Dr. Don Lyon, WCO Public Health Committee Member
Accessible, affordable, people-centered vision care for everyone is a goal we all should strive for. There are ways optometrists can improve access and affordability on a local and regional level. One way is using advocacy. Advocacy, when used properly, can have a powerful impact on improving the quality of vision care. But how do you know when advocacy may be the answer to the problem? How do you start an advocacy program? What barriers may arise? How do you know whom to work with? Providing the answers to these and many other questions is the Optometry Program in Advocacy and Leadership (OPAL) goal.
OPAL recently completed its second year of providing education to optometrists on their leadership styles and how to design and implement advocacy programs in their region. Optometry Giving Sight graciously sponsored the program. Twenty-five participants, representing all six regions of WCO, completed a twelve-week online program. Speakers included WCO executive board members, representatives from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, the Fred Hollows Foundation, and additional optometrists with experience in advocacy and leadership.
The course content was given weekly, utilizing Zoom. Most talks were presented in a live format, so the attendees could directly ask questions to the expert and learn in real time. The content was presented in a manner so the participants could work through the necessary steps to create an advocacy program; in fact, participants were encouraged to use a single idea to develop an advocacy project throughout the program. In addition to the weekly activities, they could complete an optional capstone project. This project was a complete write-up of their advocacy project and was reviewed by the program leadership at the end of the course. After that, it is up to them to continue developing and actively engaging in the proposed project or use their new skills and confidence to develop further programs.
Based on a post-course survey, we know that all the participants gained confidence in understanding how to advocate for eye health. They are also more likely to engage further with organizations to support work on advocacy projects. The most recent cohort has gained the knowledge and experience to go out and develop advocacy projects in their region to improve the accessibility and affordability of vision care. They know that they will not do this alone. As we continue to collaborate with optometrists on a global level and provide this type of experience, the World Council of Optometry is building upon its network of experts in advocacy– experts who can continue to assist with a variety of advocacy projects.
WCO will continue to offer this program in 2023 as we look forward to having a new group of optometrists learn about advocacy and leadership to improve vision care further and expand the network of optometrists engaging in advocacy on an international level.
The deadline to apply for the 2023 Optometry Program in Advocacy and Leadership (OPAL) program is April 24, 2023, 11:59 p.m. CDT.