Residency Description

DAYTON VA MEDICAL CENTER

MISSION:

The mission of the Residency in Primary Eye Care at the Dayton VA Medical Center is to train individuals to become optometrists who have the highest skills and most current knowledge, capable of practicing full-scope optometry within a multi-disciplinary setting and participating in clinical research and optometric education.

GOAL 1: Train individuals in a multi-disciplinary practice setting to develop advanced clinical skills through direct patient care activities.

    Objective: The resident will obtain clinical experiences within a medical center eye clinic, a university based optometry clinic and other clinical settings.

GOAL 2: Broaden the individuals’ knowledge of ocular disease processes and ensure they are attuned to the most current information available.

    Objective: The resident will attend grand rounds programs sponsored by the Dayton VAMC, as well as journal club discussions at the Dayton VAMC. The resident will be encouraged (and granted authorized absence) to attend major optometric conferences. The resident will be encouraged to attend The Ohio State University (TOSU) Department of Ophthalmology Grand Rounds when there is a topic of interest.

GOAL 3: Provide opportunities to pursue new knowledge in the ophthalmic and vision sciences.

    Objective: The resident will complete one research project or one major review article suitable for publication under the direction of the program director from the Dayton VAMC and/or TOSU College of Optometry. The resident will also prepare and present a poster at the EastWest Eye Conference.

GOAL 4: Provide opportunities to supervise fourth year optometry students in a clinical setting.

    Objective: The resident will supervise fourth year optometry students who are interns at the Dayton VAMC.

GOAL 5: Cultivate the individual’s ability to interact with other healthcare providers in a multidisciplinary setting.

    Objective: The resident will observe healthcare providers from various medical disciplines.

GOAL 6: Provide opportunities to present continuing education programs that enhance skills and promote life-long learning.

    Objective: The resident will present at least one educational program at TOSU College of Optometry, a local zone meeting or to the medical staff and/or students at the Dayton VAMC.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio was established in 1867 and provides a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, including medicine, surgery, neurology, physical medicine, psychiatry, rehabilitation and mental health. We offer a wide variety of special programs including a hospice unit, a skilled care nursing home, geriatric evaluation and management, respite care, an Alzheimer's unit, home based primary care, residential and outpatient post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse programs, as well as homeless, sleep disorder, and women's health programs. The hospital is affiliated with the Wright State University Medical School and has health-related training agreements with over fifty colleges and universities.

The Dayton VAMC provides full-scope optometric and ophthalmologic care within a hospital setting in which optometry has more than 7,800 patient encounters per year and ophthalmology over 5,400. The optometry clinic consists of 4 staff optometrists, 9 consulting optometrists, two optometry residents and 4-6 optometry students from several schools and colleges of optometry across the Midwest. The medical center also has an ophthalmology clinic consisting of three Ohio State University ophthalmology residents and 10 consulting ophthalmologists specializing in retina, glaucoma, cornea, strabismus, neuro-ophthalmology and plastics. The optometry clinic and ophthalmology clinic often share patients and interact frequently. There are three fully equipped exam lanes devoted to ophthalmology and eight devoted to optometry. Auxiliary equipment includes a digital camera with fluorescein angiography capabilities, an anterior segment camera, lasers (SLT, argon and YAG), an A and B scan ultrasonography unit, automated and manual perimeters, an optical coherence tomographer (OCT), and a pachymeter. An eyeglass dispensary with a licensed optician is located on the hospital grounds for the convenience of our patients.

Optometry Resident Schedule:

 
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
AM 8-12 clinic 8-12 clinic 8-12 clinic 8-9 Journal club
10-12 OSU Ophthalmology grand rounds (1/month); or 9-12 student supervision; or enrichment activity		 8-12 clinic
PM 12:30-4:30 clinic 12:30-4:30 clinic 12:30-4:30 clinic 12:30-4:30 enrichment activity/administrative time 12:30-4:30 clinic

PERIOD: Twelve months, beginning July 1.

STIPEND*: Established by the VA Headquarters in Washington D.C., currently $30,450

HEALTH BENEFITS: Residents are eligible for health and life insurance and accrue 4hrs annual leave and sick leave per pay period.

POSITIONS: Two

Web: http://www.dayton.va.gov/

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Gregory Kiracofe, O.D.
VAMC (112E)
4100 West Third Street
Dayton, OH 45428
937-262-2105
937-267-5377 (fax)
mailto:gregory.kiracofe@med.va.gov