Over the past few years, discussions about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) have become increasingly prominent across many industries. In eye care, embracing diversity is a moral responsibility and a strategic benefit that can enhance patient outcomes, foster innovation, and create a more robust and sustainable workforce. This article explores how Transitions Diversity Optical Grants play a crucial role in advancing diversity and outlines the steps the industry can take to build a more inclusive and belonging-centered future.

What’s Covered: The Current Landscape of Diversity in Eye CareThe Importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Eye CareTransitions Diversity Optical Grants: A Catalyst for ChangeTaking Eye Care to the Next LevelThe Secret Sauce: Collaboration and CommitmentA Diverse Future in Eye CareTransitions Diversity Optical Grants

The Current Landscape of Diversity in Eye Care

The eye care industry, encompassing opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists, plays a crucial role in maintaining public health. However, like many other healthcare fields, the profession has historically struggled with representation. While diversity among the U.S. population continues to grow, the demographic makeup of eye care professionals has not kept pace, resulting in disparities in healthcare delivery.

Efforts to improve diversity within the profession are ongoing, with organizations such as the American Optometric Association (AOA), the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), Black EyeCare Perspective (BEP), Latino En Optometry (LEO), and Transitions Optical working to gather more data and implement strategies to enhance diversity. These initiatives aim to ensure that the profession better reflects the population it serves, ultimately leading to improved patient care and outcomes where all patients feel a sense of belonging.

Dr. Essence Johnson, Executive Director of Black EyeCare Perspective, emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing these disparities. “When we talk about diversity in eye care, we’re not just discussing numbers. We’re addressing the need for an industry that truly reflects the communities we serve. Representation matters, not only because it fosters trust and understanding but also because it drives innovation, better patient care, and a sense of belonging for everyone.”

The Importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Eye Care

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are essential components of a thriving, forward-looking eye care industry. Here’s why DEIB matters:

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2. Improved Patient Outcomes: Diverse healthcare providers are more likely to understand and address their patients’ unique cultural, linguistic, and social needs. This understanding can lead to more accurate diagnoses, better patient compliance, and improved health outcomes, with patients feeling a greater sense of belonging and trust in their care providers.
   
   
3. Innovation and Problem-Solving: Diverse teams bring various perspectives and experiences, fostering innovation and creative problem-solving. In eye care, this can translate to developing new technologies, treatment approaches, and patient care models that make all patients feel included and valued.
   
   
4. Workforce Sustainability: As the demand for eye care services grows, it’s essential to cultivate a workforce that reflects the population it serves. By attracting and retaining talent from diverse backgrounds, the industry can ensure a steady supply of skilled professionals who contribute to a culture of belonging.
   
   
5. Cultural Competence and Belonging: DEIB efforts help build cultural competence among eye care professionals, enabling them to better understand and respect their patients’ diverse backgrounds. This competence is crucial in providing equitable care, improving patient satisfaction, and fostering a sense of belonging within the patient community.
   

"Patients feel more comfortable when they're able to have an examination in their own language or with a doctor who understands their culture," she says. "It's about more than just numbers; it's about creating an environment where patients feel seen, heard, understood, and that they belong."
Dr. Diana Canto-Sims, Optometrist and co-founder of Latino En Optometry

Transitions Diversity Optical Grants: A Catalyst for Change

One of the key players in promoting diversity in the eye care industry is Transitions Optical, a company renowned for its innovative lens technologies. Recognizing the need to foster a more diverse and inclusive eye care community, Transitions Optical has launched several initiatives, including its Diversity and Optical Educational Grant Program.

The Transitions Diversity Optical Grants are designed to support students from underrepresented backgrounds who are pursuing careers in optometry, ophthalmology, and opticianry. By providing financial assistance, these grants help to remove barriers to education and open doors for aspiring eye care professionals who might otherwise be unable to afford the necessary training, ensuring they feel they belong in this field.

In addition to financial support, the grants also promote awareness of the need for diversity, inclusion, and belonging in eye care. They encourage applicants to reflect on the importance of DEIB in their future careers and consider how they can contribute to a more inclusive profession where everyone feels valued.

Dr. Johnson, who has been actively involved with the Transitions Optical Diversity Advisory Board, underscores the importance of such initiatives. “We worked very hard with Transitions to create a grant that touches all of the O’s,” she says. “There are two grants available—each $5,000—for students in ophthalmology or optometry school. And while $1,000 for opticianry students may seem smaller in comparison, it often covers a significant portion, if not all, of their tuition.”

She also emphasizes the need for active participation. “It surprises me that people don’t knock down the door for these scholarship opportunities. If there’s something I wish I had when I was a student, it’s grants like these. We need to encourage students to apply and make use of these resources, so they know they belong in this field.”

Taking Eye Care to the Next Level

So, how can the eye care industry take its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to the next level? The answer lies in a multifaceted approach that involves education, mentorship, partnerships, and ongoing advocacy.

