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By: Stacey Walters | June 2, 2026
The University of Pikeville (UPIKE) Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) proudly celebrates the residency placements of several members of its Class of 2026. These competitive post-graduate opportunities will allow graduates to continue advancing their clinical skills while gaining specialized training in a variety of areas within optometry across the United States.
Residency training provides optometric physicians with advanced clinical experience and specialized instruction in ocular disease, pediatric optometry, low vision rehabilitation and refractive or ocular surgery. Through KYCO’s commitment to comprehensive clinical education and patient-centered care, graduates are prepared to serve diverse patient populations with compassion, professionalism and clinical excellence.
Lauren Richey, O.D., chose to pursue a residency focused on primary care to challenge herself and continue to grow as a clinician.
“I’m excited for this next stage of my career and the opportunity to expand my skills while making a meaningful impact in patient care,” said Richey. “I’m especially looking forward to returning home to Oklahoma and serving the community that helped shape me.”
Deana Nicole Dale, O.D., will remain at KYCO to complete a pediatric optometry residency, during which she will continue serving patients in the Appalachian region while expanding her expertise in caring for children and individuals with specialized vision needs.
“I am so excited to begin my pediatric residency at KYCO to pursue my passion for caring for children while continuing to learn and grow each day,” said Dale. “I am especially grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that has supported me over the past seven years, and I can’t wait to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people I will serve.”
KYCO’s continued success in residency placements reflects the college’s dedication to academic excellence, clinical preparedness and the advancement of the optometric profession.
The following members of the KYCO Class of 2026 have matched with residency programs: Joel Baidoo, O.D., Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, Wichita, Kan., in Ocular Disease; Lauren Bailey, O.D., W.G. Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury, N.C., in Ocular Disease; Fate Brunswick, O.D., Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, in Ocular Disease; Deana Nicole Dale, O.D., University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry, Pikeville, Ky., in Pediatric Optometry; Kanika Khanna, O.D., Wilmington VA Medical Center, Wilmington, Del., in Ocular Disease with emphases in Glaucoma and Retina; Dawson King, O.D., Specialty Eye Institute, Jackson, Mich., in Ocular Disease with an emphasis in Refractive and Ocular Surgery; Brennan Lameier, O.D., Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, in Ocular Disease; Julia Renee Otman, O.D., Battle Creek VA Medical Center, Battle Creek, Mich., in Ocular Disease; Bryan Ramirez, O.D., Chinle Service Unit Indian Health Service Northeastern State University, Chinle, Ariz., in Ocular Disease; Lauren Richey, O.D., Oklahoma College of Optometry, Tahlequah, Okla., in Primary Care/Pediatric Optometry; and Amra Turkes, O.D., Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, Ill., in Ocular Disease/Vision Rehabilitation.
To learn more about KYCO residencies, visit https://www.upike.edu/optometry/kyco-residencies/