The SUNY College of Optometry Foundation announced that it received a $400,000 grant from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc.
This two-year grant will transform eye care in services in Upstate New York, strengthening the partnership between SUNY College of Optometry and Syracuse Community Health. Simultaneously, it bolsters resources for SUNY Optometry’s development of a new OD program on the campus of SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Downtown Syracuse. This will address Central New York’s eye care workforce shortage.
“For over 15 years, SUNY Optometry’s partnership with the Lavelle Fund for the Blind has been remarkably productive. We’ve worked together on several projects, from supporting our students as they pursue exciting opportunities abroad to expanding eye care access for underserved New Yorkers. This grant is yet another example of our shared commitments in action. The funds from this grant will help us develop our groundbreaking OD program in Central New York, all while supporting thousands of New Yorkers with insufficient access to eye care. We are proud to continue our work with the Lavelle Fund, and we are excited to see what lies ahead for our partnership,” says Sarah Gleason, OD, FAAO, Director of SUNY Optometry Program at SUNY Upstate.
LACK OF SERVICES
Beyond helping to establish the SUNY Optometry Program at SUNY Upstate, the grant will expand eye care services for underserved populations in Central New York. Beginning with the inaugural class of 16 in 2026, an anticipated hundreds of students will be trained to pursue an optometric education in a region with a significant lack of eye care access.
As it stands, 25% of optometrists practicing in Central New York anticipate retiring within the next five years. This leaves Central New Yorkers with insufficient access to eye care. This grant ensures that the next generation of world-class optometrists are being trained in Central New York, and that quality eye care can be provided in the region for years to come.
INCREASING ACCESS
“The Lavelle Fund is proud to be partnering with SUNY Optometry on this important multi-faceted initiative which will not only provide increased access to comprehensive eye care to thousands of under-served New Yorkers, but which will also help ensure a steady supply of well-trained optometric professionals in the region,” says Susan Olivo, Executive Director and CEO of the Lavelle Fund for the Blind.
“It is a privilege to collaborate with SUNY College of Optometry to increase access to essential medical eye care for our vulnerable patient population. Through this partnership, we are not only delivering much-needed services to individuals with complex pathologies who often may be underserved, but we are also providing invaluable training opportunities for future healthcare professionals at Syracuse Community Health to address the eye care provider shortage in the region,” says Ofrona Reid, MD, President of Syracuse Community Health.
The Lavelle Fund has developed and grown a strong partnership with SUNY Optometry that extends well over 15 years. This long-term collaboration has allowed SUNY Optometry to create a partnership in China with Wenzhou Medical University, offering externship opportunities for students and providing care to members of the community. It has also provided funding for several community health centers to extend eye care access across the state. This grant and the subsequent creation of the SUNY Optometry program in Syracuse demonstrate the success of this ongoing partnership, creating workforce opportunities while serving communities across the state.
