Residency Programs
The Center for the Partially Sighted

Established: 1992

Positions: One

The Center for the Partially Sighted
6101 W. Centinela, Suite 150
Culver City, California 90230

Program Faculty

Residency Coordinator: Tina R. Mac Donald, O.D., C.D.E., F.A.A.O.

Attendings

• Bill Takeshita, O.D., F.A.A.O., C.O.V.D., (Tarzana Satellite)
• Brett Nagatani, O.D., (West Los Angeles, Tarzana Satellite)
• Angela Shihady, O.D., F.A.A.O., (Tarzana Satellite)

Mission Statement

The Center for the Partially Sighted’s Optometric Residency Program will provide the doctor with comprehensive education and clinical training to diagnose and manage the vision rehabilitation of partially sighted patients presenting with ocular and systemic conditions that includes, but is not limited to: age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, albinism, cortical vision impairment, and stroke. The program educates the resident about services for the partially sighted including group and individual counseling, orientation and mobility instruction, independent living skills training, and referrals to physical and occupational therapists, ophthalmologists, and other health care professionals.

Program Description

Program Goals

1. To train optometrists who wish to specialize in vision rehabilitation of the partially sighted.
2. To enhance the resident’s proficiency in the rehabilitative care and management of low vision patients.
3. To conduct a residency program of such excellence as to maintain full accreditation by the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association.

Program Objectives

1. To enhance the resident’s clinical proficiency and competency in the care of low vision patients through management of a wide variety of cases.
2. To develop the resident’s expertise in providing service to visually impaired infants and toddlers, many of whom are multiply handicapped.
3. To further develop experience and proficiency of the resident in managing low vision patients whose vision emanates from various ocular and systemic disease processes.

Typical Daily or Weekly Schedule in Clinic

• The residency will be one calendar year in length, beginning July 1.
• The resident’s schedule will be from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• No on-call hours.

Rotation through other Services

• Optometric care occurs within a broader context of low vision rehabilitation. The resident will be oriented to low vision care by psychologist, social workers, peer counselors, independent living instructors, and orientation and mobility specialists. The resident will then work with these individuals providing a treatment plan.
• The resident will have the opportunity to observe different forms of low vision practice including a private practice setting, the Braille Institute, and a hospital setting.
• The resident will also have the opportunity to visit with varied organizations serving the visually impaired such as the State's Department of Rehabilitation and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Type and Number of Patients

• Approximately 90% of the resident’s time is spent in direct patient care, with approximately 25–30 patient encounters each week.
• The program’s emphasis is on assessment and management of low vision patients across the spectrum of age and development. The resident will see patients from the age of 3 months to over 100 years old.
• The resident will also have a small caseload of primary care patients.

Teaching Responsibilities

The resident will precept fourth-year optometry students and assist in the education of these interns at the midpoint of the residency.

Lecturing Opportunities

• The resident will be providing didactic lectures to others on the visual rehabilitation of the partially sighted
• The resident will be responsible for bringing information gleaned from weekly VA rounds that will be discussed at weekly "after hours lectures" conducted by Dr. Tina MacDonald.

Scholarly Activities

• Provide case summaries on therapeutic regimens of partially sighted patients.
• Provide clinical instruction to fourth-year SCCO optometric interns in low vision rehabilitative optometry.
• Provide didactic lectures to others on the visual rehabilitation of the partially sighted. The resident will be responsible for bringing information gleaned from weekly VA rounds which will be discussed at weekly "after hours lectures" conducted by Dr. Tina MacDonald.
• The resident will be required to submit rough drafts of their research project by February 1 and April 1 respectively.
• The resident will be required to complete assignments from the mandatory reading list B.
• Perform the following activities relating to the College:
  • Participate in faculty seminars of the College.
  • Undertake individual study in the field of vision rehabilitation to partially sighted patients.
  • Prepare a summary report for the Director of Residency Programs and the Coordinator of Low Vision Rehabilitation Program at CPS reviewing the resident's activities toward accomplishing the program's stated objectives.

Thesis Paper

The resident will produce a paper of publishable quality

Reading List

• The curriculum includes the completion of a mandatory reading list. Readings are discussed with the staff doctors.
• A selection of articles is also provided from the M.B. Ketchum Library at SCCO.

Grand Rounds

The resident participates in the Greater Los Angeles VA Hospital Optometric Grand Rounds.

Additional Employment Opportunities

N/A

Stipend

The annual residency stipend will be approximately $32,000.

Benefits

Prerequisites

• Earned an O.D. degree, or will have earned such a degree by the time of graduation, from an accredited school or college of optometry.
• Complete transcripts of all optometric education.
• Taken and passed the Basic and Clinical Science parts of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry and furnish official copies of the results of this examination.
• An essay stating applicant's reasons for applying to the residency program should be submitted.
• Applicant must apply through the Optometric Residency Matching Services, Inc. (ORMS) and follow application guidelines. The deadline is February 1.
• A personal interview is required.
• Applicants should send application matching materials to the Optometric Residency Matching Services, Inc. (ORMS). Three letters of reference are required; two letters must be from full-time faculty members who have been most responsible for the clinical education of the applicant.

Program Accreditation

The residency is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association.

Housing

Housing is not provided, however there are many apartment buildings and referral sources available.

Local Activities & Attractions

• Santa Monica Beach - The main attraction of Santa Monica has got to be its beautiful sandy beach
• Santa Monica Pier -An iconic feature of Santa Monica that has its own amusement park.
• Palisades Park - Offering stunning ocean views, this park allows visitors to enjoy the coast from a different perspective.
• Third Street Promenade- a pedestrian street considered one of the premier shopping destinations in West Los Angeles.
• Further Afield
• UCLA/Westwood
• Malibu
• The Grove/Farmer’s Market
• Hollywood
• Universal Studios/Disneyland/Magic Mountain
• Exposition Park

Former Residents Testimonials

Contact Information for past residents available upon request.

Contact Info

Tina R. Mac Donald, O.D., C.D.E., F.A.A.O.
6101 W. Centinela, Suite 150
Culver City, California 90230
Phone: 310.988.1970 x129 • Fax: 310.988.1980
.(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)