicago Affiliation Agreement
  • An Affiliated Educational System for Optometry with the Department of Veterans Affairs

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