Eyerie Academics has partnered with VSP Vision to offer a six-week study and wellness program focused on helping students prepare for exams through a holistic approach that emphasizes mental health and well-being. “Our goal is always focusing on wellness—the whole student—not just memorizing for a test,” says founder Camille Cohen, OD, FAAO. “How do you prepare yourself–mind, body and spirit–not just for exams but for approaching clinic, too?”
The program, co-founded by Dr. Cohen and Janis James, OD, FAAO, was initially inspired by their experiences helping students manage test anxiety and organizational skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two doctors met as assistant mentees on Zoom during the lockdown and quickly found they shared a passion for supporting students. They’ve since expanded their efforts beyond board exams to include broader academic and personal development. “We aim to recreate the success of our 2020 informal tutoring project, which had an 80% success rate,” Dr. Cohen says. “This program will focus on those students most in need of support during the semester and in preparation for their board exams.”
AVAILABLE NOW
This fall, Eyerie Academics will offer a six-week session designed to support students in areas such as test preparation, time management and study habits. Courses cover topics like the psychology of test-taking, budgeting and finances and strategies for improving overall academic performance. As part of the program, students will receive the Eyerie Academics Planner, a mindfulness journal and access to reviewable study materials.
Modules include exercises in deep breathing, guidance on changing core habits and the importance of writing out thoughts. These tools help students reframe how they approach exams, focusing on their mental health and overall well-being.
PARTNERSHIPS AND REACH
In addition to the upcoming courses, Dr. Cohen and Dr. James are excited to announce their partnership with VSP Vision, which will provide additional resources for students. “For nearly 70 years, VSP Vision has offered a variety of programs and resources designed to help optometry students reach their career goals,” says Marvin Davenport, chief diversity officer at VSP Vision. “What attracted us to this partnership with Eyerie Academics is their ability to demonstrate the importance of bridging mental and physical wellness with successful academic outcomes. You simply cannot have one without the other.”
The doctors also recently presented a virtual lecture at the University of California, Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science. “We want to reach students earlier with this information, as opposed to waiting for their board results to start thinking about these things,” Dr. Cohen says.
EXTRA SUPPORT
With the rising costs of board exams and associated travel expenses, Dr. Cohen wants to focus on helping students pass those exams the first time. Eyerie Academics isn’t content review, specifically—although there is now a kidney anatomy and physiology overview, but it’s working with students to get them into the right mindset and gain confidence in the knowledge they have learned. “It’s obviously more cost-effective to pass them the first time,” she says. “Our lectures are helping students rethink how they approach the boards.”
The support also helps recreate something that many students who came through high school or college during the pandemic are missing: connections with classmates. “I made friends with my classmates. We studied together and gained different perspectives from each other. But some students who went through years of virtual learning continue to isolate. They don’t feel they need to work with classmates, but this course brings some accountability to others into the picture,” she says.
Dr. Cohen also points out that there are factors influencing board scores beyond a student’s knowledge of the material. “There may be reasons for lower board scores that are not completely related to learning the information,” she says. “We took an opposite approach, acknowledging the external factors that affect these scores—like many students missing out on graduation in 2020.”
Eyerie Academics continues to grow in popularity, with new resources and partnerships being developed. Drs. Cohen and James recently spoke with Maria Sampalis, OD, on her podcast, where they discussed their efforts to support students.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN
The application deadline for the fall 2024 session has been extended to September 28. Gain access to expert instructors, trusted presentations, experienced speakers and virtual lessons today. Learn more and register at eyerieacademics.org.
Read how Eyerie Academics got its start. Test Anxiety Is a Thing: Two Doctors Bring Support to the Process | Women In Optometry…