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2. Education and Awareness: The first step is to increase awareness of the importance of diversity, inclusion, and belonging in eye care. Schools of optometry, ophthalmology, and opticianry should incorporate DEIB education into their curricula, ensuring that all students understand the impact of cultural competence on patient care and the importance of making every patient feel they belong.
   
   
3. Mentorship Programs: Mentorship is a powerful tool for nurturing the next generation of diverse eye care professionals. Programs like Black EyeCare Perspective’s “Pre-Optometry Club” and Latino En Optometry’s initiatives provide mentorship and support to students from underrepresented backgrounds, helping them navigate the challenges of pursuing a career in eye care and ensuring they feel a sense of belonging within the profession.
   

Dr. Canto-Sims reflects on the power of mentorship and representation, sharing a personal experience that highlights the impact of these initiatives. “I had a staff member who initially wanted to be a physical therapist. But after working with us, he realized that optometry was a passion he never knew he had. He went on to graduate and chose to work in his community, serving Spanish-speaking patients—a decision that deeply moved me. It’s stories like these that show how exposure and mentorship can change lives and foster a sense of belonging.”

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4. Industry Partnerships: Collaborations between industry leaders, educational institutions, and professional organizations are crucial for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in eye care. Partnerships like those between Transitions Optical, Black EyeCare Perspective, and Latino En Optometry are exemplary models of how the industry can work together to promote DEIB.
   

"We’ve been on tours, going to colleges and universities, specifically Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and participating in events that introduce students to the profession. These partnerships help us amplify the message of optometry, ophthalmology, and opticianry, bringing career opportunities directly to students and ensuring they know they belong."
Dr. Essence Johnson, Optometrist and Executive Director of Black EyeCare Perspective

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5. Scholarships and Grants: Financial barriers are among the biggest obstacles to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the eye care profession. Scholarships and grants, such as those offered by Transitions Optical, provide much-needed financial support to students from underrepresented groups, enabling them to pursue their education and career goals with the confidence that they belong in the field.
   
   
6. Advocacy and Policy Change: Advocacy at the institutional and governmental levels is essential for driving systemic change. Eye care professionals and organizations should advocate for policies that promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging in admissions, hiring, and professional development.
   

The Secret Sauce: Collaboration and Commitment

Collaboration and commitment are the secret sauce to achieving greater diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in eye care. It’s not enough for individual organizations or companies to work in isolation; the entire industry must come together to create a more inclusive and equitable future. This means sharing resources, exchanging ideas, and supporting one another’s efforts to promote DEIB.

"It’s not a Black thing, or a Hispanic thing, or a White thing," he says. "It’s about recognizing that we need more optometrists, and to get there, we need to reach out to communities that were never truly exposed to this profession. If we do that, we can attract more people to this incredible field and ensure they feel they belong."
Dr. Darryl Glover, Optometrist and Co-Founder of Black EyeCare Perspective

It also requires a long-term commitment to DEIB. Diversity initiatives should not be seen as short-term projects or PR exercises but as ongoing efforts that are integral to the industry’s success. The eye care profession can build a stronger, more resilient future by staying the course and prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

A Diverse Future in Eye Care

As the eye care industry looks to the future, one thing is clear: diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are not just goals; they are necessities. By embracing DEIB, the profession can improve patient care, foster innovation, and ensure a sustainable workforce. Programs like Transitions Optical’s Diversity and Optical Educational Grant, alongside the initiatives led by organizations such as Black EyeCare Perspective and Latino En Optometry, are vital tools in this effort, helping to break down barriers and pave the way for a more inclusive industry.

Eye care professionals, opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists all have a role to play in this journey. By committing to diversity and working together, the industry can take eye care to the next level—one that is more reflective of the diverse population it serves, more innovative in its approach, and more inclusive in its opportunities.

Dr. Johnson and Dr. Canto-Sims both envision a future where the representation gap is significantly narrowed. “For Black EyeCare Perspective, we have our 13 percent promise,” Dr. Johnson shares. “That’s our legacy—to ensure that in our lifetime, we see this become a reality.”

Dr. Canto-Sims echoes this sentiment with her own goal. “Our aim is 20 percent representation for Latino En Optometry within 20 years, and with the continued support of partners like Transitions Optical, we’re on the right path to making that happen.”

Transitions Diversity Optical Grants

To help increase diverse representation in the optical industry, Transitions, in partnership with its Diversity Advisory Board, is now accepting applications for its inaugural Diversity in Optical educational grant program until September 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Transitions will award five grants in the amount of $1,000 to applicants who are recent graduates or graduating high school seniors aspiring to attend opticianry school in the U.S. Additionally, two grants for $5,000 will be awarded to Year 1- Year 3 optometry or ophthalmology students attending an accredited U.S. school or college.

Seven grants will be awarded to U.S. based students pursuing careers in the ophthalmology, optometry, or opticianry fields. Winners will be publicly announced in September 2024. Apply Now!