Residency Programs Affiliated with UAB School of Optometry:
Residency in Geriatric and Low Vision Rehabilitative Optometry at the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center (two positions)
Mission:
The mission of the residency in Geriatric and Low Vision Rehabilitative Optometry at the Birmingham VAMC is to provide optometric residents with clinical experience in geriatric and rehabilitative optometry that goes beyond the general optometric four-year curriculum. The residency’s comprehensive experience includes participation in the Birmingham VMAC’s Geriatric Assessment Clinic, Southeastern Blind Rehabilitation Center, and the UAB School of Optometry’s Residency Program. The residency’s advanced didactic training and strong clinical foundation all residents upon completion of the program to pursue professional opportunities that require a high level of clinical expertise, such as specialized optometric practice or academia.
This residency program provides the unique opportunity for the resident to spend six months of the program providing direct patient care to a geriatric population (ocular disease and primary care) and six months providing low vision rehabilitation services to inpatients and outpatients in the Blind Rehabilitation Center. The program primarily involves direct patient care by the resident, but Supervision of student externs is also incorporated into the program. The Resident in Geriatric Optometry and Low Vision Rehabilitation attends a regularly scheduled weekly Residency Conference which includes presentations by faculty and guests, grand rounds, case conferences, journal club, records review, and other learning activities. In order to better develop the residents’ scholarship, a paper suitable for publication is required.
Patt Fuhr, O.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.O.
Superivsor of the Residency in Geriatric and Low Vision Rehabilitative Optometry
Patti.Fuhr@va.gov
Birmingham VAMC website (link to http://www.birmingham.va.gov/)
Residency in Hospital-Based / Primary Care Optometry at the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center (two positions)
Mission:
The mission of the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry is to provide a unique post-doctoral experience in a multidisciplinary setting with the intent to nurture the resident’s development into exceptional optometric clinicians by broadening general skills and mastering additional specialized skills through independent patient care while adhering to supervision guidelines.
This residency program is designed to provide advanced clinical training in the diagnosis and management of ocular disease, exposure to multidisciplinary management of systemic disease, and primary eye care. The program primarily involves direct patient care by the resident, but supervision of student externs is also incorporated in the program. The Resident in Primary Eye Care attends a regularly scheduled weekly Residency Conference which includes presentations by faculty and guests, grand rounds, case conferences, journal club, records review, and other learning activities. In order to better develop the residents’ scholarship, a paper suitable for publication is required.
Nathan Whitaker, O.D., F.A.A.O
Supervisor of the Residency in Hospital-Based / Primary Care Optometry
Nathan.Whitaker@va.gov
Tuscaloosa VAMC website (link to http://www.tuscaloosa.va.gov/page.cfm?pg=30 )
Residency in Ocular Disease at Omni Eye Services, Atlanta (three positions)
Mission:
The mission of the Residency in Ocular Disease at Omni Eye Services is to seek to attract and select the best-qualified optometric graduates and to provide them with concentrated clinical experience and advanced didactic knowledge in secondary care optometry. Training will be provided at a level to allow individuals who complete the program to deliver a high level of secondary eye care, serve as teachers in optometric or other professional environments, and serve the professional as experts and leaders in secondary eye care.
The Resident in Ocular Disease has the opportunity to provide clinical care to a diverse and challenging population in a referral center setting in Atlanta, Georgia. The Omni Atlanta faculty includes two anterior segment specialists trained in cornea and cataracts, two experienced optometric experts in eye disease, a retinal specialist, and a glaucoma specialist. The resident will provide pre- and post-operative care in addition to the diagnosis and management of ocular disease. The program primarily involves direct patient care by the resident, but clinical supervision of students, talks to student externs, and teaching clinical workshops is also incorporated into the program. In order to better develop the residents’ scholarship, a paper suitable for publication is required. Participation in emergency call sharpens the residents’ diagnosis and management skills.
Paul Ajamian, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Supervisor of the Residency in Ocular Disease at Omni Eye Services, Atlanta
Omni Atlanta website residency page (link to http://www.omnieyeatlanta.com/index.cfm/about/residents)
ajamian@aol.com
Residency in Ocular Disease at VisionAmerica of Birmingham (one position)
The Resident has the opportunity to provide clinical care in a referral center setting in Birmingham, Alabama. The VisionAmerica faculty includes two anterior segment specialists, a pediatric specialist, two retinal specialists, one oculoplastic specialist, and three optometric experts in eye disease. The resident will diagnose and manage ocular disease, provide pre- and post-operative care, and learn administrative aspects of a referral center practice. The program primarily involves direct patient care by the resident, but clinical supervision of students and teaching in clinical workshops and continuing education events is also incorporated into the program. The Resident attends a regularly scheduled weekly Residency Conference. In order to better develop the residents’ scholarship, a paper suitable for publication is required. Participation in emergency call sharpens the residents’ diagnosis and management skills. Accreditation pending for this new program.
Paul Batson, O.D.
Supervisor of the Residency in Ocular Disease at VisionAmerica of Birmingham
pbatson@eyehealthpartners.com
VisionAmerica of Birmingham webpage (link to http://www.eyehealthpartners.com/doctors-birmingham.html)