DIMP 2.0

frame. When American Indian/Alaska Native are included, overall URM enrollment in medical school has increased from 12.9% to 15% from 2017-2018 to 2021-2022.

Figure 1. Race/Ethnicity of Full-Time Doctor of Optometry Students, 2006-2021- US Schools and College of Optometry. Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (www.optometriceducation.org)

Residency training is optional for optometric practice, but it is often a requirement or strong recommendation for entry into academic optometry. It is often a requirement for practicing in hospital- based practice and other acute-care modes of practice. In the 2021-2022 cycle, 41.7% of residents across the country identified as White, 30.3% identified as Asian, 6.6% identified as Hispanic or Latino, 4.4% identified as Black of African American and 0.2% identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. 7 No residents identified as being American Indian or Alaska Native, while 2.4% responded as being two or more races and 14.4% did not specify their race. Nationally, the percentage of underrepresented minoritized residents has increased since the last diversity and inclusion master plan, from 2.6% Black or African American in 2016-2017 cycle. The percentage of those who identify as Hispanic/Latino has decreased from 8.55% in the same cycle. 8 The reasons for this fluctuation will be explored as we analyze strategies later in this report. As we look at faculty across the nation we see the results of a low percentage of underrepresented minoritized optometry students and residents. In 2021 65.55% of faculty identified as White, while 19.65% identified as Asian, 5.72% Hispanic or Latinx and 3.61% identified as Black or African American. 9 The percentage of those who identify as Black or African American has increased from 2.9% in 2015- 2016, and as Hispanic or Latinx from 5.31% in the same cycle. It is estimated that 74.8% of practicing optometrists identify as White, 15.7% identify as Asian, 5.9% identify as Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% identify as Black of African American, while 0.2% identify as American Indian or Alaska Native. 10 As of January of 2020, it was estimated that 49% of optometrists

7 ASCO Classification of gender and race/ethnicity of optometry residents by affiliated school (AY 2021-2022), retrieved from https://optometriceducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Res-Race-Eth-2021-22.pdf 8 Accepted OptomCAS applicants by race/ethnicity per cycle (2009-2020), retrieved from https://www.optomcas.org/wp- content/uploads/2021/05/OptomCAS-Applicant-Data-Report-2019-2020.pdf 9 ASCO Faculty demographics, retrieved from https://optometriceducation.org/wp- content/uploads/2021/03/ASCOAnnFacDataRepforWebsite2020-21updated3-9-21.pdf 10 Optometrists statistics by race, retrieved from https://www.zippia.com/optometrist-jobs/demographics/

SUNY Optometry | Diversity and Inclusion Master Plan 2.0 | 10