Residency in Primary Eye Care - Jack C. Montgomery VAMC, Muskogee, OK

Each of the Primary Eye Care Programs co-sponsored by a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Northeastern State University Oklahoma's College of Optometry is designed to provide advanced clinical training in ocular disease diagnosis, ocular disease management, and primary care. In the Primary Eye Care Programs, each resident works as an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team in providing patient care.

At VAMC facilities, the patient population is primarily geriatric but has an increasing number of younger adult patients. The Jack C. Montgomery resident spends two days a week at the Jack C. Montgomery VAMC in Muskogee, OK, two days a week at Ernest Childers Veteran's Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, OK and one day a week at Oklahoma College of Optometry and/or the Chester Pheiffer Optometry Clinic at Cherokee Nation Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah, OK. These clinics provide exposure to a diverse patient population.

Opportunities exist for the residents to become involved in teaching optometry students, optometrists, and other health professionals. Submission of a research paper, literature review, or case report of publishable quality is also required.

Residents are required to take the Oklahoma Optometric State Board Exam in July during their residency. Applicants must be citizens of the United States.

The residency program begins on July 1 of each year and is a 12 month program concluding on June 30 of the following year.

Expected weekly hours of duty are 40 hours per week plus additional time for weekly didactic resident seminars. Attendance of continuing education and research may lengthen the weekly hours of duties.

Compensation is provided to the resident at $31,965 per year.

The resident is offered health care benefits.
Federal Employee Health Benefits Program Information
Federal Employee Group Life Insurance Program Information
Questions regarding the Federal Employees Health Befits Program and the Federal Employee Group Life Insurance Program should be directed to:

  • Office of Personnel Management
    1900 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20415-1000
    202-606-1800
    TTY 202-606-2532

Leave benefits consist of thirteen days of annual leave and thirteen days of sick leave. Residents are also provided ten federal holidays during the residency year. Residents also receive professional leave to attend continuing education meetings. A total of four days of professional leave is offered to encourage attendance at CE courses.

The Federal Tort Claims Act provides the resident professional liability protection while providing patient care as a component of the residency. This includes patient care at the VAMC, NSUOCO and Cherokee Nation Hastings Hospital.

Specific requirements are in place for program completion and awarding of the Certificate of Advanced Clinical Competence. The requirements are as follows:

  • Completed publishable quality paper (research paper, literature review, or case report)
  • Submission of all residency evaluation forms including:
    • Patient Encounter Logs with encounter types
    • Residency Activity Logs
    • Exit evaluations (Evaluation of Clinical Supervisors, Evaluation of Residency Program Supervisor, Evaluation of NSUOCO Residency Director and, Residency Program Evaluation)
  • Successful completion of NBEO Part I, II and III including TMOD.

About Muskogee VA
ASCO Information Sheet
E-mail the Muskogee VAMC Residency Supervisor,  Angela Charlton O.D.

Student Chris Tran performing gonio exam.
 

 

Primary Eye Care Residencies

Mission, Goals, Objectives

Mission

The mission of the Residency in Primary Eye Care is to provide advanced clinical training for post-graduate optometrists with emphasis in ocular disease, vision rehabilitation, and primary care, allowing residents upon completion of the program to pursue professional opportunities which require a high level of clinical expertise.

Goal A

Provide appropriately supervised clinical educational experiences with emphasis in ocular disease, vision rehabilitation, and primary care.

Objectives:

  • Provide the resident a minimum of 1000 patient encounters.
  • Provide the resident exposure to a high diversity of clinical conditions within ocular disease, vision rehabilitation, and primary care.
  • Encourage appropriate referral and co-management of patients with other health care providers.
  • Allow the resident to participate in the clinical supervision of optometry students.

Goal B

Stimulate scholarly development in the resident.

Objectives:

  • Encourage lecture and workshop presentations in the form of continuing education, grand rounds, optometry classroom, etc.
  • Stimulate life-long learning by keeping the resident active in critically reviewing ophthalmic literature.
  • Allow the resident to attend continuing education courses.
  • Require completion of a research paper, literature review, or case report of publishable quality by the end of the residency program.

Goal C

Stimulate a commitment to service in the resident.

Objectives:

  • Enhance the resident's active involvement in the optometric community by encouraging membership and participation in optometric organizations.