A Shared Vision

Together we can shape the future of optometry and optometric education. Introducing the UH Health & Biomedical Sciences Building featuring the College of Optometry’s Vision Institute. Bringing together investigators from different colleges and departments in a first-class research facility, the 167,000-square-foot, six-story HBSB will be a key clinical, educational and interdisciplinary research structure at the University of Houston.

Can a simple building expansion help advance the optometric profession? In a word, yes. UHCO is prepared to invest in the future of the profession. To do so, we must expand the educational, research and service opportunities available on our campus.

The Educational Foundation to Advance Optometry

The primary goal of UHCO is to prepare graduates to provide all diagnostic and treatment services by characterizing the general practice of optometry. By extending their competencies, we pave the way for expanding our profession. The proposed ambulatory surgical center is essential to our educational mission, our service responsibilities and our vision of the future of optometry.

The Premier Optometry Institution in the Nation

Becoming the premier institution in the nation is well within our reach. Already, UHCO ranks among the very best optometric institutions in the world. However, investing in our research efforts and productivity are limited only by space, not by opportunity. The planned expansion will provide critical laboratory space and animal facilities to boost our research capabilities.

The end result of this campaign will be two-fold: to attract and graduate outstanding future optometric leaders as well as to distinguish ourselves with preeminent faculty who are setting the course in education, patient care and novel research. With our Vision Institute, we will secure our place as the premiere U.S. optometric institution, providing valuable care to patients, lending research expertise to a variety of endeavors and serving the needs in of local and international community.

Planning for the Future

UHCO’s Vision Institute will be prominently located on the first floor of the Health & Biomedical Sciences Building. The Vision Institute, at approximately 16,000 square feet, will feature an ambulatory surgical center, MRI Center and the TSO Alumni Educational Center. Each of these components will allow UHCO to better serve its tri-fold mission of education, research and service.

The new facilities will also include innovative laboratories for patient-based research and critical infrastructure for basic research as well as collaborative space for researchers to work together from across disciplines ranging from optometry, psychology, neuroscience, natural sciences, mathematics, pharmacy, social sciences and liberal arts. Researchers will be able to collaborate more easily and readily on interdisciplinary projects that benefit the university across the board.

How You Can Help?

Naming opportunities and a donor recognition wall will be established to publicly thank our partners. All additional monies will be raised through Vision Institute revenues, student fees, tuition, patient fees and the annual campaign.

The Doctors of Texas State Optical pledged $1 million toward the TSO Alumni Educational Center located on the first floor. We invite you to join us as we keep an eye on the future.

For more information about the Vision Institute or on specific naming opportunities within the Vision Institute and the J. Davis Armistead building, including availability and pricing, contact Melissa Mares at mmares@optometry.uh.edu or (713)743-1284.