Established: 2022
Number of positions: 1
Northwest Eye Surgeons
795 N. 5th Ave.
Sequim, WA 98382
PROGRAM FACULTY
Residency Coordinator: Davina Kuhnline, OD
Attending Physicians: Kirk Thompson, OD; Maximilian Psolka, MD
MISSION STATEMENT
This residency program seeks to enhance each residents’ clinical expertise in diagnosis and management of a broad range of diseases and disorders of the eye, adnexa, and visual system while cultivating a passion for continued professional development.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The residency program in ocular disease at Northwest Eye Surgeons aims to advance the competency of graduate optometric physicians in the medical management of complex ocular diseases and surgical co-management in a supportive and enjoyable learning environment. It seeks to prepare the resident for a successful career in optometric practice, and to serve the profession as a leader in the optometric community. It provides the opportunity to diagnose, treat, and manage a wide range of ocular pathology including but not limited to cataract, glaucoma, retinal disease, corneal disorders, dry eye, neurological conditions, uveitis, and trauma.
Our unique MD-OD partnership model allows the resident to work closely with ophthalmologists to provide pre-surgical planning and post-operative care. In addition to direct patient care, residents will observe clinic or surgery in subspecialties including glaucoma, cornea, cataracts, oculoplastics, and pediatrics at our Northwest Eye Surgeons locations in the greater Seattle area. The resident may also have the opportunity for observation with outside subspecialists.
The program is located within a medical/surgical referral center in Sequim, Washington. The clinic has 9 exam lanes and is associated with an ambulatory surgery center.
PROGRAM GOALS
- Ensure the resident achieves advanced expertise in the diagnosis and management of diseases and disorders of the eye, adnexa, and visual system.
- Ensure the resident obtains a broad exposure to ophthalmic subspecialties.
- Ensure the resident obtains experience discussing management of patient care with other care providers.
- Promote an interest and understanding of the value of continued professional development.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
- The resident will experience no less than 2,000 patient encounters in a secondary care setting, will practice to the full extent of their licensure, and will make referrals when appropriate.
- The resident will order laboratory tests or imaging studies as needed.
- The resident will see scheduled patients and emergency add-on patients.
- The resident will provide after hours on-call coverage no more than 1 week per month.
- The resident will acquire hands-on experience in techniques such as gonioscopy, epilation, punctal plug placement, foreign body removal, rust ring removal, OCT interpretation, VF interpretation, fundus photography, pachymetry, and cranial nerve testing.
- The resident will observe ophthalmic subspecialties in clinic and/or surgery approximately one day per month.
- The resident will prepare and present to colleagues two lectures that are 50-minutes in length.
- The resident will attend the American Academy of Optometry Meeting.
- The resident will prepare a publishable quality research paper or case report and will be encouraged to present this at a national optometric meeting.
- The resident will participate in journal article review once per month on average.
- The resident will attend case reviews once per month on average.
- The resident will prepare and deliver at least two 15-minute staff training lectures.
- The resident will complete one surgical or clinical outcomes analysis.
- The resident will participate in the Optometric Physicians of Washington.
- The resident will complete quarterly self, faculty, and program assessments.
RESIDENCY SCHEDULE
The residency starts July 1 and terminates June 30.
Clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The resident will spend 4.5 days per week on direct patient care (other than observational experiences). At least one half-day per week will be spent on other didactic or scholarly activities
The majority of the time will be spent at the Sequim office, however, travel to other offices will be necessary for observational experiences (approximately 12 times per year). The resident will cover after-hours calls no more than one week per month.
Journal club discussions, grand rounds/case reviews, and workshops will be held at lunch, when possible, otherwise after hours. The majority of the resident’s time will be spent at the Sequim office. Travel to other offices will be necessary for most observational experiences.
RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES
Clinical Activities
Direct patient care
Subspecialty observation
Surgical observation
Didactic Activities
Journal review once per month on average
Case review once per month on average
Workshop once per month on average
Scholarly Activities
Publishable quality research paper or case report
50-minute lecture (x2) for colleagues
15-minute lecture (x2) for staff
Attend American Academy of Optometry Meeting
Surgical or Clinical Outcomes Analysis
STIPEND & BENEFITS
Stipend: $55,000
Paid leave: 5 days
Paid holidays: 8 days
Paid time off to attend American Academy of Optometry Meeting: 4 days*
(*Additional time off for CE or other activities may be granted by NWES)
Continuing education stipend: $1,000
Healthcare insurance
Malpractice insurance
401K
AOA, OPW, and local society dues ($35 for OD residents)
PROGRAM PREREQUISITES & REQUIREMENTS
Note that all residency applicants will be evaluated without regard to sex, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, age, national origin, or non-disqualifying physical disabilities.
- Applicants must have earned an OD degree or will have earned such a degree by the time of graduation, from an accredited school or college of optometry.
- Applicants must have attained or must currently have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0 for their optometric education
- Applicants must have taken and passed Parts I, II, and III, and TMOD of the NBEO prior to the start of the residency.
- The applicant must have a valid WA license to practice optometry or have met the necessary requirements to have a valid WA license, by July 01.
- Applicants must register with the Optometry Residency Match program.
- A personal interview is required. The applicant should contact the residency program coordinator (Dr. Davina Kuhnline) to schedule an appointment for the interview.
- Applicants must be citizens of the United States of America.
Required paperwork for residency applicants to be sent to Dr. Davina Kuhnline, Residency Coordinator:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letter of intent
- Three (3) letters of recommendation preferably from instructors who are familiar with your clinical work
- Official optometry school transcripts up to the time of your application
- Official NBEO scores
SELECTION PROCESS
- The Residency Coordinator and attending physicians decide which candidates to rank for the match and determine the sequential ranking of those candidates based on the application materials, the on-site interview, and recommendation letters. Applicants are scored in each category as Unsatisfactory, Satisfactory, Above Satisfactory, and Exceptional. Candidates are ranked according to the following categories and weight:
GPA 20%
NBEO Scores 20%
Letters of Recommendation 20%
Interview 40% - Final candidate selection is submitted to ORMatch by the Residency Coordinator.
- ORMatch contacts the Residency Coordinator with the results of the match.
- The Residency Coordinator contacts the matched candidate within 1 week to confirm their intent to enroll in the residency program.
REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENCY COMPLETION & AWARDING OF CERTIFICATE
- Patient care must be satisfactory or outstanding with steady improvement throughout the residency, based on attending physician and Residency Coordinator evaluations.
- The resident is required to write a research paper or case report of publishable quality suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed professional journal.
- Write and present two continuing education lectures that are each 50-minutes in length.
- Give two educational lectures to staff that are each 15-minutes in length.
- Complete a Surgical or Clinical Outcomes Analysis.
- The resident is required to attend a national optometric educational meeting (American Academy of Optometry).
- The resident is required to submit all paperwork and evaluations in a timely manner.
PROGRAM ACCREDITATION
The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education granted the program the status of “accredited” in 2023. The next scheduled site visit will take place in June 2031. The review by the residency program will be submitted in the annual report on or before September 1st. For more information on accreditation status, please visit the ACOE website (http://www.theacoe.org) or contact the ACOE via postal mail, email, or phone at:
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
CONTACT INFORMATION
Davina Kuhnline, OD
Residency Coordinator
Northwest Eye Surgeons
795 N. 5th Ave.
Sequim, WA 98382
509-879-7025•• Fax: 360-683-2320 •• email: dkuhnline@nweyes.com
Judy W.H. Tong, OD, FAAO
Assistant Dean of Residencies
Southern California College of Optometry at
Marshall B. Ketchum University
2575 Yorba Linda Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92831
714.463.7568 •• Fax: 714.992.7811 •• email: jtong@ketchum.edu
CURRENT RESIDENT
Bethany Li, OD
bethany.li@nweyes.com
PAST RESIDENTS
- My Huynh, OD
- Tara Shakeri, OD