Dickinson has a new pre-health club for those interested in careers in optometry! The Optometry Club, recently passed by the Student Senate, had its first club meeting on March 26 in Tome 115. The club is run by Matthew Ferenz ’28 who serves as President and Parliamentarian, Tyler Ferenz ’29 as the Vice President and Colin Vineberg ’27 as the Treasurer. During the introductory meeting, club officers talked about the club’s purpose, goals, and plans for its members.
Matthew Perenz ’28 spoke to the Dickinsonian of the characteristics that make the Optometry Club necessary and unique. “The Pre-Health Society focuses more on medical school,” he said. Recognizing the nuances and specifics within different specialties is not something the Pre-Health Society does as much, and this is something that inspired Perenz to initiate the club.
The club is registered under the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), and is committed to deepening students’ understanding of the Optometric profession while encouraging community engagement and social responsibility.
As Ferenz ’29 stated, “We provide a space for students to explore the field of Optometry through hands-on volunteer opportunities, educational activities and peer collaboration. Our programming includes guest speakers who are practicing optometrists and admissions representatives from Optometry schools offering first-hand insights into clinical practice and the application process.”
Throughout the presentation, the club officers emphasized that a primary goal of theirs will be to help members gain insight into preparing competitive applications, navigating prerequisites and exploring diverse career paths within Optometry.
Another path that the officers are already starting to explore is community engagement. Currently, the Optometry Club is partnering with the Carlisle chapter of the Lions Club, the world’s largest service club organization, in an eye wear recycling campaign and Community Vision clinics program, reflecting their dedication to accessible eye care and sustainable service. Through this effort, they are working to encourage students to apply to optometry school and become compassionate leaders in the community.
Looking forward to next academic year, the officers shared the types of events and activities that members should expect. The club will continue to volunteer with the Carlisle Lions Club, assisting in community vision screenings, gaining practical experience in patient care and eye health education as well as supporting the eyeglass drop off and recycling efforts. They hope to have a guest speaker series, where they invite practicing optometrists to provide insight into the profession and current clinical practices. They also want to give students the opportunity to engage with representatives from Optometry schools through recruitment, as well as opportunities to connect with fellow students through social events. Specifically, within the month of May, which is Healthy Vision Month, they want to present educational posters to illustrate common eye diseases and promote preventative eye care. Lastly, the officers shared their desire to have a vision screening training and service program at Dickinson, where students are trained to participate in eye health initiatives for the Dickinson community at Large.
“You don’t really have to know that this is what you want to do, you can just come if you have an interest in it.” Anyone who is interested in the healthcare field is encouraged to come and add to potential collaborative opportunities and relations across pre-health students on campus.
