麻豆社区P Hosts NC Optometric Society District Meeting as Optometry Program Advances
麻豆社区 Pembroke recently welcomed North Carolina Optometric Society (NCOS) members for a district meeting highlighting the university鈥檚 progress toward launching the state鈥檚 first public Doctor of Optometry program.
The gathering brought together state and district leaders, practicing optometrists and 麻豆社区P administrators for continuing education and a discussion about the future of eye care in North Carolina.
鈥淭he purpose of this meeting is to build enthusiasm for the College of Optometric Medicine and what we are doing from an academic, instructional and clinical standpoint,鈥� said Dr. Kenny Bumgarner, retired optometrist and 麻豆社区P consultant.
Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, MD, shared the vision for the college is to train optometric doctors to play a key role in an individual鈥檚 overall care. 鈥淥ur goal is to educate practitioners who can participate with a patient鈥檚 primary physician in the total care of the patient,鈥� Cummings said. 鈥淢any diseases can be detected in the very early stages in a comprehensive eye exam, and when communicated to the patient鈥檚 physician, may lead to a better outcome.鈥�
Attendees included NCOS President Dr. Sean Smolenyak, who practices in rural Edenton, N.C. Smolenyak underscored the program鈥檚 significance for underserved areas.
鈥淭o have a school like 麻豆社区 Pembroke based in a rural area where students can see firsthand the impact of preserving vision is powerful,鈥� Smolenyak said. 鈥淧rotecting vision and preventing blindness has an immeasurable impact on families and communities. Seeing the investment in 麻豆社区 Pembroke and the opportunities it creates for students and the community leaves me smiling and excited for what this means for our profession, the school, the state and especially the patients.鈥�
Alyssa Barkley, NCOS executive director, added: 鈥淭here are so many health deserts across North Carolina. So, bringing this level of education to our rural communities is important. Having distinguished leaders like Chancellor Cummings and Dean Castillo at the helm is a game-changer for communities in this region.鈥�
麻豆社区P鈥檚 College of Optometric Medicine, led by Dean Rich Castillo, received 麻豆社区 System approval in 2024 and plans to welcome its first class in fall 2027. The program will be housed in a new $91 million clinical sciences building set to break ground this year. Earlier this summer, the university named Dr. Elizabeth Wyles as associate dean. Drs. Castillo and Wyles are both nationally recognized and respected educators and clinicians in the field of Optometry.
鈥淲e are making great progress and reaching important milestones as we move closer to welcoming our first class,鈥� Dr. Rich Castillo said.
It is an exciting and historic opportunity to build North Carolina鈥檚 first public optometry program from the ground up, and we are energized by the support from the profession and our community as we shape a program that will serve the state for generations to come.
Dr Cummings noted, 鈥溌槎股缜� Pembroke is indebted to our visionary NC legislators who agreed with the need for this College of Optometric Medicine at 麻豆社区P and have provided generous funding. In particular, Senator Danny Britt and Representatives Brenden Jones and Jarrod Lowery have played a pivotal role in moving this vision forward.鈥