The mission of the residency program at Reno VA is to prepare optometrists to deliver full-scope primary care optometry by providing an advanced clinic experience beyond that gained in the Doctor of Optometry program.

Goals

Enhance the resident's skill in optometric primary care.
Strengthen the resident's expertise in the diagnosis and management of visual disorders and ocular disease.
Expand the resident's knowledge of specialized diagnostic procedures and instrumentation (i.e., fluorescein angiography, fundus photography, laboratory testing, and diagnostic imaging.)
Increase the resident's knowledge of systemic disease and treatment.
Develop the resident's presentation skills to fellow professionals.
Instill in the resident an appreciation of the importance of scholarly activity.
Provide the resident with the opportunity to become an effective clinical educator.

Time Allotments

Eye Clinic: 4.5 days per week
Neuro-ophthalmology: 2 mornings (Monday) per month (more at resident's request) (Gerald Hershewe D.O.)
Cataract Surgical Observation (Cynthia A. Ferreira M.D)
Low vision as requested: 2 days per month (more at resident's request)
IVFA clinic and IVFA interpretation
Independent study time: 4 hours per week
Ancillary clinic rotations: Minimum of 12hrs during the residency year.

Didactic

One paper of publishable quality
Four oral case presentations; the resident will be expected to travel to the program locations.
Optometry conference/Case Presentations: one time per month
Noon Medical Conferences as applicable

Benefits

Salary: $30,099
Health benefits: eligible for federal health benefits and insurance programs
Vacation: accrued at a rate of ½ day per 2 week period
Sick Leave: accrued at a rate of ½ day per 2 week period
Malpractice coverage

Application Process

All materials should be sent to Marla Plecha, OD, Chief of Optometry (see "Contact Information" below).
Register with ORMS (www.orms.org).
Register online with the Graduate Division only if you are an optometry student at a school other than UCB School of Optometry.
1. Register on-line with Graduate Division at UC Berkeley by completing the Graduate Application at sis.berkeley.edu/grdappl/grd_login_menu.
2. Click on "Create an Online Application Account."
3. For Step 2, please choose "Fall 2007."
4. You only need to fill out Form A (pages A1, A2, and A4 only). On page A2, pick Optometry Cert (Cert-Opt) as your proposed department and degree. On page A4, include both your undergraduate and optometry school information. Do not fill out Form B, C, D, E, F, G, GW, or H.
5. The $60 application fee has been waived (you do not need to complete a waiver) and the GRE is not required.
Send a copy of your Curriculum Vitae and a 1-page letter of intent.
Submit three letters of recommendation.
Provide official results of NBEO Part I and II. You may submit your request to the NBEO to forward official board scores to us. Since most of you will be applying prior to completing Part II, you should request that the NBEO hold your results until Part II scores are released. As scores are released at the beginning of February, we are aware that they will not make the Jan 15 deadline.
Provide official transcripts of all college-level course work, including undergraduate, graduate and optometry school.
Note that US citizenship is required.
Men must show proof of selective service registration; this can be obtained at (www.sss.gov). Applicants should enter their information on-line and do a screen print of the registration information and include it in your application materials.

Contact Information

Marla Plecha, OD, Chief of Optometry
Ioannis A. Lougaris Medical Center
VA Eye Clinic
330 Crampton Street
Reno, NV 89502-2597

Tel: 775-328-1743 or 775-786-7200 ext 4507
Fax: 775-337-2237
Email: marla.plecha@va.gov

Optometric Residency Program
inezb@berkeley.edu
c/o Inez Bailey, Residency Program Assistant
527 Minor Hall, School of Optometry
University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-2020