UNCP Hosts NC Optometric Society District Meeting as Optometry Program Advances

UNC Pembroke recently welcomed North Carolina Optometric Society (NCOS) members for a district meeting highlighting the university’s progress toward launching the state’s first public Doctor of Optometry program.

The gathering brought together state and district leaders, practicing optometrists and UNCP administrators for continuing education and a discussion about the future of eye care in North Carolina.

“The purpose of this meeting is to build enthusiasm for the College of Optometric Medicine and what we are doing from an academic, instructional and clinical standpoint,” said Dr. Kenny Bumgarner, retired optometrist and UNCP consultant.

Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, MD, shared the vision for the college is to train optometric doctors to play a key role in an individual’s overall care.  “Our goal is to educate practitioners who can participate with a patient’s primary physician in the total care of the patient,” Cummings said. “Many diseases can be detected in the very early stages in a comprehensive eye exam, and when communicated to the patient’s physician, may lead to a better outcome.”

Attendees included NCOS President Dr. Sean Smolenyak, who practices in rural Edenton, N.C. Smolenyak underscored the program’s significance for underserved areas.

“To have a school like UNC Pembroke based in a rural area where students can see firsthand the impact of preserving vision is powerful,” Smolenyak said. “Protecting vision and preventing blindness has an immeasurable impact on families and communities. Seeing the investment in UNC Pembroke and the opportunities it creates for students and the community leaves me smiling and excited for what this means for our profession, the school, the state and especially the patients.”

Alyssa Barkley, NCOS executive director, added: “There are so many health deserts across North Carolina. So, bringing this level of education to our rural communities is important. Having distinguished leaders like Chancellor Cummings and Dean Castillo at the helm is a game-changer for communities in this region.”

UNCP’s College of Optometric Medicine, led by Dean Rich Castillo, received UNC System approval in 2024 and plans to welcome its first class in fall 2027. The program will be housed in a new $91 million clinical sciences building set to break ground this year. Earlier this summer, the university named Dr. Elizabeth Wyles as associate dean. Drs. Castillo and Wyles are both nationally recognized and respected educators and clinicians in the field of Optometry.

“We are making great progress and reaching important milestones as we move closer to welcoming our first class,” Dr. Rich Castillo said. 

It is an exciting and historic opportunity to build North Carolina’s first public optometry program from the ground up, and we are energized by the support from the profession and our community as we shape a program that will serve the state for generations to come.

Dr Cummings noted, “UNC Pembroke is indebted to our visionary NC legislators who agreed with the need for this College of Optometric Medicine at UNCP and have provided generous funding. In particular, Senator Danny Britt and Representatives Brenden Jones and Jarrod Lowery have played a pivotal role in moving this vision forward.”