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| Artist's rendering of Kentucky College of Optometry , Pikeville |
The University of Pikeville says it is about to open the nation's largest optometric college in terms of floor space , the
Kentucky College of Optometry.
"Dr. Andrew Buzzelli , vice president for optometric education and the college’s founding dean , said that , at 130 ,000 square feet , KYCO is the largest optometry college in the country ," Josh Little
reports for the
Appalachian News-Express in Pikeville. "The cost to build the college is $55 million , plus $9 million for equipment."
Students at the college will perform optometric services for local residents , under the supervision of doctors of optometry. "Pikeville Medical Center will still continue to be the main provider in the area , but they only have two providers , so the care is in here ," Buzzelli said. "In the other schools around the country , care is all around the city , that’s not true here. ... This will be for our specialty clinics , such as laser surgery." He said The college will offer electrophysiological tests , which now require residents to travel to Lexington or Huntington , W.Va.
The university is already home to the
School of Osteopathic Medicine.
