Diversity and Inclusion Master Plan

Profile of the Optometric Profession

Data from the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2 ), from 2014, shows that females comprised 47.2% of the U.S. working age population. Females represent a higher proportion of workers in 27 of the 37 (73%) health occupations tracked by the workforce analysis. In optometry, females comprise 38.4% (14,153) of the total number of optometrists in the workforce (36,858). The representation of females in optometry is higher than other major health professions, including physicians (33.5%) and dentists (24.1%). In regards to race and ethnicity, Whites comprise the majority of optometrists (79.7%), followed by Asians (12.8%), Hispanics (3.8%), Blacks (1.9%), Two or more races (0.1%), and Others (0.1%). During 2010, SUNY Optometry and its Center for Vision Care Policy, led by Dr. Mort Soroka, conducted a comprehensive Workforce Study of eye care providers in New York State(NYS) 3 . This analysis examined the current supply of eye care providers (by age, gender, and ethnicity), the growing demand for eye care services, and the need for both optometrists and ophthalmologists in NYS over the next two decades. The study’s findings indicate that 81.2 % of NYS practicing ODs are White, and 12.8% are Asian, while only 1.7% and 1.9%, respectively, are African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino practitioners.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

61.60%

US Population

5.60%

30.90%

56.00%

NYS Population

8.80%

White

36.40%

Asian

URM

79.70%

Optometry Practitioners (Nation)

12.80%

5.70%

US Popula

81.20%

tion line

Optometrists (NYS)

12.60%

3.80%

2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. (2013). The U.S. Health Workforce Chartbook, retrieved from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/supplydemand/usworkforce/chartbook/index.html. 3 Soroka, M. (2012). The New York State Optometry workforce study, Journal of Community Health, 37 (2), 448-57.

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