Residency in Pediatric Optometry, with Emphasis in Cornea and Contact Lenses and Ocular Disease
AT DUKE UNIVERSITY
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
Affiliated with
SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION
The pediatric optometry residency at the Duke University Eye Center offers a multi-specialty, high volume, progressive learning environment involving pediatric care. Residents will become proficient in all aspects of pediatric optometry including primary care, contact lens, binocular vision and diagnosis and medical treatment of ocular pathology. Due to the nature of the setting of this residency, training includes working with pediatric ophthalmologists, pediatric retina specialists, and pediatric neuro-ophthalmologists.
PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Goal 1: Enhance the resident’s skills in the provision of pediatric optometric eye and vision care.
Objective 1: The resident will develop a high degree of competency in the provision of pediatric optometric services.
Outcome: The resident will provide optometric service involving a minimum of 1500 direct patient encounters on patients’ ages 18 years and younger.
Measure: The resident will report the number of patient encounters of this type using the activity log.
Objective 2: The resident will develop advanced competency in providing visual care to a diverse patient population.
Outcome: The resident will perform a minimum of 800 refractive evaluations on patients’ ages 18 years and younger.
Measure: The resident will report the number and age of patient encounters using the activity log.
Objective 3: The resident will gain experience in the treatment of ocular disease in pediatric patients.
Outcome: The resident will experience a minimum of 100 ocular disease-related patient encounters involving patients age 18 years and younger.
Measure: The resident will report the number and age of patient encounters using the activity log.
Goal 2: Strengthen the resident’s expertise in the diagnosis and management of vision problems in pediatric patients.
Objective 1: The resident will perform the appropriate diagnostic procedures.
Outcome: The resident will consistently select and successfully perform the proper diagnostic procedures for each patient.
Measure: The resident will be evaluated quarterly by the supervisor to determine if the desired level of technical and cognitive ability is being exhibited.
Objective 2: The resident will determine the correct diagnoses for each patient.
Outcome: The resident will consistently select the correct diagnosis for each patient with increasing independence as the residency program progresses.
Measure: The resident will be evaluated quarterly by the supervisor to assess the appropriateness of the resident’s diagnostic ability.
Objective 3: The resident will determine the best management for each patient.
Outcome: The resident will consistently devise an appropriate management plan for each patient in order to best address the patient’s needs.
Measure: The resident will be evaluated quarterly by the supervisor to assess the appropriateness of the resident’s diagnostic ability.
Goal 3: Expand the resident’s knowledge of binocular, developmental vision problems and contact lens.
Objective 1: The resident will gain experience in managing patients with strabismus, accommodative, vergence and motility disorders.
Outcome: The resident will evaluate and manage a minimum of 300 patients with strabismus, accommodative, vergence and motility disorders.
Measures: The resident will report the number of patient encounters of this type using the activity log.
Objective 2: The resident will gain experience in managing patients with amblyopia.
Outcome: The resident will evaluate and manage a minimum of 150 patients with amblyopia.
Measure: The resident will report the number of patient encounters of this type using the activity log.
Objective 3: The resident will gain experience in managing pediatric patients in contact lenses.
Outcome: The resident will evaluate and manage a minimum of 150 patients with contact lenses.
Measure: The resident will report the number of patient encounters of this type using the activity log.
Goal 4: Develop advanced competencies in eye care
Objective 1: The resident will gain experience in specialty contact lens fittings
Outcome: The resident will evaluate and manage a minimum of 20 patients with specialty contact lenses.
Measures: The resident will report the number of patient encounters of this type using the activity log.
Objective 2: The resident will gain experience in evaluating special needs/non-verbal patients.
Outcome: The resident will evaluate and manage a minimum of 20 patients.
Measure: The resident will report the number of patient encounters of this type using the activity log.
Objective 3: The resident will gain experience in managing pediatric low vision patients.
Outcome: The resident will evaluate and manage a minimum of 20 patients with low vision.
Measure: The resident will report the number of patient encounters of this type using the activity log.
Goal 5: Develop the resident’s skill in presenting topics to resident professionals.
Objective: The resident will acquire and practice skills needed to effectively present information to other professionals in group settings.
Outcome: The resident will present one lecture during the annual residency conference and one lecture at a Community Education CE dinner. When possible, the resident will present posters or lectures in other settings such as the American Academy of Optometry.
Measure: The resident will report these types of activities using the activity summary.
Goal 6: Instill in the resident an appreciation of the importance of education.
Objective: The resident will attempt to attend all pediatric lectures, grand rounds and symposiums hosted by the Duke Eye Center. Additionally, the resident will meet once a week with each pediatric optometry attending to cover a different didactic topic in the residency curriculum. Pediatric optometry journal clubs will be hosted once a month.
Outcome: The resident will attend all pediatric lectures, grand rounds and symposiums hosted by the Duke Eye Center when possible. The resident will attend each didactic session with an attending and monthly optometry journal clubs.
Measure: The resident will report these types of activities using the activity summary.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
All Applicants must complete and return application forms by January 31st each year.
This program uses the Optometry Residency Match. Applicants must complete the ORMatch application at https://natmatch.com/ormatch.
The Supporting Documents include:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Current Transcript
- A brief essay stating reasons for applying to this program.
- Three letters of recommendation are required. It is requested that one of the letters come from someone outside the profession of optometry/ophthalmology.
