NSUCO - The Visionary Spring 2012

THE V ISIONARY • S PRING 2012 — 30 People choose residency training for many reasons. Some may be considering working in an academic institution while others have the desire to work in the VA Health Care System. A few may feel it will give them a competitive edge in the job market or help them develop a niche with an area of specialty. However, the most common reason is they simply want to provide the best care possible to their patients. Often I am asked the question, “What are you looking for in a resident?” In order to answer that question, we need to ask two questions: “What is expected of a resident?” and “What is expected of the program?” since this is really a collaboration. Residency training in optometry is currently elective, and approximately 20 percent of the graduating class will complete a residency program. This 20 percent has chosen to dedicate an additional year to improving as practitioners. This is an admirable commitment to patient care and the profession. For that reason, what is expected of the program is complete commitment to program improvement, as well as commitment to helping that resident attain the learning goals listed for the program as well as the resident’s own personal learning objectives. Residency training is primarily clinical based, with the residents providing patient care, but there are also other components to the program, and the emphasis should always be on their learning and growth, whether it be clinically, didactically, or scholarly. Residents have the unique opportunity to manage complex cases involving serious conditions under the direct supervision of well-qualified faculty members. “ What is expected of the resident ?” Very simply, residency programs expect professionalism, an exemplary work ethic, a sound base of clinical knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to learning and professional improvement. Essentially, when choosing residents, we try and assess each candidate’s ability to meet these expectations. Their applications included a curriculum vitae listing clinical rotations, extracurricular activities, and community involvement; national board scores; grades and academic performance; and letters of recommendation. In addition, they complete an interview to assess their knowledge level and interpersonal skills. The goal is to assess the candidate’s ability to succeed in the program and for the candidate to assess whether that particular residency is the right one for his or her personal goals, which makes it very similar to any job interview. In the end, this commitment to personal improvement, patient care, and advancement of the profession is what makes a resident great. And we are grateful for the dedication of the past, current, and future residents of our profession. On January 29, NSUCO hosted its Fourth Annual Residents’ Day event, which showcased 23 NSU residents from sites throughout the state of Florida. The residents presented chal- lenging cases encountered during their postgraduate training in a rapid-fire grand rounds format. The lectures covered a wide range of interesting topics, including specialty contact lens fitting, strabismus, ocular trauma, anterior segment dis- ease, posterior segment disease, and neuro-ophthalmic con- ditions. In addition, the college offered eight hours of COPE-approved continuing education credits. The Residents’ Day program, which provided an excellent learning opportunity for the participants, also served as an opportunity for students to interact with residents from various programs and learn more about residency training and the opportunities it provides. Dr. Nadeau: “I love the diverse opportunities this program offers—from teaching students and seeing patients to having exposure to varying specialties within ophthalmology. There are many wonderful faculty members to learn from, which has allowed me to incorporate multiple philosophies and many treatment strategies into my knowledge base.” Dr. Makhlouf: “I like that the program offers a strong experience in both the clinical and academic areas.” IN WHAT AREA DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE BENEFITED THE MOST? Dr. Derewyanko: “From the disease residency I have gained both an increased knowledge base, as well as an increased confidence level, both of which are very important when practicing any type of medicine.” Dr. Nadeau: “I feel I have benefited from the opportunity to teach third- and fourth-year students. There is no better way to learn than to teach someone else. This aspect of the program has also opened up more career opportunities for me.” Dr. Makhlouf: “Thanks to yearlong rotations in a wide variety of ocular disease subspecialties, my clinical skills have tremendously improved throughout the year.” Our residents all have individual interests and goals and enjoy the program for a variety of reasons. We are pleased that we are able to provide this learning environment and are very proud of all of our past and current residents. Fourth Annual Residents’ Day Focuses on Challenging Cases WHAT MAKES A GREAT RESIDENT? By Lori Vollmer, O.D., FAAO, Director of Residency Programs