Prospective Students Impressed by Optometry Learning Experience 2023

Reghan Funderburk was receiving emails from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University Admissions department but admittedly, she wasn’t paying too much attention to them. Her mother is a doctor, so Funderburk, a rising senior at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, who is studying biology and psychology, had been thinking of alternative career paths in healthcare, maybe something to do with the eyes.

“And, my mother said, ‘That’s optometry and you’ve been getting emails about it all the time from Salus University,’” said Funderburk, who has worn glasses for much of her life. “I thought about how much my eyes mean to me and I’ve been falling more and more in love with optometry.”

Funderburk was one of 33 students over two sessions that attended the University’s Optometry Learning Experience (OLE) the week of June 26, 2023. The OLE program is designed to offer participants the opportunity to investigate the academic study associated with the Doctor of Optometry degree program, as well as the profession of optometry and the many career opportunities available at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University.

According to Maura Golebiowski, assistant director of Admissions at Salus, most of the attendees were rising juniors and seniors in undergraduate institutions as well as recent graduates. The students toured the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus as well as The Eye Institute (TEI), the program’s main clinical facility. They heard presentations from faculty and student panels as well as presentations by staff talking about a variety of topics including financial aid, admissions tips and living in the Philadelphia area.

A number of prospective students were from the Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania, New Jersey as well as  Maryland, Illinois, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia attended this year’s OLE. Student groups have visited PCO/Salus for almost four decades in order to gain insight into the academic life of an optometry student.

“We’ve had great groups this year and we’re really happy to welcome them to our campus,” said Golebiowski.

​A rising senior at the University of Maryland, Tamara Dowding, who is studying healthcare management and biotechnology, attended OLE because she wants to pursue a career in healthcare and has always found the eyes interesting.

“I wanted to come to OLE not only to see if Salus was the place for me, but also to learn more about the field of optometry,” said Dowding.

And, she was impressed with what she saw, especially the University’s focus on clinical education and the passion she sensed from faculty and staff.

“I like everything Salus has to offer,” she said. “I learned that optometry doesn’t just have to be about the eyes, but it looks at the whole person.”

Chad Killen, OD ‘19, Resident ‘20, FAAO, director of on-campus residency programs at PCO/Salus, had his first experience with OLE in January 2013 when he was a sophomore at Gettysburg College. He said at the time, that experience helped cement his interest not only in the profession of optometry but in PCO/Salus.

“It truly puts you in the mindset of a student and gives you an insight into the day-to-day life which is a unique opportunity that not all programs offer,” said Dr. Killen.

After graduating from PCO/Salus in 2019 and then completing a residency the following year at TEI, Dr. Killen joined the PCO/Salus faculty.

“Now I get to sit on the other side of the table when undergraduate students participate in the OLE program which is really special,” he said. “I know what questions, reservations, and hopes I had for my future and plans of coming to PCO at the time and it offers a unique perspective to have conversations with them. Even if they don't ultimately end up at PCO/Salus, I just hope to guide them in their decision of entering the optometric profession.”

In order to be considered for the OLE program, students are required to complete an application, write a short essay and submit transcripts. Invitations to participate in the program are sent out in mid-April and applications are due by the end of May. For questions or to learn more details about OLE, email the Office of Admissions at admissions@salus.edu.