Pacific University Receives $32,000 from Kaiser Permanente NW to Support University's EyeSmile Program

FOREST GROVE -- Pacific University has received a $32,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente NW to support the university's EyeSmile Outreach Program, an interprofessional mobile healthcare initiative in which students and faculty from the School of Dental Hygiene Studies and College of Optometry provide preventative oral and vision health services to underserved populations, including migrant workers. 

Earlier this spring, the College of Optometry acquired a new 33-foot mobile clinic, the EyeVan to serve migrant families, children at Head Start centers, students in area schools and adults at churches throughout Oregon and Washington. The School of Dental Hygiene Studies also has received philanthropic support to build a similar mobile unit for its SmileCare Everywhere Program that is expected to be completed next spring. 

The Kaiser Permanente grant will allow the programs to grow through a new clinic coordinator position, and will also provide resources to expand the services of both mobile clinics. The EyeVan is expected to provide 50 percent more comprehensive eye examinations offered in the next five years, while the dental care outreach program plans to increase services by 75 percent. 

In addition to helping serve the healthcare needs of the local community, the EyeSmile Outreach Program provides hands-on clinical training in a variety of community health settings for Pacific graduate and professional students. 

Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente is recognized as one of America's leading healthcare providers and not-for-profit health plans, currently serving 11.8 million members. 

Pacific University is home to nearly 4,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students in the arts and sciences, business, education, health professions and optometry. In addition to its four campuses in Oregon, Pacific operates several optometry and health clinics throughout the greater Portland area as part of its graduate-level focus on preparing healthcare providers. Last month, the university launched the public phase of Lead On: The Campaign for Tomorrow at Pacific University, an $80 million fundraising effort to support endowments, innovations, and learning environments and resources such as the EyeSmile Outreach Program.