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UIC Sports Screening

Published in Video
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 21:51
Illinois College of Optometry students conducted sports vision screenings for UIC athletes. The purpose of this screening is to determine if vision or eye problems are limiting athletic performance. Take a look at their experience at UIC.

RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN CORNEAL AND REFRACTIVE EYE CARE

Published in Academics
Tuesday, 28 August 2012 22:05
ORMatch #20027
PROGRAM SITE: Minnesota Eye Consultants
PROGRAM COORDINATORS: David R. Hardten, MD and Marlane J. Brown, OD (email:  mjbrown@mneye.com)
RESIDENCY DIRECTOR: Janice Jurkus, OD, MBA
NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 1
PROGRAM DATES: The program begins in July of each year and runs for 54 weeks. An orientation is provided in the first week of the program.

Program Description
This residency focuses mainly on anterior segment disease and includes cornea, external disease, pre- and postoperative cataract care, refractive surgery and glaucoma. Working alongside or directly with ophthalmologists and optometrists, the resident is integrated into the medical and surgical care of patients. The resident will be located in the central clinic adjacent to the Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis. 
  • The program is directed by David R. Hardten, MD and Marlane J. Brown, OD. 
  • Dr. Brown is the director of optometric services and does specialty contact lens fitting, pre- and postoperative care as well as primary care optometry.
  • The residency was formally accredited in 1999 and is affiliated with the Illinois College of Optometry.
  • The ophthalmologists are consultative as well as active clinicians:
    • Drs. Lindstrom, Hardten, Davis and Reeves are subspecialty trained in cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery.  
    • Drs. Samuelson, Lindstrom, and Riedel are subspecialty trained in glaucoma.  
    • Drs. Lipham and Melicher are fellowship trained oculoplastic surgeons. 
  • The optometrists in the group include Scott Hauswirth, Ahmad Fahmy, Mona Fahmy, and Noumia Cloutier-Gill. 
The resident’s weekly schedule may vary depending on each of the doctor’s schedules.  The typical week will include 3.5 days of clinic time, 0.5 days of observing surgery and 1 day of research.  There will be after hours on-call time and two clinical projects required over the course of the year.  The first several weeks will be spent familiarizing yourself with the clinic and its flow, and observing each of the doctor’s routines.

About the Phillips Eye Institute 
The Phillips Eye Institute is a premier full service ophthalmic subspecialty facility, which performs over 6,000 major surgical cases per year.  There are four additional metro Minnesota Eye Consultants clinics located south, east, north and west of the metro area, in the suburbs of Bloomington, Maplewood, Blaine and Plymouth.  The Bloomington, Maplewood and Blaine offices have ambulatory surgery centers and excimer laser operating rooms. There are six additional Minnesota Eye Consultants clinics that are primarily optometry driven in the more rural areas of the state, all within a 50 mile radius of the metro area.

Minnesota Eye Consultants Residency in Corneal and Refractive Eye Care Mission
The mission of this Residency in Corneal and Refractive Eye Care is to educate and train the post graduate optometrist to practice beyond entry level in the comprehensive medical management, surgical perioperative management and emergency management of corneal problems and refractive errors, and in the ongoing medical management and surgical co-management of cataracts and glaucoma. 

Residency Objectives
OBJECTIVE 1: The residency in Corneal and Refractive Eyecare is an intensive 54 week educational experience designed to provide advanced clinical training in the examination, diagnosis and management of corneal and refractive disorders. The program emphasizes management of patients undergoing procedures to reduce ametropias, including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. This program also exposes the resident to a variety of other anterior segment pathology including the diagnosis and management of glaucoma, exposure to other corneal diseases, such as infectious keratitis and keratoconus, dry eye, and corneal trauma. Management of patients with cataract and complex intraocular lens problems will also be seen. 

