Cornea and Contact Lenses
Sponsor and Academic Affiliate: Pacific University College of Optometry, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116
Mission
The mission of the Pacific University College of Optometry Cornea and Contact Lens residency program is to prepare qualified graduates of optometry for careers in contact lens education, independent practice, clinical research, or a combination thereof, by providing advanced practical experience and academic teaching exposure with an emphasis in contact lenses and anterior segment conditions.
Residency Program Coordinator: Mari Fujimoto, OD, FAAO
Length of Program: 54 weeks (July 1st through July 14th)
Number of Positions: 1
Salary: $45,000 – not contingent upon productivity of the resident
Hours: Expected range of hours of attendance in a typical week of activities is 40–60 hours.
The resident serves as one of the primary physicians for after hours on-call for the Pacific University EyeClinics. On-call duties consist of approximately ten weeks over the course of a residency year, for a one-week period on a rotating basis. At the start of each year the Cornea & Contact Lens Resident, the Vision Therapy & Rehabilitation/Pediatric Optometry Resident, and the full-time, part-time, and adjunct clinical faculty divide the responsibility over the year. The secondary on-call responsibilities are covered by full-time, part-time, and adjunct clinical faculty who are available for consultations with the primary on-call physician and/or to accompany the primary on-call physician to patient care visits after hours. The on-call physician is compensated for monitoring the after-hours calls.
Leave: The resident earns ten days paid annual leave and ten days paid sick leave per year.
Professional Liability Protection: Provided by Pacific University.
Health Insurance Benefits: Health and dental insurance is provided through Pacific University.
Certificate of Completion: Residents will prepare a potentially publishable manuscript, which may be used towards delivering a required presentation at the annual Northwest Residents Conference at Pacific University. Residents will fulfill the program participation for the duration of the program year, as outlined within orientation materials from the program and educational affiliate. Once all published requirements for completion have been met, the resident will be presented with a Certificate of Completion.
Program Goals
Goal 1: Provide opportunities for in-depth clinical experience specializing in contact lenses and anterior segment conditions.
Goal 2: Encourage the resident to develop as a specialist by serving as a consultant/attending doctor for optometry interns.
Goal 3: Offer experience in didactic and laboratory contact lens education.
Goal 4: Encourage the resident’s pursuit of scholarly activity.
Goal 5: Stimulate a commitment to service in the resident.
Residency Experience
Clinical Activities
The resident is provided the opportunity to work in a variety of clinical settings with a large number of diverse patient encounters as well as exposure to a variety of clinical conditions within contact lens practice and anterior segment pathology.
Teaching & Lecturing
One half day per week for the summer and fall semesters is dedicated to the internal resident’s conference seminar which provides the opportunity for the resident to go over topics of interest, review journal articles, and present case histories to the contact lens faculty. This time also allows for discussion of research topics, either proposed topics or currently active studies. The resident is mentored in other areas such as future lecture/presentation topics, lens design and publishing.
One half day per week for the entire year is devoted to both clinical research and literature reviews. The resident is encouraged to keep current on new developments in the contact lens field as well as look more in-depth into any area of interest.
In the spring and summer semesters, the resident assists in laboratory coordination, organizing proficiencies and workshops for the basic contact lens course, Optometry 618, and the specialty contact lens course, Optometry 716. Progressively throughout the year, the resident’s lecturing opportunities increase depending on the resident’s individual interests (Appendix J).
Scholarly Activities
The resident is required to complete a research paper, literature review or case report of publishable quality by the end of the residency program and present at the annual Northwest Optometric Residents’ Conference.
Residents are encouraged to attend Pacific University sponsored continuing education programs and the registration fees are waived. The resident is encouraged to attend other educational programs; however travel, lodging, meals and incidental expenses remain the resident’s responsibility.
Administration | Research Time
The resident is scheduled up to one half day each week for administrative time. This time is intended to be used for research, review of charts and independent study.
Weekly Optometric Seminar
Each week, the resident meets with the contact lens faculty for a contact lens-related seminar. Journals are reviewed, interesting and difficult cases are discussed and there is a presentation on a contact lens-related topic by one of the attendees.
