Introduction

There are currently twenty-five optometry colleges and university colleges in the United States. The most recent data collected by the Associations of Schools and Colleges of Optometry indicates 2868 students applied to optometry schools to enter during the 2024-2025 academic year. Of these applicants, 71 percent were admitted to at least one program. Applicants who are not initially admitted to an optometry program often invest additional time preparing for entrance exams, retaking courses, or taking additional courses to improve their grade point average, aiming to strengthen their candidacy for future admission. A bridge program, offers a more strategic alternative by equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in optometry school. It allows them to experience a realistic workload that is expected in any traditional program and focus on areas that are directly relevant to their future practice. This prevents students from spending time on standardized test preparation, earning credits that may not contribute meaningfully to their optometric education, or creating false expectations of future curriculum. To our knowledge, Nova Southeastern College of Optometry offers the only bridge program available to enter optometry.   
 

Importance

Aging populations are significantly impacting health care systems, necessitating increased resources. This is true across all professions, and optometry is no different. Reaching those applicants not admitted to a program can help fill this gap. Additionally, undergraduate students often pursue highly competitive fields such as medicine and dentistry, where even bridge programs can be difficult to access. In contrast, optometry receives fewer applicants, making it a promising and accessible option for those interested in a healthcare career. However, interested students must be aware that the study of optometry extends beyond glasses to preventative care by incorporating ocular and systemic anatomy as well as optics-based math. The program exposes students to the academic rigor of optometry and opens doors for students who may have never thought of optometry, thus increasing the number of future optometrists.
 

Rationale

This panel aims to provide insight into the design of our unique bridge program, curated for students to cultivate their potential, offering a realistic overview of their future academic and career path. The discussion topics include benefits, challenges, and lessons learned from the current program layout with perspectives from administrators, instructors, and students who have completed the program. 
 

Challenges

While the program has been successful, curricular expansion has been a challenge due to limited resources.