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Through community outreach initiatives, SUNY College of Optometry students and faculty provide essential vision care to underserved communities locally and around the world.
From vision screenings across New York communities to service initiatives around the world, SUNY Optometry puts its commitment to expanding access to eye and vision care into action. These experiences bring together students, faculty and community partners while giving future optometrists meaningful opportunities to learn through service.
SUNY Optometry works with community organizations, healthcare providers and local partners to help bring eye and vision care to those who need it most.
Students and faculty participate in community-based vision screenings and outreach events throughout New York, while the College’s network of clinical affiliations connects students with diverse patient populations and healthcare settings.
Recent initiatives have included vision screenings in Queens in partnership with Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, community events with local leaders and vision care at Special Olympics events.
SUNY Optometry’s commitment to service extends around the world. Through student-led organizations and partnerships such as Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH), students and faculty help provide eye exams, eyewear and vision education to communities with limited access to care.
Recent outreach has taken SUNY Optometry students to communities in Grenada, Mexico, Panama and Senegal, providing opportunities to apply their skills while helping address unmet vision care needs.
Community outreach gives SUNY Optometry students opportunities to put their education into practice while making a difference.
Working alongside faculty, healthcare professionals and community partners, students gain hands-on experience serving patients from a wide range of backgrounds. These experiences strengthen clinical skills while developing a deeper understanding of the social and community factors that can shape access to eye and vision care.
Through service, students learn not only how to provide exceptional care, but how they can use their skills as future optometrists to improve the health of the communities they serve.
Our community outreach is made possible through collaboration with organizations and partners that share our commitment to expanding access to eye and vision care.
Tzu Chi Medical Foundation | Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity | Lions Club | Government Officials | Remote Area Medical | Area Health Education Centers | Prevent Blindness | Special Olympics
SUNY Optometry welcomes opportunities to collaborate with organizations that share our commitment to expanding access to eye and vision care. Whether you’re interested in supporting a community outreach initiative, hosting a vision screening or exploring another way to partner, we’d love to hear from you.
Connect with us: outreach@sunyopt.edu