Established: 1983
Positions: 4

West LA VA Healthcare Center (Map)
Optometry Dept. (123)
Eyecare Center Bldg. 304 Room 2-111
11301 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA  90073

Program Faculty

Coordinator: Pauline F. Ilsen, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Attendings:

• Chief of Optometry:  David Bright, O.D., F.A.A.O.
• Chief of Low Vision Services, Teresa Lim, O.D.
• Assistant Chief of Optometry, Pauline F. Ilsen, O.D., F.A.A.O.

eTour

For a virtual tour of the West Los Angeles VA Health Care Center facilities, please click here.

Mission Statement

To provide the highest quality of compassionate, timely primary and secondary eye care services to veterans in a hospital-based environment and to educate optometric interns and residents for national practice, as well as other members of the Medical Staff and associated health care trainees.

Program Description

Program Goals, Objectives and Outcome Measures for Residentss

I. GOAL: To develop advanced competency in primary and secondary eye care services to patients in an interdisciplinary health care setting.

1. Objective: to gain experience in direct optometric patient care.
   1. Outcome measure: Each resident will see at minimum 800 patient encounters at Optometry Clinic, Community Living Centers (“CLCs”—nursing homes), and Geriatric (GRECC) inpatient ward.
   2. Outcome measure: Each resident will see at minimum
      1. 20 therapeutic contact lens clinic patient encounters
      2. 12 Vision Rehabilitation/Low Vision Clinic patient encounters
2. Objective: to gain experience interdisciplinary patient care.
   1. Outcome measure: The resident will consult with other clinics and primary care providers regarding provision of patient care and provide optometric care to those patients for whom optometric consultation has been requested by other Clinics.
   2. Outcome measure: The resident will review and order laboratory and radiological studies as indicated for diagnosis and management. At least 3 orders will be placed by the resident
   3. Outcome measure: The resident will participate in at least 30 team meetings at GRECC, CLC 215 (nursing home), and CLC 213 (nursing home) as follows:
      • 8 GRECC Inpatient meetings  with a minimum of 30 patient reviews
      • 8 GRECC Outpatient meetings
      • 8 CLC 215 meetings and 6 CLC 213 meetings with a minimum of 50 patient reviews
3. Objective: to attend and participate in optometric primary care didactic and clinical education.
   1. Outcome measure: The resident will attend/participate in the Optometry Clinical Seminars Education Program, completing at least 90% of the program hours
   2. Outcome measure: The Resident will participate in a Clinical Seminars end-of-year review question-and-answer exercise.
   3. Outcome measure: The Resident will respond to questions posed by Attendings regarding optometric primary care.
   4. Outcome measure: The Resident’s proficiency in advanced procedures will be monitored by supervising faculty in optometric workshops
   5. Outcome measure: The Resident will attend and participate in weekly Optometry Clinic Discussions, eRounds, and Case Reviews.

II. GOAL: To develop primary optometric diagnostic and management skills of patients with ocular disease, ophthalmic manifestations of systemic disease, and ophthalmic side effects of systemic medications in an interdisciplinary health care setting.

1. Objective: to gain experience in direct optometric patient care. See above.
2. Objective: to gain experience interdisciplinary patient care. See above.
3. Objective: to gain experience in administrative and quality assurance activities.
   1. Outcome measure: The Resident will maintain an activity log and submit a quarterly activity report to the Residency Program coordinator and SCCO Residencies Director reflecting the resident’s activities toward accomplishing the program’s stated objectives.
   2. At least 10 cases per resident will be presented and discussed at Optometry Case Review
4. Objective: to attend and participate in interdisciplinary didactic and clinical education.
   1. Outcome measure: The resident will attend a minimum of 6 Neurology Grand Rounds
   2. Outcome measure: The resident will attend a minimum of 4 GRECC didactic lecture
   3. Outcome measure: The resident will attend a minimum of 8 Diabetic Clinic lectures
   4. Outcome measure: The resident will attend a minimum of 16 Fluorescein Angiography Conferences

III. GOAL: To participate as a primary care member of an interdisciplinary health care team and to promote interdisciplinary management of patients presenting with highly complex and inter-related ophthalmic and systemic conditions and thus develop an understanding of the inter-relationships of the roles of the various health care disciplines contributing to the care of the patient.

