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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.
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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.
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 […]
The Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) held its traditional White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, April 6, in the Health Professions Education Building. Fifty-three members of the Class of 2026 received their white coats before a gathering of family, friends and university faculty. KYCO Dean Renee Reeder, O.D., FAAO, FBCLA, FSLS, FIACLE, welcomed guests and remarked […]
The University of Pikeville (UPIKE) is pleased to announce that Renee Reeder, O.D., was recently appointed the new dean of the Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO). Reeder began working at UPIKE in 2018 and has made remarkable contributions to optometric education. Upon completing her residency, she joined the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) faculty. During her […]
The Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO), in partnership with leading eyewear company Zenni Optical, recently awarded first-year optometry student Grace Skarohlid with the Zenni Eyecare Access Scholarship. The $2,500 annual scholarship is awarded to an incoming optometry student dedicated to providing eye care to an underserved community after graduation. Zenni partners with optometry schools to […]
As the University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) welcomed its new class of incoming students in mid-August, third-year students are building on their education by practicing their skills in clinical settings. KYCO Class of 2022 valedictorian Brittany Varney, O.D., has taken on the role of optometrist at Big Sandy Health Care, where she is […]
The University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) congratulates Elijah Riffe, recipient of the 2023 VSP Vision of Hope Scholarship. The scholarship is funded by VSP Vision™ and awarded annually to an excelling, first-year KYCO student who intends to practice in the rural Appalachian region. Riffe, a native of Ripley, W.Va., received $5,000 toward his […]
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The University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry is an accredited member of the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association (AOA). 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 reaccreditation 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