Integrating theory with practice Professional doctorates offer optometrists continuous professional development to the highest level. Dr Rishi Agarwal explains the establishment of a new programme in London
he Institute of which is a requirement for professional Optometry has recently licensing and entry into a particular launched a Doctor of profession like medicine, dentistry or Optometry programme optometry. in partnership with There are several optometry schools London South Bank in the US and two in Canada that offer T University. This is the first professional Features Burger/Phanie/Rex professional education followed by the doctorate in optometry by that Doctor of Optometry award. Those description in the UK, distinct from a optometrists interested in pursuing traditional PhD. This development is an academic and research career often likely to have an impact on the future study further for an additional qualifi- of British optometry as a profession. cation like a traditional PhD. In medieval Europe an early phase of professionalisation started with the Complementary studies formation of craft guilds. Apprentices Professional doctorates should began learning, usually in their teens, The professional doctorate is designed to meet the not be viewed as replacements for and progressed to become journeymen specific needs of a professional group established PhD programmes. Both after the necessary training that lasted types of doctorates are necessary for the several years. They could aspire to award at doctoral level where the field development of healthcare professions. become masters, which was the highest of study is a professional discipline and These are complementary doctoral achievement in their chosen craft. which is distinguished from the PhD studies with the aim of integrating The title ‘master’ was also adopted by by a title that refers to that profession’. theory with practice and enhancement the universities, hence the award of In 2002, UKCGE described the of clinical practice with modified and degrees like the ‘Master of Arts’. Some professional doctorate as ‘a programme new skills. masters used the title doctor. of advanced study and research which, In the UK, health-related professional The root of the word doctor is the while satisfying the university criteria doctorates are postgraduate qualifica- Indo-European dek (Sanskrit daksha for the award of a doctorate, is designed tions offering practitioners continuous – expert, skilled, competent; Latin to meet the specific needs of a profes- professional development to the highest docere – to show, teach). Cognate words sional group external to the university, level by providing university-based include docent, meaning teacher; the and which develops the capability of education, while maintaining strong Middle English doctour and the Old individuals to work within a profes- connections with their profession and French docteur, also meaning teacher. sional context’. continuing in practice. In the late 12th century, professional Professional doctoral programmes Although professional doctorates are doctorates were awarded in theology, are now offered to graduates in several mostly postgraduate qualifications in the law and medicine at Bologna, Paris and healthcare professions in the UK. This UK, there are exceptions. For example, Oxford. In the 12th and 13th centuries, development also coincides with the a doctorate in clinical psychology is now Salerno, Pavia and Bologna were fact that the expectations of people accepted as the entry level qualification the earliest universities in Europe to from healthcare professions have for clinical practice. It is possible that provide formal instructions in medicine. changed considerably and continue eventually Doctor of Optometry may Historically, professional doctorates are to change due to massive advances in become an entry level qualification in older than PhDs. health-related technology. the UK for the practice of ocular thera- In the early 19th century the Doctor Professional doctoral studies offer peutics and advanced clinical practice, of Philosophy (PhD) degree was flexibility in the application of knowl- following successful completion of established at Berlin for on-campus edge, development in the specialised approved taught modules which may be independent research by supervised areas of practice-based learning and included in future doctoral programmes students in a specified discipline. It evidence-based clinical practice for in optometry. was expected by the university that healthcare professionals. the submitted thesis would demon- In recent years, British universities ● For further information on the strate a significant and original contri- have offered professionals, often with Institute of Optometry doctorate bution to knowledge. Because research innovative ideas, an opportunity for programme contact Joan Wade on was highly emphasised during the postgraduate studies and work-based 020 7234 9659. period, universities in the UK, US and research, leading to a professional other countries established research- doctorate. ● Dr Rishi Agarwal is director of based doctoral programmes. US professional doctorates are differ- postgraduate education at the Institute of ent from those awarded in the UK. Optometry. He was an ardent advocate for Professional discipline In the US, university education for a Doctor of Optometry degree for the past According to the UK Council for several healthcare professions leads to four decades and initiated negotiations with Graduate Education (UKCGE) report the award of a first professional degree, LSBU which led to the launch of the first in 2005, a professional doctorate is ‘an an entry level professional doctorate, programme in the UK
12 | Optician | 29.08.08 opticianonline.net