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Visions screenings will take place Wednesday, Sept. 2 (11:00 am-4:00 pm). Mammograms will be available Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 2-3.

Syracuse, New York – SUNY College of Optometry and SUNY Upstate Medical University will host free vision screenings and mammograms at the Great New York State Fair. SUNY Optometry faculty and residents will conduct the screenings for adults and children on Wednesday, September 2 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Colleagues from SUNY Upstate will provide cancer screenings using their Mammography Van Wednesday and Thursday, September 2-3 from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. All screenings will take place at the Chevy Court Pavillion.  

The event reflects the shared commitment of both SUNY institutions to increase access to quality care throughout Upstate New York and to strengthen connections between eye care, health care, education, and the local community. 

“The State Fair gives us a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with New Yorkers and reinforce an important message:  good vision is an essential part of good health,” said Dr. Melissa E. Trego, Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs at SUNY College of Optometry. “A simple vision screening can identify concerns that might otherwise go unnoticed and help connect individuals with the care they need. That is especially meaningful in Upstate New York, where access to eye care can be challenging in some communities.” 

“Being at the New York State Fair provides us with the opportunity to bring breast cancer screening and awareness directly into the community,” said Linda Veit, Upstate Assistant Vice President for Community Relations. “We want to make it as easy as possible for women to take this important step for their health. Early detection can make a tremendous difference, and our goal is to help more women get screened, regardless of whether they have insurance.” 

SUNY Optometry Upstate Expansion 

The free vision screenings are representative of SUNY Optometry’s broader efforts to expand its presence in Central New York, including the upcoming launch of a Syracuse location for the College’s Doctor of Optometry (OD) program. The new campus, housed at SUNY Upstate Medical University, brings optometric education and clinical training to the region, strengthening the eye care workforce and improving access to comprehensive vision care across Upstate New York.  

“With our expansion to Syracuse, we are committed not only to educating the next generation of optometrists, but also to improving access to high-quality vision care for the communities we serve,” said Dr. Trego. 

A member of SUNY Optometry’s admissions staff will be present at the Fair to answer any questions about their Doctor of Optometry (OD) program, as well as both the Syracuse and New York City campuses. Applications are currently being accepted for the inaugural Syracuse campus class planned for fall 2027, pending final approvals. 

 SUPPORTING WOMEN’S HEALTH 

Upstate will also offer breast cancer screenings at the Fair at its Upstate Mammography Van on September 2 and 3. The van, which will be parked at the fair, serves women age 40 years and older, with or without insurance. Staff from Onondaga County will assist those without insurance. The van has the same state-of-the-art screening technology found in a clinic setting, and licensed radiologists read images. The van has a reception area, a changing area, a nursing exam room, and an imaging room. 

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in New York State. Each year, nearly 16,000 women in New York are newly diagnosed with breast cancer and about 2,500 die from the disease. 

Since the van’s rollout in 2019, it has traveled more than 65,000 miles, screened nearly 6,000 women, held more than 750 clinics, and helped to identify more than 25 breast cancers.   

Upstate’s She Matters group, the peer-to-peer community outreach program established to reduce breast cancer disparities in underserved women by encouraging women to get mammograms, will also be on site with information on breast cancer awareness. 

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State University of New York College of Optometry

Founded in 1971 in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry (SUNY Optometry) is the only school of optometry in the state and a nationally recognized leader in optometric education, vision research, and patient care. The College prepares the next generation of eye care professionals through its Doctor of Optometry program, residency programs, and advanced graduate degrees in vision science, including MS and PhD programs. As an academic health center in optometry dedicated to advancing eye and vision care, SUNY Optometry conducts a robust portfolio of basic, translational, and clinical research focused on improving diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of visual disorders. 

Clinical training and patient care are anchored by the University Eye Center, one of the largest outpatient vision care facilities in the region, which serves a diverse patient population and provides students with hands-on experience alongside expert clinicians. SUNY Optometry also maintains more than 65 affiliated clinical training sites across the country. Beginning in Fall 2027, the Doctor of Optometry degree will be offered in both New York City and Syracuse, providing students the opportunity to choose where they live and practice. 

State University of New York Upstate Medical University

Upstate Medical University is the region’s only academic medical center, conducting more than $50 million annually in funded research that drives medical innovation and improves patient care.  It is the region’s largest employer with more than 13,000 employees and 1,500 students in medicine, nursing, and health professions, Upstate operates the 715-bed Upstate University Hospital and Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. It provides specialized care including burn and trauma, stroke, cancer, neurosurgery, and pediatric services, serving patients from Canada to Pennsylvania.