OBJECTIVE 2: The resident will perform mentored clinical care services of patients undergoing surgical refractive correction, involving pre-operative assessment and post operative management of the following types of cases. 
  • Lasik, Lasek, and Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
  • Intacs
  • Phakic IOLs
  • Multifocal and accommodative IOLs
  • Refractive Lensectomy
  • Conductive Keratoplasty

OBJECTIVE 3: The resident will perform mentored clinical care services of patients with corneal problems involving medical management, and when appropriate, pre-operative assessment and/ or post-operative management of the following types of cases. 
  • Keratoconus
  • Penetrating keratoplasty
  • Genetic corneal dystrophies
  • Fuch’s dystrophies
  • Corneal laceration 
  • Corneal injuries
  • Infectious keratitis
  • Band keratopathy

OBJECTIVE 4: The resident will perform mentored clinical care services of patients with cataract and associated problems involving medical management, and when appropriate, pre-operative assessment and/ or post-operative management of the following types of cases.
  • Age related cataract
  • Traumatic cataracts
  • Pseudoexfoliative cataracts
  • Cataract with penetrating keratoplasties
  • Cataract following refractive surgery
  • Infection following cataract surgery
 
OBJECTIVE 5: The resident will perform mentored clinical care services of patients with glaucoma involving medical management, and when appropriate, pre-operative assessment and/or post-operative management of the following types of cases. 
  • Open angle glaucoma
  • Narrow angle glaucoma
  • Pseudoexfoliative glaucoma
  • Cases requiring filtering procedures, including but not limited to trabeculectomy, shunts, and viscocanalostomies.

OBJECTIVE / OUTCOME 6
  • The resident will attend at least one professional meeting during the year. 
  • The resident will present at least one poster or paper. 
  • The resident will prepare at least one publishable manuscript

OBJECTIVE / OUTCOME 7
  • The resident will teach optometric attendees during the minifellowships held at this clinic
  • The resident will participate and present in the quarterly journal ‘club’ meetings.
  • The resident will participate in the ICO residents’ conferences held on the ICO campus in Chicago.
Salary and Benefits
The resident’s stipend is $44,000 per year.  There is a continuing education allowance. A benefits package including liability, health, life, and dental is available. Participation in the 401K plan is also available. Twenty five days off including vacation, sick days, education, and interview days are included. 

Completion Acknowledgment
A framed certificate is presented on completion of the program from Minnesota Eye Consultants. 

Materials and Further Information: 
Marlane J. Brown, OD
710 E. 24th St., Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55404
mjbrown@mneye.com

PRIMARY CARE AND OCULAR DISEASE RESIDENCY

Published in Academics
Tuesday, 28 August 2012 21:41
ORMatch #15337
PROGRAM SITE: Illinois College of Optometry/Illinois Eye Institute 
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Stephanie Klemencic, OD (email: sklemencic@ico.edu)
RESIDENCY DIRECTOR:  Janice Jurkus, OD, MBA
NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 5
PROGRAM DATES: Accredited, 1 year program (53 weeks): July 1, 2012 – July 7, 2013
 
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
This accredited 53-week program provides the framework to achieve advanced competency in primary care and ocular disease through intensive clinical training in both patient care and educational activities. The program emphasizes the diagnosis and management of ocular disease, as well as the co-management of oculo-systemic disease, in an excellent multi-disciplinary setting.  Residents provide care in the Illinois Eye Institute’s Primary Care, Neuro-ophthalmic, Vitreo-retinal, Glaucoma, Emergency and after hours on-call services.  Rotations through Cornea and Contact Lens, Pediatrics, Low Vision and Comprehensive Ophthalmology services may also be arranged.  Residents are given the opportunity to expand leadership and communication skills through Grand Rounds case presentations, journal club, resident conferences, vision screenings, classroom instruction and formal lectures.  Residents are encouraged to attend national education programs such as the American Academy of Optometry and American Optometric Association meetings. To achieve the goal of providing superior post-doctoral clinical training, the resident’s activities are supervised by residency trained clinical faculty as well as consulting ophthalmologists. Supervision of third and fourth year clinicians will further enhance the resident’s diagnostic and therapeutic skills. This enables the resident to develop the complex skills necessary to practice optometry at its highest level. 

