The Advocacy and Leadership course, “Looking Towards the Future: Optometry Program in Advocacy and Leadership 2021 (OPAL),” enables future eye health leaders to use advocacy and leadership strategies to effect change at the policy and practice levels. The goals of this course are to equip the course participants with knowledge and skills to lead the profession forward through advocacy, public health initiatives, and leadership within the health care sector while at the same time supporting the WCO strategic plan.
The original advocacy course was conducted face-to-face with participants in Mozambique, Nigeria and Lebanon. In order to bring the workshop more participants, the decision was made to offer a virtual course in 2019. This 3-month course included virtual modules and required the development of a capstone project by all the participants. Many of the capstone projects have come to fruition following the successful completion of the course.
The new program has been condensed into 8 weeks with world renowned speakers in optometry, and with an added leadership component to the curriculum. It was delivered online from September 20th to November 20th.
Congratulations to this year’s participants! WCO looks forward to offering this dynamic program again in 2022!