1. Objective: to gain experience in interdisciplinary health care. See above.
2. Objective: to participate in interdisciplinary didactic and clinical education. See above.
3. Objective: To serve as the optometric liaison at GRECC, CLCs, Diabetic Clinic, and with other healthcare providers at the West Los Angeles

IV. GOAL: To contribute to the health care community through scholarship and teaching.

1. Objective: to develop clinical teaching skills.
   1. Outcome Measure: The resident will participate in a Clinical Precepting workshop
   2. Outcome Measure: The resident will precept 4th year Optometry students in clinic under the supervision of an Attending.
   3. Outcome Measure: The resident will precept medical trainees at GRECC and at the Eyecare Center with an emphasis on: ophthalmic manifestations of systemic disease; ophthalmic side effects of systemic medications; detection, preliminary diagnosis, and appropriate referral of common ophthalmic disorders.
2. Objective: to develop didactic teaching skills.
   1. Outcome Measure: When invitied, the resident will present a lecture on diabetic eye disease to the Diabetic Clinic interdisciplinary care team.
   2. Outcome Measure: The resident will present at least one lecture to Optometry Interns at Optometry Discussion or eRounds
   3. Outcome Measure: The Resident will present at least one case at Optometry Clinical Seminars
3. Objective: to gain experience in Clinical Research/Scholarly Activities.
   1. Outcome Measure: The resident will complete a thesis paper of publishable quality.
   2. Outcome Measure: The resident is encouraged but not required to attend the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry, American Optometric Association, or equivalent
   3. Outcome measure: The Resident will read a minimum of 10 journal articles per quarter.
   4. Outcome measure: the Resident will participate in the SCCO Library’s circulation lists for journals.
   5. Outcome Measure: The Resident will research literature on various topics as discussed through the course of patient care and discussions, and as assigned by Program Coordinator.

Typical Daily or Weekly Schedule in Clinic

Attending and Resident Schedule

Case Presentations: MON 7:45-8:15 AM RM 2-118
e-Rounds: FRI 7:45-8:15 AM RM 2-118
Case Reviews: FRI 8:15-8:45 AM RM 2-118
“late”= Stay until all AM/PM patients are finished

Rotation One: July 1 Through September 30
Rotation Two: October 1 Through December 31
Rotation Three: Jan 1 Through March 31
Rotation Four: April 1 Through June 30

GRECC Resident rotates to TCL
CLC Resident rotates GRECC
Low Vision Resident takes CLC
TCL Resident takes Low Vision

*Description of Rotations

Didactics & Discussion Sessions

Optometry Clinical Seminars & Workshops

All four residents attend Optometry Clinical Seminars and Workshops on Wednesday afternoons.  Optometry Clinical Seminars are conducted in conjunction with the LA VA Ambulatory Care Clinic, Sepulveda VA Ambulatory Care Clinic, and Santa Monica Center for the Partially Sighted Residency programs.

Conducted as a series of lectures, demonstrations, and workshops by members of the residency faculty, staff, and invited guest speakers, this program is designed to present the essential core of optometric knowledge in a manner conducive to learning and retention.  To achieve this objective, each of the sections of the course curriculum contains related aspects of basic and clinical science.

As an educational program, the Optometric Clinical Seminars serves primarily as an adjunct to optometric residency training.

All SCCO-affiliated Residents are invited to attend the Seminars.  Written approval must be received from the Chief, Optometry Department (West Los Angeles) and Chief of the respective facility's optometry program.

The Program runs 4 hours (1-5:00 PM) unless otherwise specified.

West LA VA residents are each required to do two case/topic presentations at WLAVA Seminars. 

Click here for a list of topics covered.

Case Presentations/Optometry Discussion

All WLAVA optometry residents and interns participate in Case Presentation/Optometric Discussion held on Monday morning which includes presentation by trainees of an interesting case and/or discussion of a topic.  The Discussion portion of the presentation generally includes epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, differential diagnoses for the ocular condition and (if applicable) related systemic conditions, ocular management and (if applicable) related systemic conditions, prognosis, a conclusion with clinical application, and a list of sources/references

Fluorescein Angiography Conference
Residents also attend the Fluorescein Angiography conference with Ophthalmology, conducted by the Retina Specialists on Wednesday mornings. Angiograms (and OCTs) performed during the preceding week are reviewed and interpreted by the Retina Specialists, then a patient management plan is developed.

eRounds

On Friday mornings, the West LA VA Optometry residents & interns participate in eRounds.  An eRounds typically includes presentation of one or more illustrative cases of the condition under consideration.  During the case presentations, trainees are asked to identify normal and abnormal findings, list ocular differential diagnoses, list systemic differential diagnoses when applicable, and state options for ocular (and systemic) management.  This is usually followed by a presentation of information on the topic, which may include epidemiology, presenting signs and symptoms of the condition, clinical diagnostic testing, ancillary testing, ocular and systemic management, etc. Click here for a list of topics.

