PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. and RALEIGH, N.C.—The Pre-Optometry Club of the Black Eyecare Perspective (BEPPOC) is celebrating the achievements of its members who have gained admittance into the Class of 2025 at a school or college of optometry. The virtual event will be held on the evening of April 27, and is being hosted in partnership with Johnson & Johnson Vision. Adam Ramsey, OD, a Florida private practitioner and co-founder of Black Eyecare Perspective, with Dr Darryl Glover, noted, "You may know and have heard that we need more Black doctors, but the reality is in order to have more Black doctors, we have to actively recruit them as well as create more opportunities to not only help them survive but thrive in their pursuit.

"We are actively working to redefine the color of the eyecare industry, one percent at a time, by creating a pipeline for Black students into optometry. Through our 13% Promise initiative, we are asking for equity in the Black representation in eyecare companies, schools and colleges of optometry and optometry boards."

Dr. Ramsey added, "We have been able to create the most change through the chartering of the Black Eyecare Perspective Pre-Optometry Club. Since August 2020, BEPPOC, which meets every month, has grown to over 60 members, with about 34 percent of the membership applying to optometry school this cycle and with an acceptance rate of over 80 percent."

Dr. Ramsey said the April 27 event will celebrate the achievements of BEPPOC members who have been accepted into optometry school and recognize any student who will be a part of the class of 2025. "We also will award over $13,000 in matriculation grants to our participants and reveal our video contest winner."

There is no fee to attend the Signing Day event on April 27, which will be co-hosted by the Drs. Essence Johnson and Jacobi Cleaver, Black Eyecare Perspective's BEPPOC co-advisors. Registration and more details are posted here.