Ensuring the future of optometry's graduate programs

Financial burdens, time and family commitments, peer status, insecure feelings concerning academia, and continuing "student" stigma are some of the pressures that discourage optometrists from entering graduate programs in visual science or other fields. In order to ensure the continued future training of optometrists with additional graduate degrees, we must begin to develop better financial packages, proactive recruitment strategies, increased networking opportunities, more secure career opportunities, streamlined graduate programs, and the affirming of the rewards of graduate study by those who have had successful careers.