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The vision for the College of Dental Medicine is to be known and respected for service, innovation, clinical excellence and interprofessional education.
We are practitioners of the healing arts defining the standard for excellence in optometric education and vision care.
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Located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, the Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) is the only college of optometry in Kentucky. Become part of a community of medical professionals providing vision care to those who need it most, and learn in an environment built with the future of optometry in mind. At KYCO, faculty, staff and administration embrace the expanded scope of optometric practice in Kentucky with unique clinical experiences and a challenging curriculum. KYCO students are afforded an abundance of rewarding clinical opportunities serving patients in need.
All equipment, textbooks and technology are provided at no additional cost to students.
Students serve patients from the blindest region in the U.S. in community clinics and hospitals.
Practice with new and advanced equipment and technology in KYCO’s innovative 103,000 square foot facility.
Four University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) students were awarded scholarships from National Vision. This marks the second year of National Vision’s pledge to KYCO to provide $20,000 in scholarships annually for five years, totaling $100,000. The scholarship funds four incoming first-year optometry students interested in practicing in rural communities, each receiving $5,000. The […]
In collaboration with the Health Wagon, the University of Pikeville Kentucky-College of Optometry (KYCO) will host a free upcoming Ocular Disease Screening on Thursday, November 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Dr. Smiddy Clinic, Health Wagon, Wise, Va. Attendees will step inside the mobile unit where KYCO students can screen patients for eye […]
The Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) proudly welcomed several outstanding residents into its KYCO-affiliated residency programs. This remarkable achievement highlights the exceptional caliber of optometrists and underscores the college’s commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders in optometry. Hailey Caudill, O.D, Joshua Griffith, O.D., who completed their Doctor of Optometry degrees from KYCO in […]
The University of Pikeville (UPIKE) is proud to announce an outstanding achievement in student retention for the 2023-2024 academic year. With a remarkable retention rate of 84.6%, UPIKE significantly outperformed the national average of 74% for private colleges and universities in the U.S. This retention rate is particularly notable given UPIKE’s commitment as an open […]
VSP Vision™, in partnership with the Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO), announced Seth Clark as the winner of the $5,000 Vision of Hope scholarship. “I am so humbled to receive the Vision of Hope scholarship,” said Clark. “It has affirmed that I am choosing the path that God has set for me. As I start […]
Fourteen students from the Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) Class of 2024 decided to pursue a residency after graduation and recently learned the location of the residency’s placement. These students joined other optometry students across the country in a day called Match Day, and will begin their residencies in June and July of 2024. Although […]
More than 500 University of Pikeville (UPIKE) students celebrated their achievements by earning their degrees during the spring commencement ceremonies for undergraduate, graduate and health professions on Saturday, May 4, at the Appalachian Wireless Arena. Graduates and their families were able to attend the in-person ceremonies or watch virtually via livestream. Read more here Kentucky […]
The University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) held its awards luncheon honoring the Class of 2024 in the Health Professions Education Building on May 3. Brittany Dawn Morris, O.D., was awarded the Dean’s Award, presented to a graduating student who has shown outstanding leadership while maintaining high academic standards. Morris also received […]
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The University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). The Doctor of Optometry (OD) program is Accredited with Conditions. The ACOE is the specialized accrediting body for optometry that provides quality assurances concerning educational preparation of members of the optometric profession. The Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) is next scheduled for a full evaluation visit by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) in 2028.
Contact information for ACOE can be found at:
Accreditation Council on Optometric Education243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141Telephone: 800-365-2219Email address: accredit@theacoe.orgWebsite: www.theACOE.org
To review accreditation, approval, or licensing documentation, please contact the Dean’s Office at 606-218-5510