1.       To identify highly qualified applicants interested in further training in ocular disease

2.       To select the best qualified candidates from the pool of applicants

3.       To promote interaction between the Resident and the faculty and administration who serve as leaders in optometric education, clinical care, and organized optometry

4.       To emphasize the clinical care of a challenging and diverse patient base in order to develop the Resident’s skill in diagnosing and managing all areas of ocular disease

        5.    Develop or enhance the resident’s didactic presentation skills

6.       To enhance the Resident’s teaching experience through scholarly development and clinical preceptor responsibilities 

7.       To provide didactic training for the resident

8.       To provide the Resident with the physical facilities necessary to promote high level clinical care and scholarly development

9.       To gain exposure to the political aspects of optometry, at a local and state and level

II.            Administrative Structure

The Residency Program Supervisor, Dr. Paul Ajamian, is responsible for the daily functioning and clinical activities of the program.  He reports to the Director of Residency Programs at UAB, Dr. Lisa Schifanella.  The Director of Residency Programs is responsible for the coordination of all activities related to the administration of these programs.  The Director of Residency Programs reports to the Chief of Staff and through him/her to the Dean of UABSO.  A Residency Advisory Committee advises the Dean through the Director of Residency Programs about such issues as the selection of new programs or other issues for which the Dean seeks advice in regard to residency education. 

III.            Recruitment of Residents

Beginning before classes commence in the first year, optometry students are encouraged to pursue residency training.   Students are encouraged to meet individually with the Director of Residency Programs and with other faculty members to discuss the benefits of pursuing a residency as well as specific programs which would be of interest.  The ASCO website (www.opted.org), along with its on-line directory of residency programs, is also promoted as an up-to-date source of general information on all available optometric residencies.

UABSO advertises all of its residencies in the AOA News in November and December .  The same ad will be placed in the AOSA Foresight newsletter.   

IV.            Application Requirements 

All applicants must complete and return an application by February 1.  Admission eligibility criteria include:

• Applicant must have earned an O.D. degree, or will have earned such a degree by the time of matriculation, from a Council on Optometric Education accredited school or college of optometry.
• Applicant should show evidence of a strong academic and clinical record. Applicant must furnish complete transcripts of all optometric education.
• Applicant must have passed parts I, II, and III of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry and furnish results of these examinations when they become available.
• Applicant must take and pass the Georgia Jurisprudence Exam to become eligible for a Georgia State License 
• An interview by the committee with each final applicant may be required.
• Letters of reference (3) are required from clinical faculty members that have worked directly with the student.
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Omni Eye Services of Atlanta affirms that all residency applicants are evaluated without regard to sex, race, color, creed, national origin, or non-disqualifying physical disability.

V.            Selection of Residents

Prospective residents are encouraged to visit Omni Eye Services before the application deadline.  After phone and personal interviews, and a complete review of test scores, transcripts and recommendations, a decision will be made by the center director.

The successful applicant will then be notified by phone or mail and a contract sent out.  The contract must be signed and returned by the applicant within a specified period of time.

All records related to residency application and selection are filed in the office of the Residency Supervisor Dr. Ajamian.

VI.            Orientation

Orientation is conducted during the first week of the program.  Since Omni Eye Services considers Residents full-time temporary employees, they are entitled to certain benefits, as of this writing through Novamed EyeCare, Inc, in Chicago, the current owner of the practice.  Benefits will be reviewed with the Resident by the Office Administrator.  Each resident wil be oriented to UABSO and Omni residency policies and procedures outlined in the Residency Manual.  The residents use the Optometric Clinical Practice Guidelines of the American Optometric Association (available in the clinic) as clinical practice protocols for the residency.

VII.            Resident Status

A resident is a full-time temporary employee of Omni Eye Services.   A Georgia State license is required and will be issued by the Georgia State Board of Optometry after taking the law portion of the state exam.  Georgia accepts the national board exams and does not require a separate written test except as relates to the Georgia laws. Residents are covered with regard to professional liability insurance by the Novamed Group Policy, payable by Novamed.  Each resident is reimbursed up to $1500 in travel expenses for optometric meetings.  

