Category Student Experience

Even before entering optometry school, students wonder about their options for clerkship or externship sites. It is brought up during the frequently asked questions portion of the interview process or even highlighted in a school’s presentation to promote their program. It can even be the basis on which some students decide to finalize their offer from a school. It is an exciting decision, requiring carefully narrowing down the various options and weighing the pros and cons of the sites on the list. Of course, having the freedom to select where one can practice for a few months is a blessing and a curse. When the time for making these selections finally comes, many questions arise, including the important decision of whether to select a site located in a major city or in a rural town. During my selection process, I opted for a mix: one site in each of the two settings. Here are the highlights of my experiences.

 

Rural site: Grande Prairie, Alberta

This was my very first clerkship site, and I chose a great multi-doctor clinic in “northern” Alberta. In my mental map of Alberta, Grande Prairie was as north as you could go, hence the quotations. Having grown up in Vancouver, I was shocked to find out later that you could travel even more north, to what I can only assume is polar bear territory. It was interesting driving four and a half hours out of Edmonton, the closest major city, surrounded by the unfamiliar sight of expansive crops.

 

One of the most interesting aspects of this site was the lack of ophthalmologists in the area. There was only one surgical OMD in the area who was no longer accepting new patients due to being far too busy. It was strange to be in a situation where we needed to educate the patient that they must drive all the way to Edmonton for a simple procedure. It was always a big decision to send a patient into the city to see an ophthalmologist, so making sure to educate the patient well on the importance and time-sensitivity of the situation was key. In the city, it can become a habit to refer as it is easy to do and not too much of a hassle for the patient, but at a rural site, you are challenged to debate if a referral is truly needed.

 

As one of the only eye care providers in the surrounding area, most of the ocular disease cases will come to you. I often got the feeling that we were the emergency room for eyes and it was exciting going to work every day. For example, I would practice my fine motor skills by removing metal foreign bodies at least once a week. It also was educational to follow more advanced glaucoma patients who would normally be followed through an ophthalmologist in the city. Severe cases would need a referral, but moderate cases would be monitored via our office as it was easier to maintain compliance for follow-up appointments.

 

In addition, the patient may have traveled far to get to our office. We were sought out by concerned patients, elevating our importance in their health care that much more. Valuing the patient’s time and factoring in their convenience was important as it was tough for them to return multiple times for different scans and follow-ups.

 

Urban site: Calgary, Alberta

My second clerkship site was a single-doctor, private practice in Calgary, Alberta. In fact, my business-savvy supervisor owned three different clinics across town, and we would travel to each clinic multiple times a week. This was a great learning experience for a variety of other reasons and provided a whole new set of skills to learn.

 

Some of the most important lessons to be learned in the city are how to run a successful business and handle the competitive nature of working in an urban and well-populated area. Although this is not what many students search for in a clerkship site, it is a very important aspect of optometry. Most optometry programs only offer one or two business courses. For this reason, a good hands-on experience is priceless. You will get the opportunity to see your supervising doctor manage staff and sales as well as interact with sales representatives. This is incredibly beneficial if you are hoping to own a business of your own, especially in a busy city.

 

In contrast with the rural sites, there are a variety of specialists to whom you can refer. This makes working in the city a great opportunity to practice interprofessional care and each office has its own areas of focus and wait times. In addition, there also are many other referrals that can be made in the city to providers such as social workers, physiotherapists, and psychologists. Of course, we can refer to specialty optometrists, too! Whether it is for the purpose of vision therapy or specialty contact lenses, there are often more options for specialized care.

 

Along those lines, if you would like to learn beyond the limits of the clinic you have selected, there also are opportunities to shadow ophthalmologists and other optometrists in the area. Of course, this may be during your off-days or after hours but if you are keen and want to observe what it is like in an OMD’s office, this is an option for you. For example, I have an interest in specialty contact lenses, so I reached out to a local office that services many difficult-to-fit patients and shadowed one of their fitting days.

 

Of course, we cannot forget the exciting activities that are offered in the city. Unfortunately, with COVID-19, there were limited activities available, but the food and entertainment scenes were still more diverse. Even takeout is more interesting than just the chain restaurants. On your days off, you have the chance to explore and enjoy the city. Unfortunately, the cost of living is higher in the city so that must be factored in as well.

 

  

Author Bio: Cindy Shan is a student at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science. She is the class president for the Class of 2021 and was the director of internal affairs for the UW chapter of the AOSA. She has a special interest in practice management, specialty contact lens and myopia control. Cindy also loves to travel and explore other parts of the world, test her skills at DIY projects and hike the beautiful mountains in British Columbia.

Wake up. Make coffee. Watch lectures. Study. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Sound familiar? 

It’s easy to get caught in our daily routine as optometry students, and it’s even easier to forget that there is a world outside of optometry school especially when we get thrown in an online remote learning environment. Moreover, when we fixate so heavily on the goal of doing well in that class or mastering that clinical skill, we often forget one key ingredient in career advancement: networking.  

Networking can help you better understand the evolving profession, come up with new ideas and perspectives, and set you up for lifelong success. It can help you evaluate where you are, where you are going, and where you want to be. Furthermore, it can help you realize how much potential you really have under your belt. So why are we afraid to do so?  

Connecting with optometrists and other like-minded individuals early on in your career may seem like a daunting task, especially when you don’t know where to start. Nonetheless, pushing your own boundaries and taking risks allows you to learn more about yourself, gain knowledge and expertise in the field, and acquire skills you would not have had otherwise. Optometrists and other professionals you meet also can play pivotal roles in shaping your future and open doors that you never knew existed. 

