Survey of the Faculty Status of Optometrists at Academic Medical Centers in the United States

Abstract

Significance 

This is the first study of the prevalence and faculty status of optometrists practicing at academic medical centers in the United States.

Purpose 

To quantify the number of optometrists at academic medical centers, along with faculty rank and postdoctoral training programs.

Methods 

The official websites of academic medical centers and schools of medicine in the United States were examined during the 2021-22 academic year to identify departments of ophthalmology and collect faculty profiles of employed optometrists. Institutional data was cross-referenced and analyzed by geographic distribution. Data was gathered from the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and Accreditation Council on Optometry Education to identify post-graduate training programs in optometry.

Results 

192 academic medical centers were identified, of which 121 (63.02%) had a residency or fellowship program in ophthalmology and/or optometry. 125 (65.10%) of these institutions had at least one staff optometrist. 718 optometrists were found at these institutions, representing 1.83% of the 39,205 practicing optometrists estimated in the United States. Of the 718 optometrists, 369 (51.39%) held an academic appointment at a medical school. The most common academic rank was Assistant Professor (184; 25.63%), followed by Instructor (138; 19.22%), Associate Professor (34; 4.74%), and Full Professor (13; 1.81%). The distribution of academic rank was similar across all regions, but varied between institutions as to whether all, some, or none of the optometric faculty were appointed by a medical school. Of 296 optometry residency programs in the United States, 21 (7.09%) were at an academic medical center. Of 15 optometric fellowship programs in the United States, 3 (20%) were at an academic medical center. Of the 192 institutions in this study, 22 (11.46%) had a post-doctoral optometric training program.

Conclusions 

This study shows the distribution of academic rank and postdoctoral training programs for optometrists at academic medical centers.