The Veterans Affairs Northern Indiana Health Care System (VANIHCS) represents the merger of two hospitals previously known as the Fort Wayne VA Medical Center and the Marion VA Medical Center. The residency program exists only at the Fort Wayne campus.
The VA hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana has been active in optometric education for over two decades. Dr. Dale Fath, in collaboration with Indiana University (IU) School of Optometry, initiated a fourth year student extern program at this facility in the early 1980’s. In 1991, Dr. Timothy Messer expanded the student program by establishing an affiliation with Michigan College of Optometry (MCO). Under the direction of Dr. Sara Schamerloh, the student program continued to expand in complexity with the addition of state-of-the-art equipment, space, fellowship trained ophthalmology consultants, residency trained optometric staff, ophthalmic technicians and clerical support. In 2002, an optometric residency program in ocular disease and primary eye care was established and in 2007, this program was expanded with the addition of a second resident. Through participation in lectures, journal clubs, supervised patient care, hands-on procedural experience and independent study, the residents achieve advanced competency in eye, vision and health care.
The clinic population is comprised primarily of males in their 6th – 8th decades of
life. The prevalence of ocular disease in this population is quite high. While some
“normal” eyes are examined, the vast majority of patients present with one or more
chronic ocular conditions including: glaucoma, ocular hypertension, retinal vascular
disease, age-related macular degeneration and/or cataracts. A significant number
of patients also present with acute conditions including various infectious and inflammatory
conditions of the eye, ocular trauma and neuro-ophthalmic conditions including tumors,
cranial nerve palsies and optic neuropathy.
Four full time optometrists, two part-time optometrists, two optometry residents, and two optometry students provide primary and secondary ophthalmic care. Common services include: dilated eye examinations, refraction, automated perimetry, A/B scan ultrasonography, corneal pachymetry, anterior/posterior segment digital photography, low vision rehabilitation, diabetic tele-retinal screenings, traumatic brain injury screenings, pre/post operative care, minor anterior segment procedures, HRT 3, time and spectral domain OCT and additional ophthalmic imaging modalities including infra-red, red-free and auto-fluorescence. Secondary and tertiary eye care is provided on site by four ophthalmology consultants (two general practice surgeons, one corneal subspecialist and one oculoplastics subspecialist). Common ophthalmologic services include: cataract extraction with intraocular lens implant, ptosis repair, blepharoplasty, entropion/ectropion repair, excision of malignant and benign lid lesions and ophthalmic laser procedures. Additional specialty ophthalmology services, including neuro-ophthalmology, glaucoma, and retina/uvea, are provided by local specialists or staff at the Indianapolis VA Medical Center.
Mission
The optometry residency at the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System will provide post doctorate clinical experiences resulting in advanced competency in the evaluation, treatment and management of a wide variety of ocular conditions, with a special emphasis on ocular disease. The residency will equip the resident with the necessary tools for life-long learning, thereby enabling continued advanced level competency throughout his or her professional career. Furthermore, the residency will highlight the trainee’s responsibility for future contributions to the profession of optometry.
Goals, Objectives, and Outcomes
Goal 1: Provide experience in the evaluation and management of patients with ocular disease or ocular manifestations of systemic disease, utilizing advanced diagnostic and treatment modalities when indicated.
Objective 1: The resident will provide care for a large number of patients with complex and/or multiple ocular problems.
Objective 2: The resident will become proficient in performing and interpreting advanced diagnostic procedures
Objective 3: The resident will become proficient in performing and interpreting advanced therapeutic procedures
Goal 2: Enhance the resident’s ability to communicate with patients and other health care providers in a way that promotes patient-centered care.
Objective 1: The resident will promote effective patient-centered care by effectively communicating with patients and their families.
Objective 2: The resident will promote collaborative patient-centered care by effectively communicating with other health care providers.
Goal 3: Provide an opportunity for the resident to function as a valuable member of the health care team in a way that promotes appropriate resource utilization and effective, coordinated care.
Objective 1: The resident will practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation without compromising quality of care.
Objective 2: The resident will be aware of health care system resources and will collaborate with other health professionals to ensure provision of comprehensive patient-focused care.
Objective 3: The resident will be exposed to a multidisciplinary model of low vision care.
Goal 4: Foster continuous patient care improvement through quality improvement activities including the resident’s self-evaluation.
Objective 1: The resident will be responsible for life-long learning and their own practice assessment and improvement strategies.
Objective 2: The resident will participate in quality improvement activities within the hospital and utilize the information to improve patient care.
Goal 5: Facilitate the resident’s acquisition, analysis and application of current medical and scientific information to improve their patient care practices.
Objective 1: The resident will develop critical thinking and problem solving skills that will enhance their ability to form differential diagnoses and management plans.
