University of Pikeville

Kentucky College of Optometry
147 Sycamore Street
Pikeville, Kentucky 41501
(606) 218-5251
kyco_admissions@upike.edu

University of Pikeville
Kentucky College of Optometry
Pediatric Optometry
Pikeville, KY

Program Overview

The Kentucky College of Optometry Pediatric Residency is a school clinic and hospital-based program that provides experience in working with a wide variety of patients, primarily in pediatric primary care and binocular vision. There are opportunities to work with patients of all ages and in a variety of settings. Residents will gain expertise in the diagnosis and management of binocular vision disorders (strabismus, amblyopia, oculomotor dysfunction, etc.), caring for infant and young children, working with patients with developmental disabilities, and in the evaluation and management of visual information processing disorders. Additional aspects of the program include weekly conferences with faculty for case and topic discussion, participation in outreach programs such as local school screenings, a paper of publishable quality, two Grand Rounds-style professional presentations, scholarly poster submission, and other activities as assigned by the Residency Program Coordinator. The program is designed to enhance the resident’s education through both clinical and didactic activities. Residents will be responsible for direct care and precepting, with increasing levels of independence throughout the year. Upon successful completion of the program, residents will be well-rounded practitioners comfortable in the management of pediatric optometric care and binocular vision disorders.

ACOE Accreditation Status
Accreditation Pending

For more information, see the ACOE’s website at www.theACOE.org or contact the ACOE at accredit@theacoe.org.

Accreditation Council on Optometric Education
243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., Suite 301
St. Louis, MO 63141
Phone: 1-800-365-2219
E-mail address: accredit@theacoe.org

Program Length: approximately 54 weeks

Typical Weekly Hours and After-Hours Responsibilities: 40-50 weekly hours with opportunities to participate in occasional weekend clinics

Application Materials:
To apply, please send a letter of intent, CV, transcripts and letters of recommendation directly to ORMatch.
Application Deadline: January 31
Number of Positions: 1

Find on ORMATCHFind on ASCO

Mission

The mission of the Kentucky College of Optometry Pediatric Optometry Residency is to provide qualified optometric residents with competency in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric primary care and binocular vision conditions through patient care, education, and scholarship. Upon successful completion of the program, residents will have knowledge and skills appropriate for future employment in a variety of clinical and academic settings.

Program Goals

  • The resident will gain patient encounters through direct patient care and precepting of students, which will enhance their clinical knowledge and skills in general refractive care, ocular disease, and ocular manifestations of systemic disease common in pediatric patients.
  • The resident will determine correct diagnosis and appropriate management strategies through increasing levels of independence with progress toward full autonomy by the final quarter of the program.
  • The resident will gain patient encounters through direct patient care and precepting of students, which will enhance their clinical knowledge and skills in binocular vision case diagnosis and management. Binocular vision disorders in this sense refer to strabismic and non-strabismic conditions.
  • The resident will be exposed to various forms of binocular vision management through observation, literature, and hands-on experience.
  • The resident will gradually gain increasing experience in the clinical precepting of students, as deemed appropriate by clinical faculty and adjunct faculty.
  • The resident will gain experience in lecturing in clinical and classroom formats.
  • The resident will gain experience in laboratory instruction of students.
  • The resident will provide lecture presentations to colleagues in at least two educational events and submit a case poster to a scholarly society.
  • The resident will create a professional case report suitable for submission to an academic society or journal.

Requirements for Residency Completion

  • Completion of clinic duties including patient care and communication with referring doctors and staff.
  • Complete patient care logs commensurate with the amount of patient encounters to reach the goal of the program.
  • Complete quarterly evaluations, as required by the program, listed in Meditrek.
  • Presentation in at least two grand rounds presentations, including KYCO Residents Day.
  • Participate in discussions concerning the Resident Reading List which includes educational journal articles to enhance clinical knowledge.
  • Completion of one case report of publishable quality.
  • Submission of a poster/paper abstract to a scholarly society, e.g., American Academy of Optometry.
  • Must display growth and proficiency in the treatment and management of binocular vision and pediatric primary care conditions.  

Application & Selection Process

The selection procedure is initiated through the ORMatch program by National Matching Services Inc. Candidates submit their applications through the standardized process displayed by the ORMatch program no later than the deadlines specified by the service on a yearly basis. Applicants are selected for an interview based upon their official optometry school transcript, national board scores, curriculum vitae, letters of interest, and at least three reference letters. Reference letters must be submitted by licensed optometrists who can personally and objectively attest to the candidate’s clinical competency.

Applicants are selected for an interview by the residency coordinator based upon the objective review of their submitted documentation and how the applicant aligns with the program’s mission, goals, and objectives, based on their letter of intention. Candidates must have a competitive GPA.

Candidates selected for an interview will be evaluated by the Residency Program Coordinator and at least two other faculty members (which may include the current resident) in a one hour allotted time slot. The candidates will be evaluated on knowledge-base, critical thinking skills, communication skills, receptivity to learning, and professional demeanor/interest.

The candidates will then be ranked in the ORMatch system based on the candidate’s application and overall interview scores with consideration regarding interviewer comments. The ranking is decided by the Program Coordinator in consultation with the Residency Committee at KYCO.

By the time of matriculation into the residency program, the candidate must have been awarded an O.D. degree from a school or college accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education and be eligible for a Kentucky state optometric license.

In summary, candidates must meet these requirements: 

  • Application information sent to OR Match website
  • Interview with program director, coordinator, and/or faculty
  • O.D. degree from a school or college accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education
  • Competitive GPA
  • Eligible for a Kentucky state optometric license

Salary and Benefits

  • $41,000
  • Insurance: health and life
  • Full liability coverage
  • Annual vacation/sick leave/professional development

Please contact Program Coordinator, Dr. Kelsey Trast, or the Director of Residencies, Dr. Eilene Kinzer.

See Residency Brochure

The University of Pikeville does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, or disability in its programs, activities, hiring, or admission of its students or employees.

Benefits of a Residency
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