UC Berkeley Optometry Hosts Western Regional Conference in November 2010
By Daphne Chan, UCBSO Trustee-Elect
The WRC was started over 20 years ago by UCBSO and has since begun to rotate in location among the Pacific University College of Optometry, Southern California College of Optometry, and UC Berkeley. This year, however, marks an exciting new change. With the addition of two new schools of optometry, the partnership of western schools will expand to include the Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry and the Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry. Although the WRC will target students from these five western schools, all optometry and pre-optometry students are invited to attend, especially those who plan to practice in the western United States in the future.
Students can expect several exciting events spanning the two days of the WRC. The conference will kick off on Friday night with a welcome reception in Berkeley, where students will have the opportunity to mingle and meet each other in a casual environment. Saturday morning will commence with breakfast, registration and keynote speeches, and proceed to lectures by a variety of speakers. Ever wonder what else you can do to become a successful optometrist? Then you might enjoy the highly anticipated words of Dr. Brian Chou, OD, FAAO, who will speak about the lessons you don’t learn in optometry school based upon his experience as both an industry consultant and a private practitioner.
During the lunch break, students will have time to visit the OptiFair Exhibit Hall, where a variety of industry representatives and optometry organizations will be present. This will be a prime opportunity to learn more about organized optometry by visiting the California Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association booths; to learn about the American Academy of Optometry; and to listen firsthand to industry representatives about the latest ophthalmic instruments from companies such as Classique Eyewear, Heine, Keeler, CooperVision, and more.
So mark your calendars for the Western Regional Conference from November 5-6, 2010, and invite your peers! This student-oriented optometry event will be a great opportunity for you to visit the host school and to network with future colleagues from the western schools of optometry. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email UCBSO Trustee Ly Lam at LyLam@berkeley.edu or UCBSO Trustee-Elect Daphne Chan at ChanDaphne@berkeley.edu. See you there!