Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks

The mission of the Residency in Primary Eye Care is to provide advanced clinical training for post-graduate optometrists with emphasis in ocular disease 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 and primary care.

Objectives:

1. Provide the resident a large number of patient encounters.
2. Provide the resident exposure to a high diversity of clinical conditions within ocular disease and primary care.
3. Encourage appropriate referral and co-management of patients with other health care providers.
4. Allow the resident to participate in the clinical supervision of optometry students.

Goal B
Stimulate scholarly development in the resident..

Objectives:

1. Encourage lecture and workshop presentations in the form of continuing education, grand rounds, optometry classroom, etc .
2. Stimulate life-long learning by keeping the resident active in critically reviewing ophthalmic literature.
3. Allow the resident to attend continuing education courses.
4. 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:

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

You must register for ORMatch ( ORMS Application Form) in order to send applications to residencies. All core application materials listed below are submitted online using the ORMatch Application Service. Once you submit an application, the residency will have access to your application information immediately. Submitted applications cannot be changed or withdrawn. The Director of Residencies at the residency's affiliated school or college of optometry will also have access to your application information.

• Curriculum vitae
  
  • Education (institution, dates, major, degree or pending degree, and grade point average)
  • List of Honors, Awards
  • Professional Memberships
  • Research Projects and Publication
  • Special Presentations, Seminars and Teaching Experience
  • Employment
  • Community Service
  • Other Professional Experiences
• Statement of interest
  Discuss:
  
  • Why are you interested in pursuing a residency?
  • What do you hope to gain from a residency?
  • What are your plans after you complete a residency?
• Three letters of recommendation
  • These letters should be from individuals who can assess your clinical performance, scholastic abilities and/or teaching and research potential. Recommendation letters may be emailed or mailed by post, but must be signed and be on official letterhead .
• A copy of your optometry school transcripts (an final official copy sent directly from the school will be required if accepted into the program)
• Passing scores on NBEO Parts I and II is needed to participate in Match and start the program; however, passage of all parts of the NBEO (Parts I, II, III and TMOD) is required to successfully complete the program and receive a certificate at the end of the residency.
• ORMS Application
• Interview recommended
• Doctor of Optometry degree from an ACOE-accredited school or college of optometry
• License eligible in the state of Oklahoma
• Applicants must be citizens of the United States and males must have registered for the Selective Service.

Visit the ORMatch application website

Submit Application Materials

All application information should be sent to the Director of Residencies, Dr. Carolyn Majcher director of residencies via email or mail to:

Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
ATTN: Residency Director
870 E. Crafton St.
Tahlequah, OK 74464-7017

As application materials are received by the school, they will be forwarded to the site the applicant is applying at. Arrange an interview. Each applicant is strongly encouraged to arrange an interview at the residency site to which they are applying. This allows the applicant to become more familiar with the residency site and the residency supervisor to become familiar with the applicant. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact either Britney Mason(mason09@nsuok.edu) or the Director of Residencies, Dr. Carolyn Majcher director of residencies

• Completed publishable quality paper (research paper, literature review, or case report)
• All patient encounter logs with encounter types and all residency activity logs.
• Completed exit evaluations (evaluation of clinical supervisors, evaluation of residency program supervisor, evaluation of NSUOCO residency director and residency program evaluation)
• Passage of National Board of Examiners in Optometry Part I, II and III including passage of the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease
• Oklahoma Optometry license

• You are offered health care benefits.
  Federal Employee Health Benefits Program Information
  Federal Employee Group Life Insurance Program Information
  
  Questions regarding the Federal Employees Health Benefits 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. The resident is also provided ten federal holidays during the residency year. You 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 you professional liability protection while providing patient care at the VAMC, NSUOCO and Cherokee Nation W.W Hastings Hospital as a component of the residency. As an enhanced measure for NSUOCO clinical activities, residents are also included in the NSUOCO professional liability plan coverage.