Library & Research Resources
The resident is provided access to the libraries and computer databases of both Pacific University and Oregon Health and Science University. Access is provided to the College's in-house references including texts, journals, audio-visuals, and computer-based resources. Residents are permitted to use the computer work stations in the Student Computer Room in Jefferson Hall and will receive audio-visual support in generating slides, videos, overheads, etc., for use in presentations or papers being developed as part of the residency experience. Access to the extensive ophthalmic library at Casey Eye Institute is also available.
Computer, Email & Telephone Access
Computers with Internet access are available for use in the school and library at Pacific University. The resident is assigned an email address.
Performance Evaluations
The resident will receive quarterly written evaluations from the residency program coordinator. The resident will evaluate the residency program and the residency program coordinator at mid-year and at the end of the year.
Worksite
Pacific Eye Clinic – Forest Grove
The resident primarily provides patient care in the Therapeutic Contact Lens Clinic at each site. The Therapeutic Contact Lens Service was established in our Forest Grove clinic in August 2006. The clinic is staffed by the contact lens resident, Chief of Contact Lens Services (Dr. Matthew Lampa), Dr. Mari Fujimoto, and Professor Patrick Caroline. This tertiary referral center offers the unique opportunity to serve a high volume of patients in need of medically necessary contact lenses. Fitting opportunities for and exposure to anterior segment conditions include keratoconus, penetrating keratoplasty, post-refractive surgery, aphakia, aniridia, as well as prosthetic contact lenses and orthokeratology. The resident gains experience in medical billing for therapeutic contact lens prescribing.
Veterans Administration Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS)
The VAPORHCS hospital serves the veterans of Northern Oregon and Southwest Washington in a hospital based setting. Contact lens opportunities at this clinic include post-trauma, aphakia, penetrating keratoplasty fittings, high refractive error and other conditions unique to a largely elderly, male population. Management of ocular disease opportunities includes diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and anterior and posterior segment anomalies. The resident provides direct patient care in the contact lens clinic one half day per week and serves as an advising co-resident with the fellow VAPORHCS residents in the contact lens clinic. This exposure to anterior and posterior segment ocular diseases provides the resident with the invaluable experience of primary care and ocular disease co-management with other optometric specialties and ophthalmology. The resident’s day at the VA coincides with VAMC corneal specialist ophthalmology fellow schedule.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must earn the degree of Doctor of Optometry from a school or college of optometry accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education prior to the starting date of the residency program.
Candidates must pass all portions of the NBEO and attain Oregon state licensure prior to the starting date of the residency. Candidates do not need to be a U.S. Citizen. Non-citizens must either be living in the USA as a “Permanent Resident” or must be eligible for F-1 Optional Practical Training (F-1 OPT) status.
Pacific University’s policy of non-discrimination based on gender, race, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation or non-disqualifying physical disabilities will be strictly upheld during the selection process.
Application Process
Candidates must apply to this residency program through the Optometry Residency Match (ORMatch) online at natmatch.com/ORMatch.
Furnish official transcripts of all optometric, graduate and undergraduate education.
Furnish official NBEO scores.
Send CV, letter of intent and three letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant’s clinical and academic performance to the Residency Program Supervisor.
Be available for a formal interview with the Residency Committee.
Application Deadline: January 31
Living & Resources
Housing & Cost of Living
One-bedroom apartments in the Portland metropolitan area average ~$1200 per month and two-bedroom apartments average ~$1500 per month. Month-to-month lease options are commonly available in the Portland area. One-bedroom apartments in Forest Grove average ~$1000 per month and two-bedroom apartments average ~$1200 per month.
Recreation
Portland has been described as the "city of books, beer, bikes and blooms," and offers numerous activities involving all of these aspects. Outdoor adventures abound with Mt. Hood, the Oregon Coast, forests and several rivers within 60 miles from the city limits. Portland’s events and festivals provide new forms of entertainment throughout the year.
Call or Email Today
For additional information about this residency opportunity, please contact:
Mari Fujimoto, OD, FAAO | Residency Coordinator
Pacific University College of Optometry
2043 College Way
Forest Grove, OR 97116
503-352-2865 | marifujimoto@pacificu.edu
“I cannot say enough good things about the Cornea and Contact Lens Residency at Pacific. I found a team of experts dedicated toward helping me gain a deeper understanding of the science and art of therapeutic contact lens management. My year as a resident helped me develop as a clinician and professional, preparing me for unlimited possibilities.”
— Amanda Dunham, OD