NASHVILLE—To support and encourage new optometry students, Energeyes, The Association of Corporate-Affiliated Optometrists, has created the Energeyes Optometric Student Program to provide the next generation of optometrists with “the information they need to understand the full scope of their career options upon graduation,” according to a statement from the organization. Students will be able to join Energeyes and take advantage of all member benefits without paying any dues for as long as they are students and for one year after graduation.

“In speaking with optometry students, it is clear that the information they have on corporate-affiliated optometry as a career option is either nonexistent or incorrect,” reported Mark Uhler, OD, president of the Energeyes Association. “We want to ensure that all students are well informed about all that corporate optometry has to offer, to provide them appropriate experiences within a corporately based practice and to connect them with successful optometrists currently working within a retail setting.”

Michael Porat, executive director of Energeyes, said, “Our free website marketing effort, our mentoring program and our new internship, externship and job placement program will be a real support for that newly graduated optometrist. We are also offering a unique video series in partnership with financial experts at Integrated Planning and Wealth Management that has been written for the graduated optometrist to help them start on the right foot with detailed financial planning and money management techniques.”

The program will also include a special section of the association’s newsletter written for the optometric student, creation of a special student committee to the board for the creation of student-specific programming and a competition soliciting presentation ideas from students that will provide an all-expenses-paid trip to the Energeyes National Meeting in May, 2015.

“Some details remain to be worked out, but the program will be soliciting presentation ideas from students. A panel of members will review the materials submissions and choose three finalists to present at our national meeting in May. Energeyes will take care of the students’ expenses for this trip. All students are invited to attend the national meeting at no cost, both current and pre-optometry students,” Porat told VMail.

“We believe that exposure to the kinds of things our members are working through as practicing optometrists will provide much needed insight for the students,” said Jon Walker, OD, MS, FAAO, Energeyes board member responsible for the new student program. “We are also providing a speakers’ bureau for the school and student organizations should they be in need of a speaker for an event or program. Our members have a wealth of expertise to share.” Email Walker at info@energeyesassociation.com for more information.