Dr. Angel Novel-Simmons (right), clinical assistant professor of optometry, gives a lab demonstration for students visiting UMSL from Hazelwood West High School. (Photo by Janice White)

About 30 Hazelwood (Mo.) West High School students recently received a first-hand look into the field of optometry courtesy of the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The College of Optometry at UMSL presented the event.

College faculty members gave presentations on the preparation needed for optometry school, how the field compares to other health professions and the benefits of optometry as a career choice. Third-year optometry students gave the Hazelwood West students a tour of the College of Optometry. The high schoolers also received hands-on experience with examination equipment in the pre-clinic area and took in an eye dissection during an anatomy and physiology lab and a discussion on ocular anatomy and physiology.

The Hazelwood West students are currently enrolled in the Human Body Systems class, which is part of the Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science program.