UCOSA
The University of California Optometric Student Association (UCOSA) is the representative body for students at Berkeley Optometry.
It is affiliated with the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), which carries on a program of educational, public service, and social activities throughout the year.
Composed of student representatives from each class, UCOSA Officers represent the interests of students to the faculty, as well as organize Social Activities, textbook sales, and publication of the Berkeley Study Guide for national board exams.
UCOSA also provides vision care services through student-sponsored activities, as summarized in the following table.
UCOSA Activities
| Activity | Description |
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Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) is an independent, all-student organization (see Disclaimer). Members donate their time and skills to deliver vision care to needy people around the world. The emphasis has been on providing optometric care to third-world countries where the need is the greatest, including Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Thailand, and the Philippines. Much is done by student members even before the screening takes place, such as collecting, cleaning, neutralizing, and sorting many thousands of glasses, as well as fundraising. For example, eleven students and two optometrists traveled to Costa Rica, where for four days our volunteers examined over 1,200 patients, yet still found time to tour central Costa Rica. It was an amazing experience. For a local TV news profile about another trip, see VOSH video News Clip.
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Suitcase Clinic
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Students provide preliminary vision screenings at the First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, once a week and free of charge, to low-income and homeless persons in the Berkeley area. Besides optometric care, patients also receive, from other professionals, medical, chiropractic, and legal help. Even free haircuts are offered. All funding for the clinic is through university grants, generous donations, or fundraising activities. People in need of further evaluation are referred to the Meredith Morgan Eye Center for complete eye exams, free of charge. These patients are also eligible to receive a free pair of glasses.
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Vision Screenings
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Students perform various community vision screening programs, such as the Lion's Club Vision Screening programs and the Annual East-West Shrine Classic Vision Screening.
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Community Outreach
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Students visit local elementary schools to help children learn more about vision and the eye.
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Campus Events
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Students participate in various UCBSO and UC Berkeley campus-wide programs, such as CAL-Day (UC Berkeley's Open House), Alumni programs, Save Your Vision Week, and Foresight (UC Berkeley's Pre-Optometry Club) Programs.
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AOA-PAC
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AOA-PAC is the political action committee for the American Optometric Association in Washington, D.C. Here at Berkeley Optometry, the goal is to educate and involve optometry students in the political process with respect to optometry- and optometric-related legislation in Congress. Once a year the student liaison leads a delegation of students to Washington, D.C., to be educated about current legislation and to lobby on Capital Hill with optometrists from each state. Membership is strongly encouraged at the national level for students — the requested student donation is $20 per year. For more information, see the AOA website www.aoa.org and click on "AOA-PAC" under the column "For Doctors," or go directly to AOA-PAC Login.
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BAOC
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The Bay Area Optometric Council (BAOC) is a subgroup of the California Optometric Association (COA). The BAOC promotes, represents, and lobbies in the best interests of optometry at a local level. As a BAOC student representative, you would network with local optometrists and the board members of the council to open externship and mentorship opportunities for students. For more information, see the BAOC website: www.baoc.com.
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