LOCSU names first student ambassador

The Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU) has appointed its first-ever student ambassador.

Third-year Aston University optometry undergraduate, Hassnain Safdar (pictured), takes up the role and will become the Unit’s pre-reg ambassador on completing his degree this summer.

LOCSU has created the new role with the aim of forming “closer links with student optometrists and to identify future leaders for the sector.”

Commenting on the appointment, managing director of LOCSU, Katrina Venerus, said: “Our plan is to establish opportunities to engage with the student and pre-reg optometrists to give them a chance to understand more about the pivotal role played by LOCs and about the wider policy world of optometry as a primary care profession in today’s fast-changing NHS. It will also help us identify and nurture future leaders of the profession.”

Having attended the 2015 National Optical Conference, Mr Safdar said: “Attending the NOC was a real eye-opener for me and there is definitely a gap in our training that the ambassador role will aim to bridge.”