PROGRAM DESIGN:
The resident participates in the following rotations:
1. Primary Care Service (12-20 hours/week)*
2. Emergency Service (4 hours/week)**
3. Retina/Neuro/Advanced Glaucoma (8-12 hours/week, rotating quarterly)
4. Faculty Conference (1-2 hours/week)
5. Residents’ Conference (2-3 hours/week)
6. Personal Development (4 hours/week)
Rotations through the Cornea/Contact Lens, Binocular Vision/Pediatrics, Low Vision Services or Comprehensive Ophthalmology Services may be arranged at the resident’s request (4 hrs/week). 

*July – mid-November in Primary Care and Emergency services residents perform direct patient care only. Mid-November – end of the program, residents’ will mainly precept students in the Primary Care and Emergency services, but maintain ½ day of direct patient care Primary Care throughout the year.

**Additional responsibility includes the on-call emergency service rotation, which occurs for a one-week period on a five week rotating basis with the other primary care and ocular disease residents at the Illinois Eye Institute. The resident is responsible for emergency eye care delivered at the Illinois Eye Institute both during and after hours.

Residents develop/enhance skills of an advanced diagnostic nature:
1. A-scan and B-scan ultrasonography
2. Nerve fiber layer analysis
3. Fluorescein angiography
4. Automated perimetry
5. Electrodiagnostic testing
6. Anterior and posterior segment photography
7. Corneal topography and endothelial cell studies
 
EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES
1. Emergency conference
2. Resident Conference
3. Journal Club
4. Faculty Conference/Grand Round Series
5. Teaching Skills Workshop

SALARY
The resident’s salary is $38,100 pro-rated for 53 weeks.

BENEFITS
Benefits include eligibility to participate in medical and dental insurance programs with a prescription card, and professional liability insurance for eye care provided at the Illinois Eye Institute and its affiliated clinics. Group term life and disability insurance is also provided. Additional benefits include: five days of personal vacation, five days academic leave, as well as six days of floating holidays.

CRITERIA FOR COMPLETION
1. Attendance at all clinical assignments
2. Successful completion of clinical learning objectives
3. Attendance and participation at Faculty Conference/Grand Rounds Series
4. Attendance and participation at regularly scheduled conferences
5. Attendance and participation at course work related to clinical teaching and lecturing
6. A written paper of publishable quality, completed by the end of the residency period

COMPLETION ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
A certificate is presented upon successful completion of the program.

For more information:
Stephanie Klemencic, OD, FAAO
Primary Care and Ocular Disease Residency Coordinator
Illinois College of Optometry
3241 S. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60616

Primary Care and Ocular Disease- James A. Lovell FHCC

Published in Academics
Tuesday, 28 August 2012 20:26
The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) is the first-of-its-kind partnership between the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense (DoD). This fully-integrated federal health care facility has the mission of “Readying Warriors and Caring for Heroes.”

A combined mission of the health care center translate to active duty military, their family members, military retirees and veterans are all receiving care at the facility. The health care center and its branch clinics ensure that nearly 40,000 Navy recruits transitioning through Naval Station Great Lakes each year are medically qualified. We care for nearly 67,000 eligible military and retiree beneficiaries each year and provide first-rate care to veterans throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

Optometry Clinic at the West Campus
The optometry clinic on the West Campus is headed by an active duty Navy optometrist, who is supported by two civilian optometrists along with one active duty Navy optometry resident. The ophthalmology clinic is supported by two full- time civilian ophthalmologists and part-time consultants. The ophthalmology specialties available are vitreo-retina, neuro-ophthalmology, oculo-plastics, cornea and glaucoma. The merger of VA and DoD provides an opportunity for optometry to work closely with ophthalmology to provide supervision and a vast patient-base to facilitate an advanced clinical training environment in primary care and ocular disease. In addition, this program meets the unique mission of the United States Navy, Veterans Affairs and the Federal Health Care Center.

MISSION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE RESIDENCY

Mission:
The mission of this Residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease at Federal Health Care Center is to provide advanced clinical competency and schol-arly development for the Navy optometrist so that he/she can get the ultimate preparation to meet the mission of the United States Navy in all military settings.