Supervision & Case Reviews

West LA Optometry has three Attendings. Dr David Bright is the chief of optometry; Dr. Pauline Ilsen is the Assistant Chief of Optometry and program coordinator; Dr. Teresa Lim is the Chief of Low Vision Optometry. Drs Bright and Ilsen are at the VA full time. Dr. Lim is currently on staff half-time, on Monday afternoons, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, at West Los Angeles; during the 2nd half of the week she provides care at the Sepulveda VA Ambulatory Care Center.

At least one Optometry Attending is available for consultation while patients are being examined. There are specific guidelines for resident consultation with Attendings in regard to medication prescription, laboratory & radiology orders, consultations with other clinics, etc. Consultation with Attendings may consist of discussion of the case and examination of the patient by the Attending or of discussion only, depending on the particular circumstances of the case. Besides the standard supervision guidelines, Residents are encouraged to consult with an Attending at any time. All electronic notes written by Optometry Residents & interns are reviewed by the Optometry Attendings (Drs. Bright, Ilsen, or Lim).

On Friday mornings, the West LA VA Optometry residents and Dr. Ilsen meet for case reviews. Over the course of the week, Dr. Ilsen prints out and sets aside the Progress Notes and other relevant information (e.g., neuro-radiology report) of interesting patients seen by Optometry. This includes patients seen by residents where Dr. Ilsen saw the patient along with the resident, discussed the case with the resident, or reviewed a Progress Note for a patient seen by the resident. Residents are also asked at this meeting if there are any patients whom they would like to discuss with the group.

A case review generally involves a very brief summary of the case with an emphasis on a lesson learned, clinical pearls to be drawn from the case, suggestions for future care of the patient, protocols, etc. Occasionally the patient’s fundus photographs, anterior segment photos, fluorescein angiography, OCT, or visual fields are reviewed by the group.

Eyecare Center Facility

The Optometry and Ophthalmology Services were moved into a new EyeCare Center in January 2006, located in a newly-refurbished wing of a building that is immediately adjacent to the main hospital on the West LA VA campus. While the two services are now working side by side, Optometry maintains its professional autonomy and is administratively independent of Ophthalmology. The new Eyecare Center equipment and arrangement includes the following:

Six Optometric examination lanes
Six Ophthalmologic examination lanes
Low Vision exam lane/LV Optometrist's office
Two visual field rooms (3 Humphreys perimeters, FDT, Goldmann perimeter)
A/B ultrasound
IOLMaster
Pachymeter
Zeiss digital fundus imaging system
Orbscan corneal topographer
Heidelberg Spectralis OCT
Optical Dispensary
Optometry Residents have an office in the Administrative area of the clinic

The Low Vision Optometrist has her examination room/office within the Optometric examination area of the Eyecare Center. All low vision demonstration devices except CCTVs are stored in the Optometry Low Vision office.

As far as support staff are concerned: We have two health technicians who are primarily responsible for all optical dispensing for both services. Residents perform some minimal dispensing (for patients at nursing homes and GRECC inpatient ward). The Eyecare Center has four to five clerks for scheduling. There are "volunteers" for various minor supportive activities; the number of volunteers varies, as we occasionally get students from UCLA, the American College of Optics, and others who volunteer for limited periods of time. Substantial assistance from Ophthalmology’s health technicians is also provided in the performance of automated perimetry and dispensing responsibilities, as well as maintenance of clinic supplies, equipment, etc.

Vision Rehabilitation Program Staff

The Vision Rehabilitation program was expanded in September 2008. We currently have the following Low Vision staff located at West LA VA:

Director for all Vision Rehab services within the Greater LA area (Jane Merrill, Ph.D.)
Part-time Blind Rehab Outpatient Specialist (BROS)
Low Vision Secretary
Orientation & Mobility specialist

There is an additional BROS staff person based at the Sepulveda VA who comes to West LA on occasion. He is the Low Vision representative on the Polytrauma/Traumatic Brain Injury patient care team. He refers TBI patients with visual problems to WLAVA Optometry.

