2021-Annual-Report

DRIVING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Spotlight on DEIB Actions The Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging brought greater awareness and advancements to a number of areas. Actions comprised hosting presentations and webinars, including: • Optometry Through a Global Lens • Bias, Discrimination, and Violence toward the AAPI Community • Latinx Thriving in Optometry • The Low Vision Experience • Kristallnacht Commemoration: Prelude to the Holocaust • Social Determinants of Health & Patient Care: Bridging the Gap Other activities included: • Campus-wide diversity and inclusion training; • Outreach to prospective and enrolled URM optometry students with NOA, ASCO, and Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Medical Scholars Pipeline Program (MSPP); • Safe zone and virtual self-defense training; • Increasing use of student commuting buddies and the Student Ridership Reimbursement Program; • The launch of four Alumni Affinity groups, including Black Alumni, Latinx Alumni, LGTBQIA+ Alumni, and AAPI Alumni, serving as safe spaces for connection, discussion, and mentoring.

Programs aim to guide and inspire underrepresented students to seek careers in eye and health care SUNY Optometry Promotes Diversity Among Aspiring Eye Doctors

Recognizing Juneteenth, SUNY Optometry’s CPE program hosted a follow-up to the Race in Optometry Series with more than 8,900 people having viewed the series to date, including 400 who tuned into this program.

To view Race in Optometry – One Year Later, scan the QR code.

“I left the CSTEP Optometry Program feeling inspired, grateful, and ready for the next steps in my career.” Eye-CARE Camp included conversations with patients whose quality of life was improved and saved by an optometrist. Camp participant Josel Estrada, a first-generation college student and 2020 graduate of SUNY Albany, reflected on what he heard. “The patient who spoke about dealing with headaches and health problems for a long time until an optometrist discovered she had a brain tumor during an eye exam was very moving. Her optometrist found what other doctors missed. The stories from patients made me even more motivated to become an eye doctor.” These two programs, which are key strategies in achieving the College’s goal to ensure a diverse student body and ultimately bring more underrepresented doctors to the field of optometry, are off to a successful start. “It has been rewarding as our goal was to enlighten, encourage, and boost student confidence as they consider their career path and take the next steps,” said Christian Alberto, EdD, director of admissions. “We look forward to following their progress as they move from prospective applicant and optometry student to a practicing doctor of optometry.” For more information on the programs, including full articles and how to apply, visit www.sunyopt.edu.

Nearly 200 aspiring optometry students from close to home and abroad participated in two programs over the summer, Eye-CARE Summer Camp and CSTEP. Eye-CARE Summer Camp launched in late June with a three-day program designed to expose participants to the optometric profession and college application process while also expanding the pipeline of opportunities for underrepresented minorities interested in the field. The program, which was hosted virtually, was supported by VSP Global. Having renewed the CSTEP grant last year, this year’s program nearly doubled the number of participants in the 2021 winter and spring internship programs. Also hosted virtually, the online curriculum proved effective for all involved, including the ability for students to audit the course from regions nationwide. “CSTEP at SUNY Optometry is unique in that most CSTEP programs are implemented at the undergraduate level rather than within a professional institution,” said Quy Nguyen, OD, ’13, executive director of career planning and development and minority enrichment for the College. “Despite the program being completely virtual, students were very engaged, interacted with speakers and other students, and worked very hard.” What Students Say “From the program, I learned what it means to have faith and to be resilient in a goal that may seem impossible,” shared CSTEP participant and SUNY Oswego senior Olivia Odigie.

SUNY Optometry Hosts Second Annual BLAACK Week

Presented by the Advisory Board on Race and Equity and the Office of DEIB, the SUNY Optometry community celebrated the second annual BLAACK Week (Because Learning Achieves Appreciation and Community Knowledge) Week hosted November 14–17. Coined by third-year student Cori Robinson, BLAACK Week was launched in 2020 as a celebration of Black culture with food, education, and fun to encourage creativity, conversation, and understanding of various cultures. This year’s event kicked off with a Taste of NOSA, featuring foods from India, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Cuba, and Kosher fare. Day two featured an interactive webinar led by Ruth Shoge, OD, MPH, FAOO, Director of DEIB at UC Berkeley School of Optometry, who shared

insights into expanding the optometric profession and care of people of diverse backgrounds. Week-long festivities closed with an online movie night presentation of Black Panther . Sponsors for week-long celebration included VSP Global and Johnson & Johnson Vision.

Scan the QR code to watch “Social Determinants of Health & Patient Care: Bridging the Gap” with Dr. Ruth Shoge.

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