Goals:
To provide supervised clinical education ex-perience, resident will: 
  • Examine a minimum of 1,500 patients in clinic either alone or in conjunction with optometry and/or ophthalmology supervi-sors during the course of the residency. 
  • See all stat consults to the clinic with op-tometry and/or ophthalmology supervisors during the course of the residency. Mini-mum of 50 stat consults need to be seen in 12 months.
  • See at-least 25 cases in which nutritional deficiencies are assessed based on clinical examination. 
  • Spend a minimum of 8 hours of clinical ob-servation in each of the following clinics: neurology, cardiology (peripheral vascular lab) and primary care clinic. 
  • Maintain a log of patients seen in the Illinois College of Optometry Meditrek system. 

To advance their academic education and training, residents will: 
  • Present at grand rounds to Illinois College of Optometry students and faculty. 
  • Attend a national or regional optometric meeting and will be encouraged to do a clinical poster during residency.
  • Produce a research paper, literature review or case report of publishable quality by the end of the program. 
  • Participate in monthly journal club discussions learning to critically review current ophthalmic literature in order to promote lifetime learning. 
  • Be encouraged to sit for the Advanced Competency in Medical Optometry examination. Prepare for the Academy of Optometry Fellowship oral boards to attain FAAO status. 
  • Maintain a log of scholarly schedule and a didactic activity log. 
  • Provide resident didactic education to support patient care he/she will attend weekly conference at ICO. Be provided a recommended reading list.
BENEFITS TO THE RESIDENT/NAVAL OFFICER
  • Optometry residency completed in the first tour of duty while still receiving officer salary.Gain knowledge from experienced optometrists and ophthalmologists.
  • Become well-rounded through multi-disciplinary rounds.
  • Manage emergent ocular disease cases with confidence and poise.
  • Understand the meaning of practicing full-scope optometry.Take the residency coordinator position the following year.
  • Completion of most FAAO fellowship and ABO certification requirements.Instill a sense of preparedness for any solo billet moves.

CURRENTLY RESTRICTED TO ACTIVE DUTY NAVY OPTOMETRIST.

If interested please contact:

Navy Specialty Leader:
CAPT Penny Walter
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
301-319-7085

Main Residency Coordinator:
Dr. Stuart Richer
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224-610-5440

ICO Residency Class of 2012-2013

Published in Academics
Friday, 24 August 2012 14:26
Full_Class-Web

On Campus

Binocular Vision and Pediatric Optometry Residency
Birva Kadakia -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Alison Leung -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Cornea and Contact Lenses Residency
Stephenie Parker -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Low Vision Rehabilitation and Ocular Disease Residency
Danielle Irvine -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Alex Zemke -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Primary Care and Ocular Disease Residency
Erik Mothersbaugh -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Eric Woo -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Kaitlyn Keller -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Rahnuma Saiyed -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ryan Corte -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Affiliate Residency Programs (Off Campus)
Anterior Segment Disease and Contact Lenses Residency
Davis Duehr Dean
Grace Brown - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Corneal and Refractive Surgery Residency
Minnesota Eye Consultants
Kate Montealegre -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ocular Disease and Low Vision Rehabilitation Residency
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center/Hines Hospital
Puja Desai -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Nathan Goldberg -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Mirage Shah -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NEW: Primary Care and Ocular Disease
Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
David Malchow -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NEW: Primary Care and Vision Rehabilitation Residency
Minneapolis Veteran Affairs Health Care System
Ji Hyun (Lydia) -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

How to Apply to ICO's Residency Program

Published in Academics
Friday, 24 August 2012 14:17
Thank you for your interest in ICO residency programs. Please follow the below steps and submit your application through the Optometry Residency Match (ORMatch), expected to launch in Fall 2012. The ORMatch code for each ICO residency program, with the exception of the James A. Lovell FHCC residency program, can be found at the top of the program overview page for each residency.
  1. Visit the ORMatch website and register by December 31, 2012.
  2. Contact the program coordinator declaring your interest in applying. This information is provided on the program overview
    page for each residency.
  3. Send the following documents to the program coordinator no later than February 1:
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Brief letter of interest in the program
  • Official optometry school transcript
  • Official NBEO transcript
  • Three letters of recommendation from clinical faculty
    4. You may then be contacted for an on-site interview 5. After completing the interview process, complete the ORMatch Applicant’s ranking form.  
    Submit this form on or before the OR Match-designated deadline (to be announced.)
Candidates must graduate from an accredited school or college of optometry prior to matriculation and must be eligible for licensure in Illinois.  All applicants will be evaluated without regard to sex, race, color, creed, age, national origin, or non-disqualifying physical disabilities.

