NEW YORK, April 18, 2019 — The State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry leadership today hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for its new Center for Pediatric Eye Care.
The 5,000 sq. ft. facility on the 10th floor of the College’s midtown Manhattan campus will consolidate pediatric-related services to accommodate a growing number of children and families requiring basic and advanced eye care at the University Eye Center (UEC).
The space will include eight new exam rooms opening into a collaboration zone for consultation and interprofessional care coordination, a designated exam room for children with special needs, a quiet room, a child-friendly waiting area with interactive activities and a dedicated space for optical dispensing.
“Our innovative clinical care environment will also provide a state-of-the-art educational environment that incorporates clinical research and evidence-based practice to train future eye care professionals,” SUNY Optometry president David A. Heath said. “We will have a pediatric service unlike any other in the country and provide for the children of New York City and beyond thanks to the generous support of our many donors.”
Our Vision for Children, the College’s capital campaign for the new facility, secured $2.5M for construction, equipment, innovative diagnostic technology and modern furnishings to create a welcoming environment for the UEC’s youngest patients and their families.
SUNY Optometry received $1.5M from the State of New York’s NYSUNY 2020 Awards to not only expand its clinical care facility but also provide a template for the future integration of contemporary health professions education and accommodate the College’s enrollment management plan.
The Optometric Center of New York, the College’s affiliated foundation, secured a $200,000 grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) for construction, equipment and support of the new pediatric initiative. SNF is one of the world’s leading private, international philanthropic organizations and has committed more than $2.8B through more than 4,400 grants to nonprofit organizations in 124 nations around the world since 1996.
The new Center for Pediatric Eye Care will open in early 2020.
About SUNY Optometry
Founded in 1971 and located in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry is a leader in education, research, and patient care, offering the Doctor of Optometry degree as well as MS and PhD degrees in vision science. The College conducts a robust program of basic, translational and clinical research and has 65 affiliated clinical training sites. SUNY Optometry is regionally accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; its four-year professional degree program and residency programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association. All classrooms, research facilities and the University Eye Center, which is one of the largest optometric outpatient facilities in the nation, are located on 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in midtown Manhattan.
Media Contact: Amber E. Hopkins Tingle, 212.938.5607, amber@sunyopt.edu