Optometry

The fall 2024 schedule will be available in the self-service portal in the summer. Please note that this schedule is subject to changes before the start of the term.

New students in the Optometry program are expected to attend a 2-day orientation at 10 Lincoln Square in Worcester.

Day 1 is scheduled for Thursday, August 29, 2024, and facilitated by the Office of Student Affairs. For questions regarding Day 1 Orientation, email MCPHS.orientationWor-Man@mcphs.edu.

Day 2 is scheduled for Friday, August 30, 2024, and is facilitated by the Optometry Department. This will be a full-day event to welcome the Class of 2028 and introduce current student leaders, administration, faculty, staff, and industry partners through icebreakers, meetings with faculty advisors, and presentations on what to expect and what’s expected of students, including participation in the Optometry Jumpstart Program: Preparing for Success. A continental breakfast and a bagged lunch will be provided. Be sure to check your MCPHS email for more details as the dates get closer.

As part of the Day 2 Orientation, the School of Optometry will kick off the “Jumpstart Program: Preparing for Success.” This is a comprehensive early matriculation initiative designed to equip incoming optometry learners with essential tools for a successful academic journey at MCPHS and will continue throughout September. Sessions will be held weekly during the contingency blocks, with specific dates and times to be announced at the beginning of the fall semester.

Attendance is mandatory to ensure you gain maximum benefit from this essential preparatory experience.

Program Goals:

• Chart your optometry journey: Explore the field's history and career paths, visit the clinic, and create a roadmap for your degree and board exams.
• Master study skills and time management: Learn effective study techniques and time management strategies tailored to optometry.
• Build a supportive optometry community: Connect with peers and faculty to foster a supportive network that enhances your academic and professional journey.

White coats and name tags will be ordered for each student by the department. Optometry students will receive information about ordering white coats during their first spring semester.

Students are expected to wear maroon-colored scrubs (tops and bottoms), which can be purchased from Trippi's Uniforms or through the MCPHS Bookstore website. These scrubs will include the MCPHS logo and need lead time for embroidery. Your first name and last initial may be embroidered for an additional cost; however, embroidery of your name is optional, and customized items are non-refundable. These will be worn for all labs and clinical experiences and will identify you as an MCPHS student.  

It is recommended that scrubs be ordered by July 31 to ensure they are delivered in time for your first lab day.

Please go to the Trippi's store or call them directly to order your scrubs.

Trippi's Uniforms
268 Boston Turnpike
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
800.358.0525

Note: The MCPHS School of Optometry is not affiliated with Trippi's Uniform

As first-year students in the MCPHS School of Optometry, you will receive an equipment package that includes the following items needed for your first year of studies:

• MCPHS 1st-Year Optometry Equipment Kit, packaged inside an MCPHS embossed rolling carrying case
• Your choice of a Diagnostic Set Package

The equipment kit includes a luggage tag that can be personalized with your contact information upon delivery.

To choose your diagnostic set, please visit the Pioneer International website from Monday, July 1 through Friday, July 12.

Select "Students & Residents" and then "Create an Account." Proceed with the following steps:

1. Use your @stu.mcphs.edu email address to register for an account
2. Enter "2028" as your Completion Year (this will ensure you receive access to view the MCPHS 1st Year Equipment Kit)
3. Confirm your account by checking your MCPHS inbox and clicking the link within the Pioneer International Account Confirmation email.

You will notice that all items in the Equipment Kit and Diagnostic Set Package have a magnifying glass next to the item name. Clicking on this allows you to see a detailed description of that item as well as multiple pictures of the item (if applicable). The last item listed shows the amount that will be billed to your MCPHS account.

Before you can add the Equipment Kit to your shopping cart, you must select your preference of a Heine, Keeler, or Welch Allyn Diagnostic Set.

No payment is required when you place your order. Your MCPHS student account statement will reflect an Optometry Equipment Fee. If you have applied for financial aid, your cost of attendance includes an allowance for this purchase.

For questions related to the website or your equipment selection/purchase, please contact Kristi Weber at 888.206.5380 or kgentile@pioneerstudent.com.

There are a limited number of large lockers at 10 Lincoln Square that are available on a first come, first serve basis and are free of charge. These large lockers are assigned by the Optometry Department for use until the student’s 4th year externship rotations. Information regarding how to submit a request for a large locker will be emailed early in your first semester .

MCPHS has established technology guidelines for all new students.

The Doctor of Optometry program will be using online electronic testing software including Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, Respondus, and ExamSoft for the administration of examination and quizzes. All students are required to bring a laptop (Mac or PC) that meets the minimum specifications linked below in order to be able to sit for exams. When referring to the minimum specifications, take note of the requirements mentioning ExamID and ExamMonitor, which require your electronic device to be equipped with a webcam and microphone.

Each student will also be required to purchase a privacy screen or privacy filter that fits on their device.

At this time, Examplify can only be used on Mac, Windows, and iPad operating systems. Examplify will not run on Chromebook, Android, or Linux operating systems. Please review minimum system requirements.

An approved American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/Basic Life Support (CPR/BLS) training for Healthcare Professionals is required of all students and must be maintained for the duration of the program. Students must submit their certification by October 1 of their first semester in the program.

If you hold current CPR/BLS certification, please provide the clinic manager a copy of both sides of your signed card showing the name of the course director or training center. Otherwise, training should be completed, and a copy of the certification submitted to the clinic manager before the start of the Spring semester.

Students must register for a hands-on training course or a combination of hands-on and online training. Training courses must be American Heart Association-approved; courses that "follow the AHA (American Heart Association) guidelines" is not sufficient and does not meet requirements to participate in clinical rotations.

Visit the Red Cross for more information about CPR/BLS training for Healthcare Providers.

For questions whether your CPR/BLS certification is acceptable for clinical experiences, please contact the Clinic Manager, Heather Fusco, in the School of Optometry's Eye & Vision Center at heather.fusco@mcphs.edu.

The program will run an annual CORI background check process that's required for MCPHS students encountering patients in the school's Eye & Vision Center, off-site screenings, community health centers, and externships. Please be prepared to submit the following items during day 2 of the Optometry program orientation:

1. A government-issued photo identification
2. Completed iCORI Request Form [PDF] to accompany your government-issued photo identification;
3. After your iCORI Request Form and government-issued photo ID have been submitted, you must place an order for your background check online at mycb.castlebranch.com, indicating package code MH82, with a fee payable by Visa or Master Card. Payment is due by October 1 of the first semester in the program and annually thereafter. Failure to have a successful background check completed by the due date will affect the student’s eligibility to participate in their clinical rotations.

The School of Optometry will sponsor the cost of student memberships for the American Academy of Optometry (AAO). Membership in the Academy gives you a foundation upon which to develop your research skills and professional goals. These memberships are optional and are granted to full-time Doctor of Optometry candidates who are in good academic standing. The membership is active for four years. Visit the AAO website for details about the benefits.

In order to enroll as a student member or to opt out, please submit this form by September 30, 2024. For questions, you may reach out to SAAO, the student chapter of the American Academy of Optometry, on the Worcester campus.