Residency in Anterior Segment Disease and Contact Lenses

Published in Academics
Thursday, 23 August 2012 20:43
ORMatch #14925

Providing advanced competency training in the treatment of anterior segment disease through education, scholarship and patient care

PROGRAM SITE:  Davis Duehr Dean, Madison, Wisconsin 
PROGRAM COORDINATORS:  John Vukich, MD & Robert Heyden, OD (email:  robert.heyden@deancare.com)
RESIDENCY DIRECTOR:  Janice Jurkus, OD, MBA
NUMBER OF POSTIONS:  1
PROGRAM DATES:  Accredited, 1 year program:  August 1 – July 31

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
This post-graduate residency program is offered by the Illinois College of Optometry in conjunction with Davis Duehr Dean in Madison, Wisconsin.  The goal of this program is to provide advanced clinical training in the treatment of anterior segment disease, surgical co-management and perioperative care of cataract, and refractive surgery patients, as well the fitting of medical contact lenses.  Procedures covered include LASIK, DSAEK, PRK, PTK, clear lens extraction, phakic IOLs, and multifocal IOLs.  First-hand experience with Orbscan, Pentacam, wavefront and other new technologies will be available. 

The curriculum includes medical contact lens fitting for keratoconus, post PK, and post-refractive surgery patients.  Sub-specialty rotations in glaucoma and retina clinics are part of the core clinical studies.  The resident may participate in an ophthalmic photography/instruments clinic including Cirrus OCT, OCT III, Visante OCT, digital photography, GDxVCC, Orbscan and Pentacam corneal mapping; Humphrey Matrix, and Goldmann perimetry. 

Residents are invited to lecture and present case reports at resident seminars held in conjunction with the Illinois College of Optometry. The program is fully accredited and successfully underwent re-accreditation in 2011.

ABOUT DAVIS DUEHR DEAN
Davis Duehr Dean is located in the capital city of Madison, Wisconsin, and is the largest eye care group in the state, with over 60,000 patient visits annually. Established over 90 years ago, the clinic consists of 23 ophthalmologists and 11 optometrists. The refractive surgery center has a MEL 80 Zeiss excimer laser, as well as a Visx Custom View Wavescan system on site. The clinic maintains a fully accredited ambulatory surgery center. Wisconsin has progressive legislation regarding optometric therapeutics and all instruction is within the scope of practice allowed by state law. 

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES/DESIGN

  • To enhance skills in the diagnosis and management of: anterior segment diseasepre/post-surgical carecornea/contact lens careglaucomavitreo-retinal diseaseprimary eye care 
  • To develop/enhance skills of an advanced diagnostic or management nature: post-surgical caremedical contact lens careophthalmic photographycorneal topography, wave front technology 

To accomplish these objectives, the resident participates in the following rotations:

  • Cataract Refractive Surgery Clinic: 
  • 15 hours/week 
  • Cornea/External Disease Clinic: 12 hours/week         
  • Primary Care/Contact Lens Clinic: 8  hours/week                                     
  • Retina Clinic: 4-8 hours/week for 3 mos.
  • Glaucoma Clinic:  4-8 hours/week for 3 mos.                 
  • Lectures/Grand Rounds: 1 hour/week                            
  • Self-study/Research: 4 hours/week


The resident will spend a minimum of 40 hours each week at Davis Duehr Dean.

RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES
The resident is required to submit a paper of publishable quality during the course of the residency year.  This may be in the format of a literature review, case report, or original research.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
The resident attends and participates in weekly conferences that take place at the University of  Wisconsin School of Medicine in the department of ophthalmology.  Residents may attend, at no charge, any continuing education courses provided by the Illinois College of Optometry.  The resident has full access to any of the material or services provided at the College.  This includes the library and media production department. 

