This campus-based residency offers interaction with a dynamic and nationally recognized faculty and a state-of-the art clinical facility. The Eye Center at SCO annually serves more than 60,000 patients and offers an abundance of ocular disease cases that often include complex systemic considerations. Designed to develop the resident’s clinical decision-making abilities, the clinical rotations also challenge the resident’s skills under the guidance of an accomplished mentor.
The Residency in Primary Care Optometry, with Emphasis in Family Practice Optometry and Ocular Disease Program emphasizes full-scope primary care by providing direct comprehensive eye and vision care to patients of all ages. Additionally, it offers flexibility based on the resident’s specific areas of interest.
The resident’s schedule* typically includes 4.5 days of resident’s clinic and a half-day of development.
*average schedule of residency year; modified each academic semester based on progress of the resident
The external/specialty clinics may include, but are not limited to:
- The Eye Center’s Advanced Care Ocular Disease Service
- Fluorescein Angiography clinic*
*resident will obtain injection certification if not currently certified
- Ophthalmology Service
- Vitreoretinal Disease Consultation
- Emergency/On-Call Service
Off campus rotations may include:
- Charles Retina Institute
- Eye Specialty Group
- Southern Eye Associates
- Church Health Center
Didactic Responsibilities
- Lecture opportunities
- Laboratory instruction
- Precepting optometric interns
The program expects the resident to develop professional presentation and communication skills through regularly assigned time in Resident’s Conference as well as scheduled responsibilities in classroom and laboratory instruction.
Meetings with faculty and residents in journal club, grand rounds and topic group discussions additionally enhance the resident’s professional development. The program also requires the resident to produce an original work of publishable quality to complete the program.
In addition to a competitive stipend, the resident receives professional liability insurance and the opportunity to participate in a group health benefits plan. Sixteen days of vacation is included, as well as ten days of educational leave and travel stipend.