Residency Programs
Gallup Indian Medical Center

Established: 1997

Positions: Two

Gallup Indian Medical Center, Eye Clinic
P.O. Box 1337
Gallup, NM 87305

Program Faculty

Residency Coordinator: Michael W. Davis, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Attendings:

• Brian Culligan, O.D., F.A.A.O.
• James Cox, M.D.
• Paul DeWitt, O.D.

Mission Statement

The fundamental mission of this training program is to provide qualified postdoctoral optometry practitioners with an outstanding educational experience that will nurture their development into exceptional, caring clinicians with broadened general skills and additional specialized skills.

With the guidance of GIMC Eye Clinic staff optometrists, the resident is trained to fully integrate their skills within a medical center and public health care system.

The residency program strives to create for the resident an atmosphere that fosters a compassionate appreciation for the needs of patients from all backgrounds and ages and a sense of caring for the Native American populace the resident serves.

Program Description

Program Goals

1. Strengthen the resident’s primary eye care skills
2. Provide the resident with a practical understanding of the patient care components of a health care system
3. Expand the resident’s health care knowledge base.
4. Instill in the resident an appreciation for the significance of teaching, research and scholarly activity.
5. Improve residents understanding of the Native American culture in the area.

Program Objectives

1. To ensure the resident performs a solid foundation of primary eye care evaluations. To expose the resident to a variety of interesting case presentations.
2. To familiarize the resident to the health care team concept. To ensure that the resident fully utilizes other hospital clinical and supportive services.
3. To encourage the resident to review and discuss health care issues. To expose the resident clinically to other health care disciplines.
4. To educate the resident in the process of manuscript preparation and presenting a clinical lecture.
5. To discuss with the resident the history of the Navajo people. To document the resident’s participation in or observation of Native American events in the area.

Typical Daily or Weekly Schedule in Clinic

Duration of the program: August 1 through July 31

The resident is scheduled in clinic 40 hours per week and takes call 3-5 days per month.

Here is a typical two-week schedule:

Rotation through other Services

To provide the resident with a well-rounded program, the resident interacts regularly with other hospital clinics during the program such as Emergency Room, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics.

Type and Number of Patients

The emphasis of the program is clinical assessment and management of patients of all ages in a multidisciplinary setting. About 85-90% of the resident’s time is spent in direct patient care. It is expected the resident will provide at least 1,200 patient care encounters during the residency cycle. The resident works primarily in the Optometry Department, but occasionally evaluates patients in the Emergency Room and in the in-patient ward.

The resident will follow pre- and post-operative care, observe ophthalmological surgery and disease specialties.

Teaching Responsibilities

Opportunities to augment the education of the eye clinic staff will be afforded to the resident periodically.

Lecturing Opportunities

Didactic training is emphasized through case reviews, journal clubs, discussions, and lectures.

Scholarly Activities

As required by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education, the resident is required to write a publishable paper suitable for submission to a referred professional journal. The residency program coordinator guides the resident with the topic selection and preparation for the paper.

The resident will use a patient care log to report quarterly on:

• total patient encounters
• the diversity of clinical presentations encountered
• observational, educational and direct patient care activities associated with the health care team
• the number and types of referral/consults

Requirements for Residency Completion and Awarding of Certificate

• The resident is required to keep a detailed log of all required program aspects, which will be reviewed by the SCCO Director of Residency Programs, and Gallup's Residency Coordinator.
• The resident is required to provide patient care services at a level deemed satisfactory by the Residency Coordinator and faculty, in line with the highest levels of current optometric standards of practice.
• The resident is required to participate in the Navajo Area Indian Health Service (NAIHS) Residents Journal Club.
• The resident is required to submit a paper based upon original research, literature review, and/or clinical case or cases suitable for publication in a peer reviewed optometric journal. A topic for the case report or research project must be selected by the October 3rd; the abstract of the case report or research project is due on December 1st; the 1st and 2nd draft of the paper will be submitted by March 1st and May 1st respectively; and the final paper is due on July 2nd.
• The resident is expected to deliver patient care services in a professional manner and to observe those proprieties of conduct and courtesy that are consistent with the rules and regulations governing SCCO and the IHS.
• Upon evidence of satisfactory performance in meeting all requirements of the program, the resident will be awarded a Certificate of Residency Completion by the SCCO.

Additional Employment Opportunities

The resident may engage in outside (moonlighting) activity once supervisory approval (GIMC & SCCO), New Mexico licensure and malpractice insurance are obtained. Outside activity is limited to non-workdays.

Stipend

The annual stipend is $$62,338 (GS9 step 1) for the 12-month program paid through the IHS.

Benefits

Prerequisites

• O.D. degree from accredited school of college of optometry
• Cumulative GPA:  2.50 minimum
• U.S. Citizenship
• Passage of NBEO
• Eligible for licensure as an optometrist in a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia

Application Requirements

• A completed application must be submitted to the Optometric Residency Matching Service, Inc. (ORMS) no later than February 1.
• Applicant must provide 3 letters of recommendation, CV, letter of intent, and recent transcripts to residency coordinator.
• An interview, typically in person but occasionally via phone contact, will be requested of specific candidates based upon the quality of their credentials and application information.
• All residency applicants will be evaluated without regard to sex, race, color, creed, age, national origin, or non-disqualifying physical abilities.

Program Accreditation

Fully Accredited to April 2020.

Housing

Adequate housing is available at apartments located near the hospital. Houses and rooms for rent are also available with costs ranging from $400 to $800.

Local Activities & Attractions

• Many outdoor recreational activities
• National monuments
• Tribal parks
• Historic Sites
• Nearby metropolitan areas include Albuquerque, Flagstaff, and Phoenix. Commercial airline services are currently not available to or from Gallup.

Former Residents Testimonials – Contact Info

I did my residency at Gallup Indian Medical Center from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006 and it was one of the best experiences in my career.  I thoroughly enjoyed my residency at GIMC and learned a great deal.  I came into the residency without much confidence in my skills.  I completed my residency with a little more confidence and left with knowledge and experience that I could have not received anywhere else.

There is a large variety of patient care at GIMC, from primary care to ocular disease, from pediatrics to elderly patients.  Being in a hospital setting also has its benefits.  I loved the hospital resources and the complete medical histories that were available to me to allow me to better manage my patients.  There is great support of the residency program from all the staff.  Dr. Davis is a wonderful source of information and a fantastic residency director.  I highly recommend an IHS residency for anyone who is interested in improving their clinical skills or is interested in seeing an enormous variety of patients.

Stella Lau, O.D., GIMC Resident, 2005–06

Former Residents

2010–11  Binh Nguyen, O.D.
2009–10  Matthew McGraw, O.D.
2007–08  Kristin Shimabukuro, O.D., .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
2006–07  Wills Vanray, O.D., .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
2005–06  Stella Lau, O.D., .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Michael Davis, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Residency Coordinator
Gallup Indian Medical Center, Eye Clinic
P.O. Box 1337
Gallup, NM 87305
505.722.1331 • Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Judy W.H. Tong, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Assistant Dean of Residencies
Southern California College of Optometry
2575 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Fullerton, CA 92831-1699
714.449.7429 • Fax: 714.992.7811• Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)