Employee Focus on Carissa Janczak
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Name: Carissa Janczak, OD, DiplABO
Current Title: Assistant Clinical Professor
Pronouns: she/hers
Hometown: Grove City, Ohio
Degrees and Institutions Attended: Doctor of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry, B.S. in Biology from The Ohio State University
Years of Employment at the College: Five
Q&A
What brought you to the College of Optometry?
I knew I wanted to tack on academia to my optometric career early on. Following my OD degree, I pursued an ocular disease/primary care residency at the Columbus VAACC and Chillicothe VAMCs, which are affiliates of Ohio State Optometry. During residency, I was able to have a rotation as a teaching assistant for the Primary Care Techniques laboratory and precepted fourth-year externs at the VA. This really fueled my passion for teaching skills and ultimately paved the way for me to start a fulfilling clinical teaching career here. The people here obviously sealed the deal.
Describe your typical day at work or describe your position/role.
I am currently the OPT II Clinic Chief and instructor of the Primary Care Techniques laboratory (Yes, the same lab from residency! Totally a full circle moment). I hold attending privileges in OPT II clinic, Primary Vision Care, Advanced Ocular Care, and Outreach clinics. On the day-to-day, you’ll find me running around somewhere in the clinic or lab – showing students how to read testing printouts, helping with clinical skills, providing world-class care for our patients all the while teaching our amazing interns how to give an eye exam.
What brings you the most joy in your work?
Witnessing the lightbulb moment for students and watching them succeed. Seeing interns turn into capable and competent clinicians is my greatest joy and the greatest measurement of my own success.
What advice would you give to a new employee at the college?
We’re all in this together- don’t forget that! That’s one of the best things about the culture here.
What do you do for fun outside of work?
Travel with my husband, discover new coffee shops, try new restaurants and breweries, hike, run or bike, pretend to be a DIY aficionado, and sometimes there’s nothing better than watching a good docuseries. Columbus sporting events are definitely a vibe even if you’re not that interested in the game, but we are big Buckeye and Columbus Crew fans over here.
What is your go-to Columbus/neighborhood eatery?
This is such a hard question because the food scene is just that good. My go-to? I would have to say Bonifacio or Emmett’s Café. The lumpia at Bonifacio and the breakfast burrito from Emmett’s are my weaknesses.