The resident will participate in a seminar at the Illinois College of Optometry provided by an expert in medical education.  The goal of this program is to enhance the resident’s clinical precepting skills as well as to aid the resident with development of public speaking skills.

RESIDENCY SUPERVISION/EVALUATION
The residency program coordinators are responsible for supervision of the resident; however, the resident works with a variety of faculty members. The program coordinators report to the Director of Residencies at the College. The resident receives three formal evaluations in addition to informal feedback from the residency program coordinators and other faculty. Grand Rounds presentations given twice a year at the College are evaluated by faculty in attendance. A summary report is generated by the program coordinator and reviewed with the resident. The resident is asked to evaluate the program faculty and residency experience at mid-year and at the end of the program.

SALARY AND BENEFITS
The resident’s stipend is $34,000 per year. A full professional benefits package including professional liability, health, life, dental and limited term disability insurance is provided. Two weeks vacation per year and compensated professional meeting time is granted. Travel expenses related to activities at the Illinois College of Optometry are paid by the College.

CRITERIA FOR COMPLETION
Attendance at all clinical assignments.Attendance and participation in all scheduled conferences.Submission of a paper of publishable quality.Successful completion of all learning objectives. 

Materials and further information:  
Robert Heyden, OD
1025 Regent St.
Madison, WI 53715
robert.heyden@deancare.com 

Primary Care/Vision Rehabilitation Residency

Published in Academics
Thursday, 23 August 2012 20:38
ORMatch #19944

Offering advanced competency in Primary Care and Vision Rehabilitation through education, scholarship, and patient care.

PROGRAM SITES: Minneapolis Veteran Affairs (VA) Health Care System
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Joseph A. Pruitt, OD, MBA, FAAO (email:  joseph.pruitt3@va.gov)
RESIDENCY DIRECTOR: Janice Jurkus, OD, MBA
NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 1
PROGRAM DATES: The residency is a 52-week program beginning July 1 and ending June 30.

Program Description
This program aims to provide the resident doctor with comprehensive education and clinical training in primary care optometry as well as to diagnose and manage the vision rehabilitation of partially sighted and patients with presenting with ocular and systemic conditions that includes, but is not limited to: age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, albinism, acquired brain injuries, cortical vision impairment, and stroke in an interdisciplinary health care setting. The program educates the resident about services for the partially sighted including group and individual counseling, orientation and mobility instruction, independent living skills training, and referrals to physical and occupational therapists, ophthalmologists, and other health care professionals.

Minneapolis VA Health Care System
Minneapolis VA Health Care System (VAHCS) is a teaching hospital providing a full range of patient care services with state-of-the-art technology, as well as education and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, tertiary care and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics and extended care.

Program Objectives/Design
The mission of the Optometric Residency in Primary Eye Care/Low Vision Rehabilitation is to provide comprehensive training in the delivery of highest quality, compassionate Primary Eye Care and Vision Rehabilitation services in a hospital-based environment. The Residency will provide advanced clinical training and have opportunities for clinical teaching, educational activities, and didactic learning to cultivate understanding and proficiency in providing full-scope primary eye care and tertiary vision rehabilitative care.

In a typical week, the resident participates in the following activities. The times listed are approximations and are subject to change:

  • Primary Care: direct care (15 hours)
  • TBI/Vision Rehabilitation: (7.5 hours)
  • Low Vision: direct care, precepting (7.5 hours)
  • Hospital clinic: observation, interaction (5 hours)
  • Educational rounds (3 hours)
  • Research development (2 hours)


Teaching Responsibilities
The resident is assigned to approximately one day per week of precepting optometric interns.

Lecturing Opportunities
Residents present lectures at weekly Optometry Grand Rounds / Case Presentations

Scholarly Activities
The Resident is required to write an original thesis paper of publishable quality over the course of the year. Publication and/or presentation at the American Academy of Optometry, American Optometric Association annual meeting, or SECO is strongly encouraged but not required.

