The Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed SUNY Optometry’s accreditation during its session on Thursday, November 17. The College was commended for the quality of its Periodic Review Report and the review process. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2020-21. 4 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends, This year has been quite positive for the College and I am proud to share our accomplishments through the State University of New York College of Optometry’s 2016 Annual Report. In September 2016, a major report of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine entitled Making Eye Health a Population Imperative: A Vision for Tomorrow concluded that “…eye and vision health remain notably absent as a population health priority in the overarching public health and health care systems. It is also underrepresented in strategic plans that address the impact of chronic diseases and conditions within the United States. ” It is incumbent upon institutions such as ours to lead and change this conclusion through the ongoing development of educational, research, and patient care programs that advance eye health and the visual well-being of the public as an integral and critical element within our overall health care delivery system. This responsibility becomes even more significant as we enter a time in which the future of health care and the Affordable Care Act are so uncertain.
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