This study was an effort to understand the phenomenal dearth of black physicians in the United States, particularly in the specialty of ophthalmology, and to determine to what extent practicing ophthalmologists had had exposure to professional career counseling. A questionnaire was sent to a random sample of black ophthalmologists to acquire demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic data; data on institutional characteristics regarding ethnic composition; level of counseling interaction; and variables in specialty choice. Findings indicated that a majority of respondents were born and reared in Southern households headed by a professional and attended black schools where counseling per se did not exist. Parents and black teachers provided all guidance. Colleges and universities were also found to be lacking counseling services and faculty served as motivating agents. Medical schools also appeared to provide inadequate counseling for black students. It is recommended that counseling services for blacks be increased at all educational levels, that black secondary students be placed in college preparatory programs, and that faculty members be added to counselor education programs. In addition, medical schools need to commit themselves to upgrading their services to blacks. Finally, additional studies should be done to ascertain other variables which continue to preclude any appreciable gains in the number of practicing black physicians. (Author/MK)