Journal Clubs
The resident is provided with full access to ICO's library from which journal articles can be obtained. The VA Medical Library also can obtain articles through Medline for the resident. Additionally, the VA subscribes to several journals and electronic medical and pharmacological textbooks online, which may be accessed through the VA's Intranet website.

Additional Employment Opportunities
"Moonlighting" is permitted with prior approval; separate liability coverage must be obtained by the Resident for external patient care outside of the VA.

Residency Supervision/ Evaluation Process
The resident is supervised by the residency's faculty. Increasing autonomy develops as the residency progresses. The resident receives four evaluations in addition to general feedback from their supervisor. The residency coordinator develops the resident's schedule on a quarterly basis.

The resident will meet on a regular basis with the Residency Coordinator during the course of the year to provide guidance throughout the program and enhance the clinical experience. The resident is also asked to evaluate their residency experience at the completion of the program.

Stipend
The optometry resident is paid an annual stipend of $33,869. The resident compensation is determined by the Central Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs and is regionally adjusted. Paychecks are deposited via Direct Deposit biweekly.

Benefits

Health

Health insurance is available.

Holidays

All federal holidays are observed. (Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day)

Educational Travel

"Authorized absence" is granted for attendance at the American Academy of Optometry meeting or equivalent national professional meeting.

Vacation

Residents accrue 4 hours of "annual leave" (vacation) and 4 hours of sick leave per 2-week pay period. Annual leave must be taken at times that it would not interfere with patient care or educational activities. No vacation leave is granted during the last 2 weeks of the program in June.

Liability

Liability coverage is provided for care of veterans and nonveteran employees referred by Administrative Medicine for eyecare. Liability coverage does not include care provided through "moonlighting."

Information Resources
The VA has numerous ophthalmic, primary care, and healthcare speciality online journal and textbook subscriptions as well as a medical library that can obtain print copies of articles by request. Full ICO library access is also granted to residents.

For more information:
Joseph A. Pruitt, OD, MBA
Minneapolis VA Health Care System
1 Veterans Dr.
Minneapolis, MN 55417
joseph.pruitt3@va.gov

Low Vision Rehabilitation and Ocular Disease Residency

Published in Academics
Thursday, 23 August 2012 20:35
ORMatch #15421

Providing Advanced Competency Training in Low Vision Rehabilitation and Ocular Disease through Education, Scholarship and Patient Care

PROGRAM SITE: The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, Spectrios Institute for Low Vision and Illinois Eye Institute
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Kara Crumbliss, OD (email:  kcrumbliss@ico.edu)
RESIDENCY DIRECTOR: Janice Jurkus, OD, MBA
NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 2 (Accredited)
DURATION/PROGRAM DATES: July 1, 2013 lasting 53 weeks.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This post-graduate residency program is offered by the Illinois College of Optometry in conjunction with the Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired and the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision. It is the goal of this program to provide advanced clinical training in low vision rehabilitation in an interdisciplinary as well as a private practice clinical setting. Interaction with various programs for people who are blind or visually impaired, including job readiness and placement, a manufacturing facility that employs blind workers, a school for children with visual and other impairments, a program for individuals who are both deaf and blind and an adult living skills program, is an integral part of the residency. In addition to the direct low vision patient care experience at the main Lighthouse facility and the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision, the resident will have the opportunity to examine patients in a variety of satellite facilities and the Illinois Eye Institute.

The program also emphasizes advanced competency in the diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular disease, with a focus on those conditions that frequently result in vision loss. This is accomplished through clinical rotations at the Illinois Eye Institute's Center for Advanced Ophthalmic Care. Residents will provide patient care in the Center's Vitreo-retinal, Glaucoma and Urgent Care Services. Rotations in Cornea and External Disease and Comprehensive Ophthalmology are included in the curriculum.

ABOUT THE CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE
The Chicago Lighthouse was founded in 1906. It is a comprehensive agency with programs for people who are blind or visually impaired. Its low vision clinic was founded in 1956 as a cooperative effort of the Illinois Optometric Association and the Chicago Ophthalmological Society. Today the Chicago Lighthouse is the oldest and largest Low Vision Rehabilitation Clinic in the country. Its interdisciplinary staff includes optometrists who are residency or diplomate certified in low vision, a licensed clinical psychologist, a certified low vision therapist, an occupational therapist, an orientation and mobility specialist, and an ophthalmologist. In addition, the Chicago Lighthouse Low Vision Rehabilitation Service provides care in eight satellite clinics.

