1State University of New York College of Optometry, New York, New York
2Research and Information Center, American Optometric Association, St. Louis, Missouri
3Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas
4ABQ Eye Care, PC, Albuquerque, New Mexico
5Department of Basic Sciences, College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
6Center for Eye and Health Outcomes, Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, Tennessee
7School of Optometry and Vision Science Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
∗[email protected]
Supplemental Digital Content: The Appendix, 2017 National Optometry Workforce Survey instrument distributed to licensed practicing optometrists in February 2017, is available at https://links.lww.com/OPX/A485. The survey instrument was mailed on an 8.5 × 14-inch paper and included a postage paid return mailer.
Submitted: May 21, 2020
Accepted: January 25, 2021
Funding/Support: None of the authors have reported funding/support.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None of the authors have reported a financial conflict of interest.
Author Contributions and Acknowledgments: Conceptualization: DAH, JSS, TAW, MC, LLG, JGF; Data Curation: DAH, JSS, TAW, MC, JGF; Formal Analysis: DAH, JSS, TAW, MC, ELS, LLG, JGF; Investigation: DAH, JSS, TAW, ELS, LLG, JGF; Methodology: DAH, JSS, TAW, MC, LLG, JGF; Project Administration: JSS; Software: JSS; Writing – Original Draft: DAH, JSS, TAW, ELS, JGF; Writing – Review & Editing: DAH, JSS, ELS, JGF.
The authors wish to express their great appreciation to the American Optometric Association for providing significant support for distribution of the survey and for data management services through its Research and Information Resource Group (RIRG). Although the American Optometric Association provided significant support for the authors to execute the study, the American Optometric Association did not provide input to the study design or participate in the analysis of the survey results, nor did the American Optometric Association Board approve or endorse the article before submission and publication. Special appreciation to Jennifer S. Spangler, MBA, MPH, coauthor and Research Survey Manager of the American Optometric Association for coordinating the distribution of the survey, and the collection and analysis of the data, and for ensuring members of the RIRG had access to data and the statistics needed for the completion of the study. Special thanks to Dr. Teri Geist, who provided support as American Optometric Association liaison to the RIRG and to the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry for their ongoing commitment to the study of the optometric workforce.
American Optometric Association Research and Information Resource Group Members: Lori L. Grover (trustee), Mamie Chan, John G. Flanagan, David A. Heath, Earl L. Smith III, Jennifer S. Spangler, and Timothy A. Wingert.
Supplemental Digital Content: Direct URL links are provided within the text.
