Characteristics of faculty for a successful basic sciences program

The author defines characteristics of an ideal faculty for a successful basic science program including strong grounding in the specific discipline, ability to teach with clinical relevance, dedication to teaching above all other considerations, and motivation to integrate optometric science. He illustrates an approach to this ideal as developed at the Southeastern University of the Health Sciences by integrating the basic science faculty for three separate health profession schools. Further, the author describes the profitable examples which have come about through this program.