It’s been a great month! Right before finals, I was able to attend The Exchange (previously known as Vision Source! North America). It was a wonderful conference and a lot was accomplished. Each year, the presidents and VPs from each of the private practice clubs are invited to attend as part of a national organization called the Student Optometric Leadership Network or SOLutioN. SOLutioN is a network of student optometrists dedicated to ensuring the future of private practice optometry. We do that by collaborating to strengthen our schools’ individual private practice clubs which in turn support students in their pursuit of private practice optometry. Among other things, we elected our first Board of Directors last month and I was chosen to sit on the board with three other students.
SOLutioN Board of Directors 2013
After taking my last final EVER last month, I enjoyed a fantastic break. Besides relaxing (and mowing the lawn), I took my family on a trip to Louisville, KY. I’m interested in a VT/Pediatrics residency site there, so I decided to check it out before heading to Utah in August. Loved the practice. Loved Louisville. Great trip.
Now I am back at SCO as a 4th year! Can I tell you a secret? I don’t feel like a 4th Year. I remember looking up at the all knowing 4th years with a sense of awe. Now that I’m here, I can’t help but think, “But I was just a 1st year!” Funny how that works. Last week was a whirlwind of patients in pediatrics, adult primary care, contact lens, and vision therapy. I did have one vision therapy patient that I have to tell you about.
He’s a little boy with some learning related vision problems. Our efforts that day focused on directionality which is knowing your left and right. After making a duct tape line on the floor, I had him follow a chart on the wall and either stand to the left, to the right, or on the line. In an effort to make the game more fun, we decided to rename those places with his favorite foods: pizza, macaroni, and chicken. He had a blast. WE had a blast. It didn’t take more than a few moments before he was practically dancing from one side of the line to the other. At the same time, he was calling out his directions for everyone to hear. Pizza! Pizza! Macaroni! Chicken! The best part was that his directional accuracy was improving. Motivation, participation, and progression make for a successful day in VT. Can’t wait to work with him again this week!