If selected as one of the finalists, the applicant will be invited for a personal interview by the residency selection committee.
Requirements to be considered include:
- Applicant must have earned an OD degree or will have earned such a degree by the time of matriculation from a school/college of optometry accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometry Education.
- Applicant will furnish an official transcript from his/her school/college of optometry. An applicant should have a cumulative grade point average greater than 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in the professional optometric curriculum.
- Applicant must pass all parts of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, all examinations required for North Carolina licensure and furnish official transcripts when available.
- Participation in the program is contingent on successful completion of the North Carolina Optometric Licensing exam. Failure to obtain and maintain a license in good standing with the North Carolina Optometry board would be course for immediate termination from the program.
- Duke Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology and Southern College of Optometry affirm that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity at or affiliated with Southern College of Optometry on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, disability or national origin.
OTHER CLINICAL DUTIES
Once the resident is licensed in the state of North Carolina, completes his/her onboarding process with Duke and becomes fully credentialed, he/she will have one day per week or two half days per week in our comprehensive ophthalmology service to maintain and hone their primary care optometry skills.
OTHER EMPLOYMENT
Additional employment (moonlighting) during the tenure of this residency is not permitted without prior consent of the Duke University optometry residency director.
STIPEND AND BENEFITS
The residency program is one calendar year in length from August 1st to July 31st. The stipend is $40,000 and will be paid out on a monthly basis. Compensation is not contingent upon productivity of the resident. Benefits associated with this appointment are defined in the policies of Duke University. The resident will be given the opportunity to purchase health insurance through the Payroll and Benefits Service Center. If the resident should choose to decline, proof of health insurance coverage must be provided.
LEAVE POLICY
Fourteen days of vacation and ten sick days are provided to the resident. These vacation days include those on which the involved clinics are normally closed: New Year’s Holiday, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If the clinic is closed, provision of these vacations days is automatic and does not require approval or submission of a leave request form. The additional 5 vacation days can be used at the resident’s discretion, but they must be requested sixty (60) days in advance so that scheduling changes can be accommodated. In addition to the aforementioned vacation days, the resident will be expected to see patients if/when the residency director is not in clinic.
Six days of educational leave are provided. These days are intended to allow the resident to attend meetings pertaining to his/her residency training. The resident must submit a request in advance to attend educational/professional meetings. The director will then approve or disapprove the request. If the director approves the request, the leave request is then forwarded to the Director of Residency Programs (DRP), who is responsible for tracking the resident’s leave balance. If the resident has a leave balance sufficient to cover the request, the DRP will approve the request and forward the appropriate copies of the form to the resident and director. The resident and director are responsible for notifying the Director of clinical operations of the days that the resident will not be available to provide clinical services.
Duke University provides a small stipend of $1000 for meeting registration, housing or transportation costs for the resident. Additionally, it is encouraged that travel grants/scholarships provided by the specific meetings (AOA, AAO, etc) be applied for in advance.
ON-CALL SERVICE POLICY
There are no on-call duties for this resident.
RESEARCH
The resident will be encouraged to assist or to participate in any on-going laboratory and/or clinical investigation(s) initiated by Duke University faculty members. The resident will also be encouraged to generate their own studies/seminal work, but it will not be required for successful completion of their residency program.
CRITERIA FOR COMPLETION OF RESIDENCY
- The resident is required to deliver clinical services at a level which is satisfactory to the Duke Residency Director and SCO Director of Residency Programs. Approximately 40 hours per week will be assigned.
- The resident will be required to keep a record of patient contacts. Cases will be reviewed periodically by the Director of the Pediatric Residency Program at Duke, the Director of Residency Programs (SCO), and the Residency Committee when appropriate.
- The resident will be required to deliver an oral presentations at the annual Resident Weekend and held on the campus at SCO. Additionally, the resident is expected to give a presentation at a Duke Community Education Series
- The resident will be expected to perform in a professional manner in the delivery of patient care services and to observe those properties of conduct and courtesies that are consistent with the rules and regulations governing the specific clinic locations and Southern College of Optometry.
- The resident will be required to participate in and complete the requirements set forth in the curriculum.
- Upon successful completion of the Residency Program, the Director of the Pediatric Residency and the Director of Residency Programs (SCO) will recommend the granting of certification to the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Southern College of Optometry
- Any resident accepted for training can be dismissed, without receiving a certificate of completion, for infractions of the rules and regulations of Duke University or Southern College of Optometry, or for any action which jeopardizes the safety of patients, personnel, or physical facilities.
ACCREDITATION
The Duke University Pediatric Optometry Residency Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association, 243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141, 314-991-4100.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
Upon evidence of satisfactory performance in meeting all requirements of the program, the resident will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from the Southern College of Optometry and Duke University.
REPORTING STATUS
The resident reports to the Director of the pediatric residency program at Duke University. The Director at Duke reports directly to the SCO Director of Residency Programs who in turn reports directly to the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Southern College of Optometry.
For further information, please Contact:
Nathan L. Cheung, OD, FAAO
Pediatric Optometric Residency Director
Duke University
2351 Erwin Road
Durham, North Carolina 27710
Tele: (919)684-0585
Email: [email protected]
Cheryl E Ervin, OD
Director, Residency Programs
Southern College of Optometry
1245 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
(901)722-3201
Email: [email protected]