Ophthalmology Trainees and Staff

Ophthalmology has four Resident trainees from UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute who rotate approximately every 6 weeks. There is one 1st year resident, two 2nd year residents, and one 3rd year resident. Additionally, Ophthalmology has fellows in Uveitis, Retina, Cornea, and Oculoplastics who spend some time in the Eyecare Center.

Subspecialty Ophthalmology clinics include: Retina, Cornea/Anterior Segment, Uveitis,
Oculoplastics, Neuro-Ophthalmology, and Glaucoma, as well as PDT and laser. Part-time
subspecialty Ophthalmology Attendings include: one uveitis specialist, three glaucoma specialists, four retina specialists, three cornea/anterior segment specialists, two neuro-ophthalmology specialists, three Oculoplastics specialists, as well as three general ophthalmologists.  Ophthalmology is good about providing follow-up information on patients referred to them and are quite generous in accommodating same-day requests for consultation. Optometry patients get returnedto Optometry when their care with Ophthalmology has been completed.

Ophthalmology has 5-6 health technicians who provide pretesting and ancillary testing for the ophthalmology residents. These technicians have been quite willing to assist Optometry when needed with pretesting and other procedures as their availability permits.

Rotation through other Services

Community Living Center (on-campus nursing homes)
Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC)
Diabetic Clinic (Diabetic Clinic didactic, during CLC rotation)
Neurology (Neurology Grand Rounds, during Contact Lens rotation)
Retina Clinic (Fluorescein Angiography Conference during GRECC, Low Vision, and Contact Lens rotations)
½-day observation in other services may be arranged on an individual basis during the resident’s Administrative time (Dermatology, Anaplastology, Neuro-Radiology, Radiology, others).

Type and Number of Patients

The program emphasizes geriatrics, ocular & systemic pathology, and interdisciplinary health care. Our patients tend to have multiple complex, inter-related health problems; it is quite common to see the ophthalmic manifestations of systemic diseases and to be looking for ocular toxicity from systemic medications.

Our patients often have common chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and COPD. Additionally, the West LA VA has a large neuropsychiatric program; we have many patients with a history of drug & alcohol abuse, stroke, PTSD, neoplasia, seizure disorder, dementia, multiple sclerosis, etc. Our facility has an emphasis on tertiary care.

We have full therapeutic drug prescribing, laboratory, and radiology clinical privileges. As part of an inter-disciplinary healthcare team, we often receive consultations from other clinics and we often discover systemic problems which require consultation to other specialties. We have good working relationships with several other disciplines.

Each Resident is assigned to general optometric primary eyecare (or precepting) at the Eyecare Center in addition to the Rotation-specific activities in other locations on campus and in specialty clinics.

Each resident is required to have a minimum total of 800 patient encounters to earn the residency certificate. Most residents easily exceed this minimum. The number of patient encounters per day varies greatly depending on the rotation and the day’s scheduled activities. Residents may typically see at least 2-4 and at most 6-8 patients per half-day of patient care.

Click for demographic patient information

Teaching Responsibilities

• Residents are assigned to approximately one half-day per week of precepting optometric interns.
• Residents are encouraged to show medical trainees interesting ocular pathology while at the Geriatric unit (GRECC) or Community Living Centers (Nursing Homes) and to medical trainees visiting/observing in the Eyecare Center.
• During periods when we have student volunteers, Residents are encouraged to train them to perform entrance tests, screening fields, autorefraction, and lensometry.

Lecturing Opportunities

• Residents are sometimes invited to make a presentation on diabetic eye disease to the interdisciplinary care team at the Diabetic Clinic during their rotation on the CLC rotation
• Residents present lectures at weekly Optometry Case Presentations / Discussions to Optometric trainees
• Residents present cases at selected Optometry Clinical Seminars
• Residents are encouraged to submit presentations to SCCO’s Continuing Education Department as Online CE courses

List of Lecture/Educational Presentations by WLAVA Optometry Residents.

Scholarly Activities

Thesis Paper

The Resident is required to write an original thesis paper of publishable quality over the course of the year. Publication and/or presentation at the American Academy of Optometry, American Optometric Association annual meeting, or SECO is strongly encouraged but not required.

List of WLAVA Resident Thesis papers and publications in progress/written/published from 1993 through Spring 2013.

