Transitions has announced a partnership with Black EyeCare Perspective to expand an initiative focused on increasing the admittance of Black and African American students into accredited optometry programs.

The HBCU Light Intelligent Tour, which started in 2022, aims to create partnerships with students and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and, ultimately, increase the number of practicing diverse optometrists. It will include virtual events this spring and summer, with plans for several HBCUs campus visits in the fall. Currently, 13.6 percent of the U.S. population identify as Black or African American, yet less than 2 percent of practicing optometrists and only 4 percent of students enrolled in optometry school.

“As 40 percent of optometrists who identify as Black or African American graduate from historically black colleges and universities, the HBCU Light Intelligent Tour aims to encourage students in joining the field of optometry,” said Black EyeCare Perspective co-founder Darryl Glover. “We also hope that our representation on campus inspires students to imagine themselves in our field as they see firsthand successful Black optometrists who are striving to change the world.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/People Images)