Survey of the Faculty Status of Optometrists at Academic Medical Centers in the United States. 2023

Steven C Quan, and Sunah Song, and Beverly Koepf, and Paola Saroufim, and Evan Kaufman, and Sherry Day, and Derek Louie, and Bryce St Clair, and Thomas Stokkermans

This is the first study of the prevalence and faculty status of optometrists practicing at academic medical centers in the United States. This study aimed to quantify the number of optometrists at academic medical centers, along with faculty rank and post-doctoral training programs. The official Web sites of academic medical centers and schools of medicine in the United States were examined during the 2021 to 2022 academic year to identify departments of ophthalmology and collect faculty profiles of employed optometrists. Institutional data were cross-referenced and analyzed by geographic distribution. Data were gathered from the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and Accreditation Council on Optometry Education to identify post-graduate training programs in optometry. A total of 192 academic medical centers were identified, of which 121 (63.02%) had a residency or fellowship program in ophthalmology and/or optometry. One hundred twenty-five (65.10%) of these institutions had at least one staff optometrist. Seven hundred eighteen optometrists were found at these institutions, representing 1.83% of the 39,205 practicing optometrists estimated in the United States. Of the 718 optometrists, 369 (51.39%) held an academic appointment at a medical school. The most common academic rank was assistant professor (184 [25.63%]), followed by instructor (138 [19.22%]), associate professor (34 [4.74%]), and full professor (13 [1.81%]). The distribution of academic rank was similar across all regions but varied between institutions as to whether all, some, or none of the optometric faculty were appointed by a medical school. Of 296 optometry residency programs in the United States, 21 (7.09%) were at an academic medical center. Of 15 optometric fellowship programs in the United States, 3 (20%) were at an academic medical center. Of the 192 institutions in this study, 22 (11.46%) had a post-doctoral optometric training program. This study shows the distribution of academic rank and post-doctoral training programs for optometrists at academic medical centers.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009885 Ophthalmology A surgical specialty concerned with the structure and function of the eye and the medical and surgical treatment of its defects and diseases. Ocular Surgery,Ocular Surgeries,Surgery, Ocular
D009907 Optometry The professional practice of primary eye and vision care that includes the measurement of visual refractive power and the correction of visual defects with lenses or glasses. Optometries
D005178 Faculty TEACHING and administrative staff having academic rank in a post-secondary educational institution. University Professor,Professor, University,Professors, University,University Professors
D005180 Faculty, Medical Teaching and administrative staff having academic rank in a medical school. Faculties, Medical,Medical Faculties,Medical Faculty
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000046 Academic Medical Centers Medical complexes consisting of medical school, hospitals, clinics, libraries, administrative facilities, etc. Medical Centers, Academic,Medical Centers, University,University Medical Centers,Academic Medical Center,Center, Academic Medical,Center, University Medical,Centers, Academic Medical,Centers, University Medical,Medical Center, Academic,Medical Center, University,University Medical Center
D000072162 Optometrists Qualified professionals trained in primary eye and vision care, including measurement of visual abilities, diagnosing disorders of the visual system and provision of treatment such as prescriptions for correction of visual defects with lenses or glasses and vision therapy. Optometrist
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.

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