2024 Student Program

October 17- 20, 2024 | The Hyatt Regency, Portland, Oregon

REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED
If you still wish to register to attend 2024 GWCO Congress, please visit the registration desk on-site.

Location: Deschutes Ballroom A

We hope you take this opportunity to learn at the sessions, network with other professionals at our social events, explore new products in the Exhibit Hall Marketplace, connect with companies, and engage with your local state associations.

The Great Western Council of Optometry (GWCO) is a non-profit association formed in 1991 to provide a common voice for members within organized optometry, facilitate communication, enhance professional development, and provide financial support to affiliated state optometric associations. GWCO is comprised of twelve-member state optometry associations including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Each student will have the opportunity to mingle with doctors, attend educational seminars, and join your future colleagues at a variety of social events.  You will also have the opportunity to attend the exhibit hall to view the latest in equipment and technology and meet product representatives from a wide variety of optometric services and products.  A major element of the conference is you can meet representatives from each affiliated state to talk about what opportunities exist for your professional future.  

Schedule:

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. When I try to register at https://www.gwco.org/ they ask for my OD State license Number and an OE Tracker number?
1. Both are required for ODs to report and track the CE credits they received at the conference.  Obviously, as a student, you do not have them yet.  Enter into both of these fields: 111111 (six ones) 
2. Do I have to commit to attending all day?
   
1. No.  While the GWCO Board would love you to attend the full day to get the most out of the Congress, everyone understands that you will have exams, proficiencies, and studying that may require your time.  My preference is if you can only attend part of the day, please attend the student-specific sections starting at 10:00 am.
3. Parking?
   
1. MAX is a great option in that you can jump on anywhere along the west side route and ride it right to the front door of the Hyatt Regency at the Oregon Convention Center stop.  No parking, easy, and cheap!.  There is parking in private lots around the hotel and limited parking at the hotel itself.  However, there is a premium on the cost of parking.
4. Dress attire? 
1. Think of it as you are interviewing- you will be meeting doctors and potential future partners.  Clinic attire (not scrubs) is perfect.
5. What happens if I register and then find out that I have too much stuff to do for school? 
1. If you register and do not attend there is no option for a refund of the costs. GWCO is an awesome opportunity for you to network, learn, and experience what organized optometry is about.  No-shows are a fact of life in conferences just as they are in clinics.  However, please do your best to attend, even for part of the day if you register, our sponsors and conference organizers use the registration data to plan for food, room set up, supplies, and more critically the determination of the return on their investment in supporting this program. 
6. Will I get CE for the events of the Student Program? 
1. YES.  Any OD CE that you attend in the morning and all elements of the Student Program will qualify towards your yearly CE hours requirements at Pacific.