Resident Life
Q&A with Dr. Amanda
Weiss, 2004-2005 Primary Eye Care Resident
 Dr. Amanda Weiss. of Edwardsville, Illinois, earned her Doctor of Optometry
degree from Southern College of Optometry in 2004. She is still weighing her
options about her career path after she completes her residency, but Dr. Weiss
is confident that the experience she gains over the coming year will prepare her
for any aspect of the profession she decides to pursue.
Q: Dr. Weiss, why did you opt to do the Primary Eye Care Optometry
residency program?
A: I wanted the added educational experience in order to later practice
optometry at an advanced professional level with confidence, and to practice
optometry in any capacity that I desire.
Q: Why did you decide to do your residency at SCO?
 A: Given that I transferred into SCO and that I only attended my 3rd and
4th years at the school, I felt that SCO and its faculty still had more to offer
me after those two short years. I thoroughly enjoyed my clinical experience at
the school and at the VA on externs, and I was especially excited about the
diverse clinical experience and settings that the Primary Eye Care residency had
to offer.
Q: What sort of experience are you hoping to gain from your residency?
A: I hope to become a more confident and proficient clinician, and I hope
to convey a positive image for the college to the patients receiving care at the
clinic.
Q&A with Dr. Hema Chavda,
2003-2004 Primary Eye Care Resident
 Dr.
Hema Chavda, of Atlanta, Georgia, earned her Doctor of Optometry degree at
Southern College of Optometry in 2003. She recently completed the Primary Eye Care
residency program at SCO. She has just moved back to Atlanta,
where she plans to pursue practice opportunities.
Q: Dr. Chavda, why did you decide to pursue the Primary Eye Care Optometry
residency at SCO?
A: By my fourth year at SCO, I knew that I wanted to do a residency but I
didn’t know just where. I studied all the different options that I had. The
reason I chose Primary Eye Care is that it doesn’t limit you; you’re exposed to
everything, anywhere from a child to a 90-year-old person. I pretty much saw
them all, from contact lens fits to managing glaucoma and disease, and even
vision therapy at times, so that’s why Primary Eye Care for me was the best way
to go.
Q: What were some of the opportunities or strengths presented by a Primary Eye Care program?
A: It builds your confidence. You see challenging patients that optometry
students don’t usually get to see. You have thought-provoking discussions with
your colleagues and supervisors. I feel so much more confident just from this
one year for handling any patient who comes through the door.
Q: Given that SCO’s Primary Eye Care Residency Program is a campus-based
program with all the resources available at both The Eye Center and SCO as well,
what sort of advantages did that offer you?
A: Getting to work at The Eye Center was great because it’s probably the
best facility to do a residency program in the whole country. You have the best
and latest state-of-the-art technology at your fingertips. I also had the
opportunity to present three posters at different national optometry meetings
and that sort of experience isn’t as available to you as an optometry student.
Q: What sort of support structure did you find from the faculty and
staff?
A: I can’t say enough about how helpful my residency supervisor, Dr.
Kristin Anderson, was. She’s just the best. I can’t put into words how great she
is, and everyone in The Eye Center has been wonderful. Residency by far was one
of the best years in my life. Everyone was very helpful, everywhere from the
front desk even to Communications and Media Services helping me with my posters.
Q: What advice would you give a fourth-year optometry student debating
whether or not to choose to do a residency?
A: I would highly recommend doing a residency; in fact, I think it should
be required; that’s just my personal opinion, but it gives you experience over
one year in what you probably would get in three to five years outside.
Q: Now that you’ve completed the program, what was the best thing about
your residency?
A: A residency challenges you, not only with patient care but even
academically. It gives you great experience, and I would definitely recommend it
to anyone thinking about it in any field.
Q&A with Dr. Whitney
Hauser, 2002-2003 Primary Eye Care Resident
 Dr. Whitney Hauser earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern College
of Optometry in 2001. After a year in private practice, she did her residency at
SCO. She now is Clinical Director at Toyos Vision in Memphis.
Q: Dr. Hauser, why did you decide to pursue the Primary Eye Care Optometry
residency at SCO?
A: After one year of private practice, I decided to pursue a residency to
open up new career opportunities. The Primary Eye Care residency was the perfect
fit. It allowed me to further my education in all facets of optometry.
Q: What were some of the opportunities or strengths presented by the Primary Eye Care program?
A: Diversity is the number one strength of the Primary Eye Care residency.
I was exposed to pediatrics, specialty contact lens, hospital-based optometry at
the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center and co-management of surgical cases.
Additionally, the residency gave me the chance to pursue research projects and
other academic interests.
Q: Given that SCO’s Primary Eye Care Residency Program is a campus-based
program with all the resources of both The Eye Center and SCO as well, what sort
of advantages did that offer you?
A: As a campus-based program, the Primary Eye Care residency has access to
many resources. These resources include computer facilities, a large research
library and a faculty with years of practical experience.
Q: What advice would you give a fourth-year optometry student debating
whether or not to choose to do a residency?
A: I would certainly recommend that everyone completes a residency
program. For me, I didn’t realize how much more there was to learn until I
worked for a year as an OD. Plus, that year of practice gave me a larger
knowledge base than the newer graduates. However, it’s a challenge to leave a
practice and go back to an educational institution.
Q: Now that you’ve completed the program, what was the best thing about
your residency?
A: The Primary Eye Care residency provided me with a career opportunity
that I would not have otherwise been given. That was my goal, and it was
accomplished.
Q: Plans or current practice?
A: Currently, I am the Clinical Director for Toyos Vision, a referral
center, in Memphis, Tennessee. I provide pre- and post-operative care for
cataract, strabismus and refractive patients. Additionally, I treat individuals
with chronic diseases and medical emergencies. Our practice is thriving and
continually expanding. My job changes daily, and I love it!
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