Objective 2: The resident will improve his/her knowledge of basic and medical sciences and apply this knowledge in the evaluation, diagnosis and management of patients.
Objective 3: The resident will demonstrate the ability to acquire, analyze and apply scientific and medical literature to improve the care of patients, and will utilize information technology where applicable.
Goal 6: Provide resident with experiences and skills that will facilitate continued contribution to the profession of optometry through a variety of venues including: teaching, scholarly activities and involvement in community and professional organizations.
Objective 1: The resident will facilitate the learning of optometry students and other health care professionals through participation in scholarly activities.
Objective 2: The resident will facilitate the learning of optometry students and other health care trainees by participating in preceptor assignments.
Objective 3: The resident will be exposed to community and professional organizations and will be given the opportunity to participate.
Application and Admissions Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for VA residencies must be citizens of the United States* and have received a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from an ACOE accredited School or College of Optometry by July 1 of the residency year. Prior to completion of the residency, it is expected that the applicant will have passed the National Board exams and will obtain state licensure (in any state).
*Due to federal regulations, funded VA residency positions are limited to US citizens.
Applicants must utilize the national Optometric Residency Match (ORMatch). Detailed
instructions regarding the application procedure, supporting documents and the matching
algorithm may be found on the organization’s internet home page (ORMatch). Application requirements include:
*Copies of transcripts are acceptable in the initial phase of the matching process. Applicants who match with the program will be asked to provide official transcripts prior to the start of the program.
The application deadline is February 1 of the match year. Applications received after 5 PM Pacific Time, February 1 of the match year, will be considered and are subject to late registration fees through ORMS. Applications received after 5 PM Pacific Time, 3 days prior to the match, will not be processed in the match. Additional details are available on the ORMS website.
Following receipt of the necessary documents and interviews (preferably in person), the faculty members collaborate to choose and rank candidates. The three primary criteria that are used in candidate selection are:
Non-discrimination Policy
This program follows established organization wide non-discrimination policies, as detailed in the VA Employee Handbook, February 2002:
“The VA is committed to an aggressive, affirmative policy to ensure equal employment opportunity and advancement to all qualified persons. Federal anti-discrimination laws are followed and enforced. Both the letter and the spirit of equal opportunity are observed in employment, assignment, and training opportunities.
Federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, age (40 and over), or mental or physical disability. If you believe that you
have been discriminated against for any of these reasons, you have a right to complain
to an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) counselor within 45 days of the incident
giving rise to the complaint.”
Curriculum
The program curriculum is comprised of four basic components: clinical instruction, didactic instruction, teaching and research.
Clinical Activities
Over 80% of the resident’s scheduled time is dedicated to clinical instruction, and
the vast majority of this time is spent providing direct patient care in various outpatient
optometry settings, including the following clinics: established patients, consult,
acute care, diabetic screening, post-operative and low vision. The resident is responsible
for providing comprehensive care, including:
The resident’s experience is enhanced by daily case discussions with faculty and review of clinical images (photographs, OCTs, FAs, MRIs, etc.) during clinic and conference time. Strong emphasis is placed on development of critical thinking and problem solving - two skills that are essential for independent practice and life-long learning. Acquisition, analysis and application of current medical and scientific information to improve patient care practices is expected of the resident, and may be self initiated by the resident, or directed by the attending faculty.
Observational interdisciplinary rotations assist the resident in understanding the role of other health professionals. Rotations may include: dermatology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac stress testing, emergency room, and imaging (CT and ultrasound). The resident will also have the opportunity to observe ophthalmic surgery and/or laser.
While not a formal part of the curriculum, participation in a Lions Club/VOSH sponsored mission trip is encouraged.
Didactic Activities
The resident participates in weekly optometry conference with attending staff and students. This conference utilizes a variety of didactic instruction methods including: case presentations and slide review, journal club, interactive faculty lectures, and resident/student presentations.
The resident is encouraged to attend outside continuing education offerings through the affiliate, as well as those offered by the American Academy of Optometry, the local optometric society and other academic or professional organizations.
It is expected that the resident will undertake a variety of independent study activities. To facilitate the resident’s efforts, a large library of medical and ophthalmic resources is readily available.
Scholarly activities
The following scholarly activities are required of the resident in order to satisfy program completion criteria.
Additional scholarly activities may include: journal club, lectures, and case presentations.
Teaching
The resident is responsible for clinical instruction and supervision of 4th year professional students from Indiana University and Michigan College Optometry during the latter part of their residency year. At minimum, the resident will be assigned to work with the students an average of one half day per week for 6 months.
