Summer Study Starts Diverse Undergrads on the Path to PCO Success
Earlier this summer, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University welcomed a cohort of 14 PCO/Salus Doctor of Optometry applicants to its recently relaunched Summer Enrichment Program, renamed in honor of former dean and vice president for Student Affairs Robert E. Horne as a tribute to its founder, for high-achieving students of color. This year, the program’s recruitment efforts placed special emphasis on Black and African American students who are historically underrepresented in health science.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, three of the five weeks students spent completing the program were held virtually followed by two weeks of in-person sessions at the University’s Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus. The enrichment program, which offers participants coursework with current PCO/Salus faculty, peer mentors and seminars on a variety of topics covering study skills, test taking, financial literacy and wellness, prepares students for the rigors of an optometry education.