Welcome to the American Academy of Optometry Student Page. Because the Academy recognizes that you are the future of optometry, this resource has been created. It does not matter if you are already a student member, or just starting to learn about the Academy. This page is your one stop resource.
Information about membership, Student Travel Fellowships, special student events and more will be available. There are only a few items available at this time, but keep checking. The page is under construction and more will be added. Do you have suggestions or comments? Send them to Helen Chan, Program Administrator, Education & Member Relations, 
.
New! Student Fellow Program
The Academy is kicking off an exciting new Student Fellowship program to encourage students to experience the entire meeting, hoping that it will stimulate improved integration of all of the opportunities offered at the meeting, encourage future involvement, and persuade students to become Fellows upon graduation.
The Student Fellowship program is a great opportunity for students to engage in cutting edge knowledge and technology through lectures, workshops, posters and much more! The program is geared to guide students to develop their skills as an optometric or vision science professional. Students will be encouraged to explore all the amazing events at Academy 2011 Boston.
There will be two meetings to tell students about the new program: Wednesday October 12th and Thursday October 13th, both from 6:30 until 7:50 am. The Thursday orientation will be a repeat of the Wednesday orientation, so students only need to attend ONE of the meetings. Invitations for these breakfasts will be sent out to all student members in the beginning of September, so keep your eyes open for this opportunity!
The entire process of obtaining Student Fellowship will be described in detail, as well as the rewards of obtaining Student Fellowship. In short, to obtain Student Fellowship, students will be required to attend the following at Academy 2011 Boston:
1. Be a current Student Member
2. Attend ONE orientation breakfast
3. Attend 6 hours of continuing education
4. Attend 1 hour of scientific talks
5. Attend 1 hour of posters
6. Attend one Plenary Session or one Monroe J. Hirsch Symposium
7. Attend one Business Meeting
8. Attend one Section Symposium
9. Attend one Awards Symposium
10. You may substitute a Merton Flom Leadership course for Requirement 5, 7, or 8
This must be completed prior to graduation from optometry school. Students are responsible for submitting barcodes after every event they attend at Academy 2011 Boston to get credit towards Student Fellowship. Upon completion, the students will receive a Student Fellow lapel pin, Candidacy for Fellowship application dues waived during the year of graduation and free student registration to the next Academy meeting.
Students, begin your career in the optometric field before you even graduate!
For more information, please contact the Chair of the Student/Faculty Liaison Committee, Jeffrey J. Walline, OD, PhD, FAAO at walline.1@osu.edu.
The Conversion of Students to Candidates Program
The Membership Committee is implementing a new program to attract graduating students at all U.S. schools and colleges of optometry. This spring, at each school and college, graduating students will attend a short presentation by the local Faculty Liaison. Printed materials describing the Academy and Fellowship along with an invitation to become a Candidate for Fellowship will be distributed. Graduating students will be encouraged to become Candidates immediately upon graduation so that they can hone their clinical skills through the process of becoming a Fellow. While Fellowship will never appeal to everyone, the purpose of this program is to make sure that the Academy is not the best-kept secret in optometry!
The Membership Committee is also advertising this new program on the Academy’s Facebook page. We are looking for Fellows who would be willing to send us short descriptions of why Fellowship has benefitted them in private practice. These quotes will be included on the Academy’s Facebook page with information about the Conversion of Students to Candidates Program. In addition, we are looking for enthusiastic Fellows in private practice to assist Faculty Liaisons with the presentations at the various schools and colleges by briefly speaking about how the Academy and Fellowship has benefitted them in their private practice. If you can send a quote for the Facebook page or if you can help us out at your local school or college of optometry, please contact the Chair of the Membership Committee, Dr. Melissa Bailey, at mbailey@optometry.osu.edu.
Membership in the American Academy of Optometry
Student Membership
Student membership may be granted to students who are in good academic standing at an accredited school or college of optometry, to full-time students in vision sciences and related sciences, and to residents in accredited optometric residency programs.
To apply to become a student member, please visit the Student Membership page to download the membership application form.
Fellow Application
Upon completion of your optometric degree, you may apply to become a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Recent graduates pay reduced dues and the application fee is waived for student members who apply for Fellowship immediately after graduation.
To apply to become a Fellow, please visit the Application page in the Becoming a Fellow section.