Chillicothe VA Medical Center and the VA Central Ohio Healthcare System

Goals

1. Strengthen the resident’s confidence and clinical competence in delivering primary eye care to include caring for the visually impaired.  
2. Train the residents to function effectively within a multidisciplinary health care environment through constructive interaction with other health care disciplines.
3. Provide the resident with the opportunity and experience to become an effective educator.
4. Instill in the resident an appreciation for the significance of research and other scholarly activity.

To achieve these goals, the resident will provide direct patient care, attend lectures and seminars, participate in specialized clinical programs and produce a publication-quality case report. The resident will interact with retinal, glaucoma, corneal, cataract, and oculoplastic ophthalmologic sub-specialists.

Commitment

Twelve months, beginning July 1.

The residency will include 40 hours per week of clinic and didactic experiences. There are no clinical after hours responsibilities.

Program Description

The Ocular Disease and Primary Eye Care residency program is a 12-month program split equally between the Columbus and Chillicothe VA Facilities. Patient care focuses on ocular disease at each site. A four-week rotation through a didactic program including Neurology, Endocrinology, Dermatology, Urgent Care, Primary Care, Ophthalmology Subspecialties, and others accents the systemic care of ocular disease patients. Teaching opportunities include laboratory instruction at the OSU College of Optometry and precepting OSU College of Optometry 4th year students at both VA facilities. Residents will present a poster presentation at the East-West Eye Conference or equivalent meeting. Residents will also have the opportunity to lecture to local Optometrists for continuing education credit. The resident will be mentored during the development of an Academy quality paper. Low Vision patient care and Vision Rehabilitation experiences complete a comprehensive residency program. The didactic curriculum constitutes 20% of the residency program, and includes journal clubs, case presentations, attendance at ophthalmology grand rounds, and observations through ophthalmology and special clinics, accenting systemic care of ocular disease.

The Chillicothe VA Medical Center is a neuropsychiatric and general medical facility situated on 300 acres of land near Chillicothe, Ohio. As the major psychiatric referral center in the Ohio consortium, this station offers a full complement of services in medical, psychiatric, extended care, and rehabilitative medicine to eligible veterans. Chillicothe's community care outpatient program, which combines community nursing home care with residential care, is one of the largest in the VA system.

The VA Central Ohio Healthcare System is located near downtown Columbus, Ohio. This state-of-the-art medical facility, which opened in the fall of 2008, is located at 420 N. James Road. The education and training of residents is a high priority at the clinic which has sixteen affiliations including The Ohio State University Colleges of Medicine, Optometry, Nursing, Dentistry and Pharmacy. The Eye Clinic offers state of the art equipment to assist in the care of the veterans. Optometry works in conjunction with Ophthalmology, which offers multiple specialties such as Neuro-ophthalmology, Oculoplastics, Glaucoma, Retina, and Uveitis.

Requirements for Completion

1. Attend and complete all assigned clinic sessions (including responsibility for travel to the Columbus and Chillicothe sites), conduct him/herself in a professional manner, and remain until all patients are cared for and she/he is excused by the clinic preceptor. Complete a minimum of 1,000 patient encounters, or equivalent activity if clinic patient numbers are impacted due to outside factors, with a goal of 1,200 patients.
2. Attend and document all other scholarly and didactic activities, including poster presentation and recruiting presentations. Present a poster at the East/West Eye Conference or equivalent meeting.
3. Achieve “expected” or above ratings in the Clinical Performance and Case Management Skills, Professionalism and Interpersonal Skills, and Teaching and Supervisory Skills sections on all resident evaluations, or successfully complete a remediation program. For “Below Average” evaluations in other areas, improve performance to the satisfaction of his/her mentor and the Program Supervisor.
4. Write a paper or case report of publishable quality meeting necessary deadlines.
5. Deliver a presentation of your written work at the OSU residency day.
6. Accumulate 25 hours of continuing education outside of your normal residency work schedule.
7. Complete Ohio Optometry Licensure before the end of the first half of residency, to allow for full participation in levels of supervision and Optometry student precepting.
8. Complete all assigned evaluations of the program and faculty.

Benefits

• Stipend: Established by the VA Headquarters in Washington D.C. Compensation is not contingent upon the productivity of the resident.
• Residents are eligible for health and life insurance through VA.
• Professional Liability Insurance while providing care at VA facilities is provided.
• Vacation Leave is accrued as four hours each two week pay period, for 13 days of vacation leave total.
• Paid Sick Leave is accrued as four hours each two week pay period, for 13 days of sick leave total.

Application Materials and Procedures

Deadline: January 31, Utilizing ORMatch Application Service

Inquiries (for this program only) should be directed to Dr. Libby Lemos or Dr. Dan Grangaard. The program participates in OR Match. When application materials are on file with the program supervisor, the applicant will be contacted regarding an interview. The resident is selected based on credentials presented and a personal interview. Applicants will be evaluated without regard to gender, race, creed, national origin, or non-disqualifying disabilities. Applicants must have received a Doctor of Optometry degree from an ACOE accredited School or College of Optometry by July 1 of the residency year. Residents are required to obtain Optometric Licensure under the State of Ohio before the end of the first half of residency.

The applicant must provide:

• Completed application through ORMatch website
  ORMatch # 23637
• Official transcript from the applicant’s school or college of Optometry
• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Intent
• NBEO scores
• Three letters of recommendation

For Interview Dates: Please contact the program coordinator. Interviews will occur in Mid to Late February.

This program is Accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association, www.theacoe.org. To reach the ACOE directly, you may send an email to accredit@theacoe.org.