Journal Clubs

• Libraries:  SCCO’s library provides a “Journal Club” type of service, where Tables of Contents of ophthalmic journals are sent to Residents so they may request articles of interest.  Articles for thesis paper research may be requested through the SCCO library.  The VA Medical Library also can obtain articles through Medline for residents.
• Online Journals:  The VA subscribes to several journals online, which may be accessed through the VA’s Intranet website.  Medline-style and PubMed search engines are available.
• Online Textbooks:  the VA subscribes to several electronic medical and pharmacological textbooks that may be accessed through the VA Intranet.
• Articles of interest are distributed by the Program Coordinator as "required" reading.

Additional Employment Opportunities

• “Moonlighting” is permitted with prior approval; separate liability coverage must be obtained by the Resident for external patient care outside of the VA.
• Rarely, Optometry residents are asked to participate in systemic medication research by providing baseline and follow-up eye examinations on research subjects, for which they are paid on a “per case” basis, to be done on the resident’s own time.
• SCCO's Continuing Education program pays an honorarium for courses accepted for presentation online.

Stipend

For 2012-2013, the optometry resident is paid an annual stipend of $35,605.  The stipend is determined by VA Central Office and is subject to review once every two years.  Any changes mandated by VACO will be implemented by the WLAVA.  Paychecks are deposited via Direct Deposit biweekly.

Benefits

Prerequisites

• One must have received an O.D. degree from an accredited school or college of optometry by the time the program begins on July 1.
• One must pass Parts I and II of the NBEO and the TMOD prior to the ORMATCH matching deadline (usually the first Friday in March each year)
• NBEO III and state licensure (in any state, not necessarily California) must be passed prior to or during the residency year.
• U.S. citizenship is required. Immigrants must provide proof of US Citizenship prior to the application deadline in February.
• An interview prior to the ORMATCH application deadline is required. In-person interview is strongly encouraged, but an interview may be conducted by telephone if the candidate is unable to interview in person.
• Although not formally required, computer skills are critical for daily activities in our setting (medication prescriptions, progress notes, laboratory & radiology requests, consults, etc., are entered by computer into electronic records).
• Experience at a VA facility is quite helpful but not required for application.

WLAVA Application Process and Documents

• Potential applicants are very strongly encouraged to contact current residents by e-mail or telephone to get their perspective on the program. Current residents can be contacted at 310.478.3711 x42355, x41509, x44517, or x42596; contact Dr. Ilsen at 310.478.3711 x42356 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for questions or to obtain current residents’ e-mail addresses.
• ORMATCH application is to be submitted at www.optometryresident.org.
• A letter of intent and Curriculum Vitae must be mailed (e-mail, surface mail, or FAX) to the Program Coordinator
• For application, NBEO scores must be sent to the Program Coordinator by surface mail, e-mail, or FAX.
• Official optometry school transcripts must be sent by surface mail to the Program Coordinator at the WLAVA Eyecare Center.
• Three letters of recommendation must be sent directly from the writer to the Program Coordinator by surface mail.
• An interview in person or by telephone is required prior to the application deadline.

WLAVA Selection / Ranking Process

Only eligible candidates who have met all program prerequisites and who have completed the entire application process including interview will be considered for ORMATCH (Optometry Residency Matching System) ranking. Eligible applicants are afforded a review without discrimination based on sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other applicable legally protected status.

To view the items that are taken into consideration by the Program to determine ORMATCH ranking, click here.

Program Requirements

A summary outline of the requirements to earn residency certification is as follows (see Goals, Objectives, and Outcome Measures - the Outcome Measures are the program's requirements):