Resident’s Schedule
This schedule may vary according to patient care and training needs. A minimum of 40 hours per week is required. The resident participates in the 3 hour student/resident conference each week and a minimum of 1.5 hours per week is allotted for research and development. Most of the remaining time will be spent in direct patient care. When assigned to direct patient care, the resident will also be responsible for performing specialty diagnostic testing and for seeing the majority of the unscheduled/emergency patients.
After the initial phase of the program, the resident’s patient care hours may include 2- 8 hours per week of clinical instruction of the 4th year optometry students. The exact amount is variable and depends on the resident’s experience and level of interest.
At the discretion of the Residency Supervisor, additional time will be allotted for specialty clinics (ophthalmology, pre/post operative care or low vision), surgical observation, special didactic offerings and observation of other disciplines within the hospital.
Outside of normal clinic hours, clinic responsibilities will be assigned on an “as needed” basis to cover patients requiring close weekend follow up, or to provide coverage for acute ocular emergencies that present through the medical center emergency room. Attending staff back-up call is provided at all times to the resident. When the resident is not able to provide evening or weekend coverage due to illness or out-of town obligations, the attending staff will provide coverage.
Staff
The professional staff is comprised of 4 full time optometrists, two part-time optometrists
(totaling .6 FTE), two optometry residents and four part-time fee basis ophthalmologists.
Ancillary staff includes two full time clerks and three full time ophthalmic technicians.
There are a number of other employees throughout the hospital who provide support
for the program, including the surgical service secretary and administrative assistant,
as well as staff from the medical library, central supply and processing, pharmacy,
lab, radiology, transcription, coding/billing, release of information, information
technology and media production. Additionally, an occupational therapist provides
vision rehabilitation services through the low vision program and an in-house contract
optician provides ophthalmic dispensing support. Library and media production services
are also available through MCO.
Clinical Teaching Faculty (Residency Program)
Sara Schamerloh, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Dr. Schamerloh has been involved in optometric education for almost 25 years. After graduating from the Indiana University (IU) School of Optometry in 1987, she completed a one-year residency in hospital-based optometry at the Jesse Brown VA (formerly known at the West Side VA) hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Following the residency, Dr. Schamerloh served as full time faculty at the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) where she was responsible for the Physical Assessment course, Geriatrics course, Clinical Grand Rounds and clinical education of 3rd and 4th year optometry students. In 1990, she returned to the Jesse Brown VA as a full time attending staff member. In addition to precepting students and residents, she was responsible for coordination of student and resident educational activities under the direction of Dr. Thomas Stelmack.
In 1994, Dr. Schamerloh transferred to the VA in Fort Wayne, Indiana (now known as VA Northern Indiana Health Care System or VANIHCS) where she continued her educational activities through lectures at IU and clinical preceptorship of IU and MCO students. In 2002, she established the optometric residency program at VANIHCS and continues to serve as the residency program supervisor. Additionally, Dr. Schamerloh is co-director of the IU and MCO student program and the lead optometrist for VANIHCS. She holds an adjunct clinical faculty position with IU and and is a clinical professor at MCO.
Dr. Schamerloh has authored numerous paper/posters and publications and has lectured on the local and national level. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), past vice-chair of the AAO’s admittance committee, past president (and current board member) of ORMS, past chair (and current committee member) of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry’s Advanced Competence in Medical Optometry (ACMO) examination, past-chief examiner for the NBEO Clinical Skills Examinations and a member of the National Association of VA Optometrists (NAVAO).
Aaron Case, O.D.
Dr. Aaron Case is a 2006 graduate of Indiana University School of Optometry. He completed a residency in Ocular Disease and Primary Care at VANIHCS in 2007 and he joined the VANIHCS residency faculty in 2008.
He holds faculty appointments at Indiana University School of Optometry (Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor) and Michigan College of Optometry (Clinical Associate Professor).
Dr. Case has been involved in clinical and didactic instruction of students and residents at NIHCS since 2008. Prior to that, he served as a preceptor for 4th year optometry students (2007), an undergraduate laboratory assistant in physical and organic chemistry (1997-2000 and a classical history tutor (1998-2000).
Dr. Case participated in laboratory research at the IU School of Optometry (mammalian retinal morphology) and he served as a clinical research assistant for a pilot study involving antioxidants and endothelial dysfunction (Cardiology Group in Fort Wayne, In). Additionally, he has collaborated with researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to develop the phenotype for Sticklers, subtype 2. Dr. Case’s research in the area of Stickler Syndrome was presented at the American Academy of Optometry in 2006. He also presented a poster on Fundus Autofluorescence imaging at the American Academy of Optometry in 2009.
In addition to clinical and didactic instruction of students and residents, Dr. Case coordinates the optometric continuing education program and optometric traumatic brain injury services at our facility. He is a candidate for fellowship in the AAO and is a member of the NAVAO.