ABOUT THE SPECTRIOS INSTITUTE FOR LOW VISION
Founded in 1986, the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision's mission, formerly the Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation, is to provide the visually impaired with the tools and training necessary to function independently at home, in the workplace, and in the community at large. Accredited since 1992 by the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision has helped more than 12,000 people of all ages maximize sight and learn to cope with the challenges of living with low vision. The Spectrios Institute for Low Vision provides patients with comprehensive low vision services including rehabilitation training, counseling, orientation and mobility training, and assistive technology in addition to optometric services. The Spectrios Institute's staff is experienced in clinical education, serving as a training site for optometry students since 1997.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES/DESIGN
To obtain advanced training in:

  • Prescribing low vision devices
  • Prescribing low vision rehabilitation training
  • Interacting with professionals in other disciplines
  • Interacting with state agencies that serve people who are blind or visually impaired
  • Low vision rehabilitation of children, working age adults, and seniors
  • Low vision rehabilitation in various settings
  • Diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular disease, with an emphasis on those conditions that frequently result in vision loss
  • Use and interpretation of advanced diagnostic technologies
  • Clinical and didactic teaching


To accomplish these objectives, the resident participates in the following rotations:

At the Chicago Lighthouse, Spectrios Institute for Low Vision, Illinois Eye Institute and their satellites:

  • Direct low vision patient care: 16 hrs/wk
  • Interaction with other professionals and programs: 4 hrs/wk
  • At the Illinois College of Optometry/Illinois Eye Institute:
  • Glaucoma or Vitreo-retinal Service: 4 hrs/wk
  • Urgent Care Service: 4 hrs/wk
  • Primary Care, Cornea/External Disease or Comprehensive Ophthalmology Service: 4 hrs/wk
  • Electrodiagnostics, low vision laboratory, or other course work: 4 hrs/wk
  • Conference participation/Research/Independent study: 4 hrs/wk


RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES
The resident is required to prepare a paper of publishable quality during the course of the residency year. This may be in the format of a literature review, case report, or original research. The resident is encouraged to publish this work or present it at a professional meeting.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
The resident attends and participates in weekly conferences at the Illinois College of Optometry. Residents may attend, at no charge, any continuing education courses provided by the Illinois College of Optometry. The resident has full access to any of the material or services provided at the College. This includes the library and media production department. The resident will participate in a seminar at the Illinois College of Optometry provided by an expert in medical education. The goal of this program is to enhance the resident's clinical precepting skills as well as to aid the resident with development of public speaking skills.

The resident is encouraged to attend professional meetings relevant to the residency program. Five days of educational leave and travel support are provided to facilitate participation.

RESIDENCY SUPERVISION/EVALUATION
The residency program coordinator is responsible for supervision of the resident, however, the resident will work with a variety of attending optometrists at all sites. The program coordinator reports to the Director of Residencies at the College.

The resident receives three formal evaluations in addition to informal feedback from the residency program coordinator and other faculty. Grand Rounds presentations given three times a year at the College are evaluated by faculty in attendance. The resident is asked to evaluate the program faculty three times a year and their residency experience at mid-year and at the end of the program.

SALARY AND BENEFITS
The resident's stipend is $38,100 pro-rated for 53 weeks. A full professional benefits package including professional liability, health, life, dental, and limited term disability insurance is available. One week vacation per year and compensated professional meeting time are granted.

CRITERIA FOR COMPLETION AND COMPLETION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Attendance at all clinical assignments
Attendance and participation in all scheduled conferences
Submission of a paper of publishable quality to a peer-reviewed journal
Successful completion of all learning objectives
A certificate is presented upon completion of the residency program


For more information:
Kara Crumbliss, OD
Illinois College of Optometry
3241 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
Email: kcrumbliss@ico.edu