BOSTON—The New England College of Optometry (NECO) is hosting the third annual Industry Collaborative to discuss and debate issues of supply and demand in optometry. Organizers are encouraging the participation of members of industry, the profession, students and educators to join this special event which will be held Aug. 21-22 in Boston. Registration is open for the multi-part program. The goal is for attendees to engage in open dialogue with fellow colleagues as well as faculty, students and residents of NECO.

Organizers said, "This is an opportunity like no other, to deliberate ideas and challenge one another’s thinking around issues impacting optometry."

Monday evening, August 21, the meeting will kick off at 4:30 p.m. at 424 Beacon Street in Boston, Massachusetts, the Main Campus for NECO. A special panel of 2nd and 3rd-year NECO students will share their experience of the optometry school admissions process, their perspectives on how optometry is shifting, and the goals they have as they navigate through optometry school and future career considerations. Dinner will be an opportunity to network with colleagues, faculty, and students.

Artists for Humanity will be the venue Tuesday, August 22 starting at 8:00 a.m. for three additional panels. The first will be with industry professionals discussing the student journey from admissions to graduation, the second will be a panel of 4th-year students and residents, and the final panel will pursue the topic of Teleretinal Imaging versus Dilation before closing at 2:00 p.m.

 
 2022's NECO Industry Collaborative attracted a wide range of attendees.
The Industry Collaborative is free to attend. Dinner, breakfast and lunch will be provided. A charitable contribution is welcomed to help offset the costs of the event, to directly support NECO students, and the NECO mission to change the way people see the world, organizers emphasized.

Registration details are posted here.

Last year's Industry Collaborative drew a diverse range of attendees from the industry, the profession, students and educators as VMAIL reported.

Founded in 1894, NECO is the oldest continuously operating optometry school in the U.S. and has been advancing optometric education ever since.