Externship Program

The UABSO Externship Program has been developed to assist our students in optimizing their externship experience during their fourth year of optometry school. The objective of the program is to expand the educational and clinical experience of the students in order to ensure a large volume of patient encounters and exposure to additional off-campus health care settings in support of the clinical programs of UABSO.

Program Objectives

The purpose of the Externship Program at UABSO is to provide our students with a broad-based hands-on clinical experience. Externships are designed to enhance the student’s preparation for professional success. During their externship rotations students should gain increased experience in optometric patient care and the diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular disease under the guidance of a practicing professional. In addition to required university-based experiences, students select other externship sites in institutional, hospital-based or multidisciplinary clinics and private practice locations. More...

History of the Program

The Externship Program at the UAB School of Optometry was begun in 1989 by Dr. John Amos, Director of Residencies, Dr. Lester Caplan, Assistant Dean for Clinical Services, and Dr. James Beisel, who was the first Director of the program. Impetus for the development of externships was provided by a concern that students be afforded the best possible opportunity to participate in the clinical treatment of eye disease. Although most states permitted optometrists to treat ocular diseases with therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (TPAs) at the time, Alabama did not have such a law (it was not passed until 1995). For UAB students to gain formally documented TPA experience, patient encounters were necessary in off-campus clinics and practices at which TPAs were prescribed. Concurrently, the 1988-89 academic year marked the first year of a dramatic modification in the professional curriculum. More...