Wendy Moyle, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Dr. Wendy Moyle completed a one-year residency in hospital-based and rehabilitative optometry at the West Side (now Jesse Brown) VA in Chicago, Illinois and the Hines Blind Rehabilitation Center in Hines, Illinois following her graduation from the MCO in 1997. She is a clinical associate professor at MCO and an adjunct clinical assistant professor at IU. Dr. Moyle has been actively involved with the didactic and clinical instruction of students and residents since she joined our team in 1998.
She serves as the director of low vision services and coordinator of ophthalmology and tele-retinal services at our facility. She has lectured on the local and regional levels, has participated in low vision research, and has co-authored several posters that have been presented at the annual AAO and SECO meetings.
She is a fellow of the AAO, the vice-chair of the AAO admittance committee, an examiner for the NBEO Clinical Skills Examination, a member of the NAVAO and has successfully passed the NBEO’s Advanced Competency in Medical Optometry (ACMO) examination.
Traci Seng, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Following graduation from MCO in 1997, Dr. Traci Seng completed a one-year residency in ocular disease at the VA Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia. She then served as the Residency Supervisor and student program coordinator at the WBJ Dorn VAMC in Columbia, South Carolina, where she was also Chief of the Optometry Department. She transferred to VANIHCS in 2001.
Dr. Seng has over 12 years of experience in didactic and clinical instruction of students and residents and she holds faculty appointments with IU (Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor) and MCO (Clinical Associate Professor). She has lectured on a local and national level and has co-authored several posters/publications.
At NIHCS, she serves as the co-director of the optometry student program and coordinates numerous administrative aspects of the clinic. She has also served as a regional consultant for Optometry within the VA. She is a fellow of the AAO, a member of NAVAO, an examiner for the NBEO Clinical Skills Examination and has successfully passed the NBEO’s Advanced Competency in Medical Optometry (ACMO) examination.
Physical Facilities and Equipment
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Patient waiting areas |
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Clerk’s office |
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Auxiliary Examination Equipment (various locations) |
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Patient restroom |
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Conference room |
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Imaging and special testing room |
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Visual field room |
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Pre-testing room |
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Fully equipped examination room with ophthalmic lasers |
-CO2 laser available in OR for oculoplastic cases |
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Fully equipped examination room with low vision equipment |
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6 Fully equipped examination rooms |
-Heine binocular indirect ophthalmoscopes, Haag Streit biomicroscopes 900 series, applanation tonometers, reliance chair/stand units and Marco remote control acuity projectors
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Patient education corner |
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Private offices for program supervisor and faculty |
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Tech work station |
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Staff restroom |
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Staff break room |
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Other |
Numerous networked computers are located in offices and clinical areas (including each exam lane). All are connected to networked laser printers. From these computers, residents may access the following:
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Educational and Informational Resources
The program enjoys a wide variety of current educational and informational resources
that are readily available to the resident.
Resident’s Rights and Responsibilities
The resident is entitled to the following:
Resident Tour of Duty and Privileges
Malpractice insurance is the sole responsibility of the resident or non-VA employing facility.
Resident Responsibilities
The resident is responsible for the following:
6. To refuse fees or payment in any form from patients, staff physicians or others
Additional important information may be found on the following web sites:
Department of Veterans Affairs
National Association of VA Optometrists (NAVAO)
Description of VA optometric residencies and directory of programs: Follow link entitled “residencies”
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)
Commonly asked questions about optometric residencies, residency directory and several other residency related links: Follow link entitled “Residency Programs”
Accreditation Council on Optometric Education
List of accredited residency programs; Questions or concerns may be addressed to: ACOE@aoa.org
Optometric Residency Matching Service (ORMS)
http://www.optometryresident.org/
Matching forms and residency directory
Michigan College of Optometry (MCO)
http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/colleges/michopt/education-programs/Education-Programs.htm
Summary of MCO affiliated residency programs, including the Ocular Disease/Primary Care Residency at the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System in Fort Wayne, Indiana
National Board of Examiners in Optometry – ACMO examination
http://www.optometry.org/acmo_description.cfm
Advanced Competence in Medical Optometry (ACMO) Examination - For Doctors of Optometry who have completed or who are in the process of completing an ACOE-accredited residency program. Also open to Optometrists who are actively involved in the training and education of VA optometry residents or who are clinically privileged to provide optometric patient care services to VA patients.
Fort Wayne, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Relocation information (apartments, utilities, etc.)
For additional information contact:
Sara Schamerloh, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Residency Program Supervisor
VA Northern Indiana Health Care System
Email: sara.schamerloh@va.gov