1. The resident must comply with all VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and Program rules, regulations, procedures, protocols, and policies.
2. The resident must adhere to the schedule of assignments in a prompt and timely fashion.
3. The resident must provide patient care consistent with accepted clinical practice guidelines and within the parameters set forth by the Optometry Trainee supervision policy.
4. The resident must maintain a neat, well-groomed, professional appearance and wear a VA-issued identification badge.
5. The resident must keep patient care records up to date.
6. The resident must maintain and provide documentation of current basic life support CPR training and optometric licensure (in any state).
7. The resident must complete all of the program requirements enumerated as Outcome Measures of the goals and objectives for the program as follows:
   1. See a minimum number of patient encounters:
      • 12 Low Vision patient encounters
      • 20 Therapeutic Contact Lens patient encounters
      • 800 total patient encounters
   2. The resident will consult with other clinics and providers regarding patient care and provide optometric care to those patients for whom optometric consultation has been requested by other Clinics.
   3. The resident will review and order laboratory and radiological studies as indicated for diagnosis and management. At least 3 orders will be placed by the resident
   4. The resident will participate in at least 30 interdisciplinary healthcare team meetings at GRECC, CLC 215 (nursing home), and CLC 213 (nursing home) as follows:
      • 8 GRECC Inpatient meetings with a minimum of 25 patient reviews
      • 8 GRECC Outpatient meetings
      • 8 CLC 215 meetings and 6 CLC 213 meetings with a minimum of 50 patient reviews
   5. The resident will attend/participate in the Optometry Clinical Seminars Education Program, completing at least 90% of the program hours, and participating in an end-of-year review question-and-answer exercise.
   6. The Resident’s proficiency in advanced procedures will be monitored by supervising faculty in optometric workshops
   7. The Resident will attend and participate in weekly Optometry Clinic Discussions, eRounds, and Case Reviews. At least 10 cases perresident will be presented and discussed at Case Reviews.
   8. The Resident will maintain an activity log and submit a quarterly activity report reflecting the resident’s activities toward accomplishing the program objectives.
   9. The resident will attend a minimum of the following didactic activities:
      • 4 Neurology Grand Rounds
      • 4 GRECC didactic lectures
      • 8 Diabetic Clinic lectures
      • 16 Fluorescein Angiography Conferences
   10. The resident will participate in a Clinical Precepting workshop and precept 4th year Optometry students in clinic under the supervision of an Attending.
   11. The resident will precept medical trainees with an emphasis on: ophthalmic manifestations of systemic disease; ophthalmic side effects of systemic medications; detection, preliminary diagnosis, and appropriate referral of common ophthalmic disorders, as opportunities arise.
   12. The Resident will develop didactic teaching skills by making thefollowing presentations:
       • When invitied, a lecture on diabetic eye disease to the Diabetic Clinic interdisciplinary care team.
       • At least one lecture to Optometry Interns at Optometry Discussion or eRounds
       • At least one case at Optometry Clinical Seminars
   13. The resident will complete a thesis paper of publishable quality.
   14. The Resident will read a minimum of 10 journal articles per quarter.
   15. The Resident will participate in the SCCO Library’s circulation lists for journals.
8. The Resident must complete and submit all quarterly and end-of-year program and faculty evaluations.

Program Accreditation

Fully accredited to June 2016.

Housing

Housing is not provided by the VA for trainees.  There are a lot of apartments in the West LA general area.

Local Activities & Attractions

Campus Facilities

• “Food court” style cafeteria, including Starbuck’s coffee and ice cream stand
• VA canteen service (2 retail stores with electronics, clothing, snack foods, toiletries)
• ATM
• Vets’ garden
• Golf course (putting green) $8 green fee
• Japanese garden
• Bird sanctuary
• Xeroscape garden
• Rose garden
• Jackie Robinson Stadium
• Farmer’s market (intermittent)

Los Angeles Westside

The West LA VA is located about 5 miles from the ocean and about 15 miles from the heart of downtown Los Angeles.  The UCLA campus is 2 miles east of the VA grounds.  Various attractions and activities are nearby, including:

Cultural Activities, Entertainment and Dining

• The Getty Center
• Skirball Cultural Center
• Armand Hammer Museum
• Royce Hall (Music)—UCLA
• Movie theaters and restaurants in Westwood
• Numerous restaurants within walking distance of VA on San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art 
• Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
• Norton Simon Museum of Art
• Museum of Science & Industry
• Brentwood and Wadsworth theaters - on VA campus

Sports

• Staples Center
• UCLA

Parks & Recreation

• Santa Monica Pier and beach
• Malibu beach
• Venice beach & boardwalk
• Marina del Rey
• Griffith Park/Observatory
• Universal Studios
• Disneyland - 50 miles southeast
• Movie theaters - Westwood

Shopping

• Westside Pavilion
• Westwood district
• Century City Shopping Plaza
• Beverly Center
• Jewelry Mart and Garment District (downtown LA)
• 3rd Avenue Promenade (Santa Monica)
• Santa Monica Mall
• Montana Avenue Shopping District
• Fox Hills Mall

Former Residents Testimonials

Potential applicants are very strongly encouraged to contact current residents by e-mail or telephone to get their perspective on the program. Current residents can be contacted at 310.478.3711 x42355, x41509, or x44517; contact Dr. Ilsen at 310.478.3711 x42356 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for questions or to obtain current residents’ e-mail addresses.

Contact Info

Pauline Ilsen, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Residency Coordinator
Optometry Dept. (123)
Eyecare Center Bldg. 304 Room 2-111
West LA VA Healthcare Center
11301 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA  90073

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)