Each residency is 13 months in duration, commencing  July 1 and ending on July 31 of the following year.  Two weeks (ten working days) of leave may be granted with prior approval of the Center Director. 

Each resident is expected to participate in residency activities 40 hours per week.  He/she is also expected to provide emergency coverage for the clinic during day, night, and weekend hours on a rotating basis .  Outside employment by the resident during the residency is allowed but must be approved by the Director and cannot conflict with on-call responsibilities.  .

VIII.            Criteria for Residency Completion

When a resident successfully completes the training program, the Director of Residency Programs recommends to the Dean the granting of a certificate.  Criteria for residency completion include:

• The resident is required to deliver a presentation at least 30 minutes in length during the Spring Conference at UABSO.
• Multiple one-hour presenations are to be delivered to Omni Externs throughout the year
• The resident is required to deliver clinical services at a level which is satisfactory to the Residency Supervisor
• The resident is required to keep a record of patient encounters.  Cases are reviewed periodically by the residency supervisor.
• The resident is required to write a paper based on original research, literature review, or a clinical case for publication in a refereed ophthalmic journal.
• The resident is expected to perform in a professional manner in the delivery of patient care services and to observe those proprieties of conduct and courtesies that are consistent with the rules and regulations governing the operation of Omni Eye Services.
• The resident is required to participate in and complete the requirements set forth in the curriculum.

IX.            Adverse Decisions and Complaints

Any resident accepted for training can be dismissed, without receiving a certificate of completion, for infractions of the rules and regulations which govern Omni Eye Services or UABSO or for any action which jeopardizes the safety of patients, personnel, or physical facilities.  Novamed policy regarding termination of employment is available from the office manager of Omni Eye Services or the Human Resources Director of Novamed, Inc. 

X.            Curriculum

It is desirable that the curriculum for each residency program be very clinically oriented.  The residents are involved in direct patient care approximately four and one-half days per week.  The remainder of the residents’ time is devoted to such academic interests as conferences, symposia, case presentations and discussion, and research.  Residents spend 40 hours per week in Omni offices, but are expected to be available for rotating emergency coverage after-hours.

Residency Conference

The following topic areas are presented to all residents in the form of conferences throughout the year.  These topics have been selected with the thought in mind of achieving a relatively equal common knowledge base.  The entire Residency Conference schedule is presented throughout the year.

These topics include but are not limited to:

• Diagnosis and management of common external eye disease
• Management of ocular emergencies and urgencies
• Diagnosis and management of open angle glaucoma
• Uveitis
• Pain management
• Pre- and post-operative management of cataract patient
• Retinal diseases
• Journal club
• Records review

Clinical Grand Rounds

It is required that the residents participate in grand rounds.  Specifically, the resident is required to present patients periodically to students and clinical faculty.  The Omni Resident will also present a talk at the UAB Resident’s Program in the Spring of each year.

Paper for Publication

All residents are required to write a paper suitable for publication in a refereed ophthalmic journal.  This paper may be a unique or unusual case report, clinical review, or original research.  This serves not only to teach residents the elements of research and paper writing but also to enrich the optometric literature. 

Clinical Teaching Experience

The resident will be very involved in clinical teaching of externs.  Currently Omni has affiliations with 12 schools and colleges of optometry, and the Resident will play an active role in their orientation, patient flow and care day to day, and formal lecturing, case presentations, and clinical workshops.  Residents may also be invited to present specific topics to optometrists and/or paraoptometrics as part of continuing education programs.

XI.            Credentials and Privileges

The resident is allowed an increasing level of independence in diagnosis and management as the residency year progresses, with supervision close at the beginning and relaxed over time.  Although each resident presents credentials and receives privileges identical to those of faculty members,  faculty member is always available for consultation when patient care is rendered by a resident.

Residents provide clinical services in accordance with the statutory provisions of the state of Georgia.  Accordingly, services include the independent use of topical and oral medications, including certain controlled substances.  The Resident is expected to obtain a DEA Registration number through the Drug Enforcement Administration.