Schools with the best clinical programs??

[jet1515]

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I was just wondering which schools have the best clinical reputations where you would get a wide variety of experience? Is the Southern College of Optometry one of them?

 

[hopeful_opt]

since there isn't a ranking for optometry schools ... I would say that the location of the school makes up a huge factor when it comes to clinical experience. Obviously ICO (in Chicago) will have more ocular disease than say Pacific (in Forest Grove) or Waterloo.

From what I've heard ICO and Salus have the best all around clinical experience.

I'd love to hear more about state schools (Berkely and SUNY)...

 

[DawgOD]

I heard southern in memphis had a pretty good clinic...

Anybody know if NOVA takes pride in their clinic? or do they do research?

Indiana is a school that has a research program I think.. but if someone can just back me up on that.. I would appreciate it..

 

[vendetta319]

Not sure how the other schools' programs are like, but I know Berkeley requires we rotate in several specialty clinics and work in primary care and eye wear 4-5 days/week during 3rd year. UC Berkeley's eye clinics are located on an urban college campus, so we see a wide range of patients, from the homeless to the deans to the typical college student to the elderly immigrants. We see lots of ocular diseases (especially glaucoma patients) and outside clinics often refer their patients to our clinic. We also see patients with rare vision conditions and special needs who moved to this area for its accommodating public transportation.

hopeful_opt is right, locations is a factor. Schools located in urban areas like UCB, SUNY and ICO probably see such a huge volume of patients that you're bound to come across some with ocular disease.

 

[thanotoriousfob]

since there isn't a ranking for optometry schools ... I would say that the location of the school makes up a huge factor when it comes to clinical experience. Obviously ICO (in Chicago) will have more ocular disease than say Pacific (in Forest Grove) or Waterloo.

From what I've heard ICO and Salus have the best all around clinical experience.

I'd love to hear more about state schools (Berkely and SUNY)...

FYI Pacific has 5 internal clinical sites, 2 of which are in Portland, OR. One is in downtown Portland, so you get to see more of the urban population, and another one in SE Portland where you get to see many minorities and a lower socioeconomic class.