Grant Bolsters Resources for Patient Access to Eye Care in Partnership with Syracuse Community Health
New York, NY — SUNY College of Optometry Foundation announced today that it received a $400,000 grant from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc. This two-year grant will transform eye care in services in Upstate New York, strengthening the partnership between SUNY College of Optometry and Syracuse Community Health while simultaneously bolstering resources for SUNY Optometry’s development of a new OD program on the campus of SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Downtown Syracuse, which will address Central New York’s eye care workforce shortage.
“For over 15 years, SUNY Optometry’s partnership with the Lavelle Fund for the Blind has been remarkably productive. We’ve worked together on several projects, from supporting our students as they pursue exciting opportunities abroad to expanding eye care access for underserved New Yorkers. This grant is yet another example of our shared commitments in action. The funds from this grant will help us develop our groundbreaking OD program in Central New York, all while supporting thousands of New Yorkers with insufficient access to eye care. We are proud to continue our work with the Lavelle Fund, and we are excited to see what lies ahead for our partnership,” said Sarah Gleason, OD, FAAO, Director of SUNY Optometry Program at SUNY Upstate.
Beyond helping to establish the SUNY Optometry Program at SUNY Upstate, the grant will expand eye care service for underserved populations in Central New York. Beginning with the
inaugural class of 16 in 2026, it is anticipated that hundreds of students will be trained to pursue an optometric education in a region that has a significant lack of eye care access.
As it stands, 25% of optometrists practicing in Central New York anticipate retiring within the next five years, leaving Central New Yorkers with insufficient access to eye care. This grant ensures that the next generation of world-class optometrists are being trained in Central New York, and that quality eye care can be provided in the region for years to come.
“The Lavelle Fund is proud to be partnering with SUNY Optometry on this important multi-faceted initiative which will not only provide increased access to comprehensive eye care to thousands of under-served New Yorkers, but which will also help ensure a steady supply of well-trained optometric professionals in the region,” said Susan Olivo, Executive Director and CEO of the Lavelle Fund for the Blind
“It is a privilege to collaborate with SUNY College of Optometry to increase access to essential medical eye care for our vulnerable patient population. Through this partnership, we are not only delivering much-needed services to individuals with complex pathologies who often may be underserved, but we are also providing invaluable training opportunities for future healthcare professionals at Syracuse Community Health to address the eye care provider shortage in the region,” said Ofrona Reid, MD, President of Syracuse Community Health
The Lavelle Fund has developed and grown a strong partnership with SUNY Optometry that extends well over 15 years. This long-term collaboration has allowed SUNY Optometry to create a partnership in China with Wenzhou Medical University, offering externship opportunities for students and providing care to members of the community. Within the partnership, they have also provided funding for several community health centers to extend eye care access across the state. This grant and the subsequent creation of the SUNY Optometry program in Syracuse are yet another example of the success of this ongoing partnership, creating workforce opportunities while serving communities across the state.
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About the SUNY College of Optometry Foundation
Founded in 1956, SUNY College of Optometry Foundation (formerly the Optometric Center of New York), serves as an example of what partnership among visionary community leaders, education, vision organizations, private philanthropy and businesses can accomplish. Since its inception, the Foundation has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to supporting vision care for underserved populations; educating the next generation of optometrists including providing merit and need-based scholarships to students; and advancing research into the complex human visual system.
About SUNY Optometry
Founded in 1971 and located in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry is a leader in education, research, and patient care, offering the Doctor of Optometry degree as well as MS and PhD degrees in vision science. The College conducts a robust program of basic, translational and clinical research and has 65 affiliated clinical training sites as well as an on-site clinic, the University Eye Center. SUNY Optometry is regionally accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary
Schools; its four-year professional degree program and residency programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association. All classrooms, research facilities and the University Eye Center, which is one of the largest optometric outpatient facilities in the nation, are located on 42nd Street in midtown Manhattan. To learn more about SUNY Optometry, visit www.sunyopt.edu.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2025
Media Contact: Dawn Rigney
communications@sunyopt.edu 212-938-5600