If you don’t know where to start, start small. Spark up a conversation. Grab a cup of coffee with that person and connect over passions within or outside the field of optometry. Don’t be afraid to meet people and put yourself out there. Remember, they’re interested in optometry, too! Understand that networking is about creating relationships—not just adding names and phone numbers to your contact list. It involves connecting with others on a deeper level and continuing to grow the relationship over time. Know that networking does not come naturally for all people, so it may be a skill that you need to work on throughout your career.  

Still not sure where to start? Here are five ways to get you connected to others in the optometry community:  

1. Reach out to your professors. Believe it or not, your professors want to see you succeed! Don’t be afraid to seek out a mentor—you may be pleasantly surprised to find that many, if not all of them, are kind people who enjoy getting to know their students. You will, after all, be their colleague one day. 

1. Get involved in various optometry clubs and organizations. This is an excellent way to start meeting other optometry students with similar interests and work directly with faculty. AOSA, NOSA and CAOS are great places to start. You also can become a student member of professional associations for FREE including the AAO, COVD and NORA among others. 

1. Attend conferences. Enjoy the benefits of being an optometry student by registering for conferences and annual meetings at student rates! If you are interested in a certain field of optometry, you are guaranteed to be surrounded by experts who would love to share their ideas and expertise. For those who are thinking of practicing in a different state, this also is a chance for you to connect with doctors from that area.  

1. Connect with doctors and future doctors on Instagram. Social media isn’t going anywhere, so why not use it to your advantage? You’ll discover that the Instagram optometry community is a tight-knit community of optometrists helping optometrists and optometry students helping optometry students. Here, you can find study inspiration, experience the day-to-day life of an optometry resident, and even explore unique clinical cases. 

1. Other avenues. Networking also will happen when you’re simply out and about living your life. Be open to the idea that someone you least expect can change your perspective, introduce you to new opportunities and, ultimately, help you become the optometrist you desire to be. Don’t limit yourself and remember that you are right where you are supposed to be. 

Let me start by telling you that these will be the best and most memorable four years of your life. Your studies will finally be focused on something that you are passionate about as you catch yourself saying, “Wow, that is so cool!” at least once during every lecture (at least, I did). You will be making lifelong friends who help make the journey a little easier. They’re the friends who can relate and understand what you are going through, who will remind you of deadlines, and who will be there when you need to vent, laugh or cry. There will be lots of fun experiences throughout as well as a ton of self-growth.  

As I’m sure you know, not everything is sunshine and rainbows as an optometry student. Halfway through my first year, I developed an anxiety disorder due to the excess pressure I was putting on myself to perform well in school. I kept telling myself that I need to become the best optometrist that I could be but, at the same time, I was questioning and sometimes doubting how I will even become a doctor. These thoughts made it difficult to focus on my schoolwork, and it also became difficult to enjoy time with my friends. Thankfully, my optometry school is very supportive about mental health and has provided us, since the beginning, with the resources we might require. I quickly took advantage of those resources, which have helped me tremendously. By listening to my body and acting quick, I was able to prevent my grades from dropping and enjoy what I was studying again.  

As you start your journey through optometry school, always make time for self-care. This is easier said than done as you will be incredibly busy with schoolwork and might forget from time to time to take care of your body. Set yourself a reminder if necessary or find a spot to fit it into your busy schedule. Whether it is meditating, exercising or a spa night, your body will thank you and you will most likely perform better on your exams and proficiencies. Keep in mind that putting a little pressure on yourself can be helpful, but don’t be too hard on yourself.  

Not only will optometry school teach you everything you need to know about eyeballs, but you will learn so much about yourself during your time as a student. So far, I’ve learned that I am much stronger than I thought I was and I am capable of handling big and unexpected obstacles that come my way. I also have  found ways in which I could keep myself calm during chaotic times.  

Something else I have come to realize is that I am not the only one going through personal struggles. I found that a lot of my classmates were going through the exact same thing, making me feel less alone. So, don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend and let them in on what’s going on. And don’t forget, your professors and faculty members are some of your biggest supporters. They want you to succeed and, though we are listening to them lecturing most of the time, they are great listeners, too.  

I hope I was able to give you insight with my experience during my first year as an optometry student. You are all going to be amazing doctors and help so many people. I am already proud of you all!  

During 2020, the murder of George Floyd catalyzed nationwide outrage and frustration around systemic racism and racial injustices. In response to these events, the American Optometric Association (AOA) released a statement condemning racism, intolerance and hate. Moreover, the AOA has reviewed how its structure, policies and culture around race has impacted the optometric profession. Minority members make up 38.8% of the AOA and 48.6% of the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) membership, according to the 2020 membership report. Although student membership of other minority groups, such as Asian members, has increased in the past years, the proportion of specifically Black and Brown have remained stagnant. 

In an effort to combat this trend and work toward a membership that better reflects the American population, the AOA formed the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force in June of 2020. Current actionsinclude increasing the representation of all races and ethnicities in the optometric profession and working to emphasize and support cultural competency amongst its members. Cultural competency and racial representation are crucial in providing better patient care. Research has shown that diversification of health care providers results in more inclusive decision-making, increased efficiency and improved health outcomes. Similarly, the AOSA Board of Trustees formed the Diversity and Inclusion Project Team with the same actions in mind.

To increase diversity amongst members, the AOA is further promoting Black EyeCare Perspective events such as “Impact HBCU” and “Pre-Optometry Club”. Furthermore, the AOA has renewed its commitment to cultivate and expand long-term relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Specifically, the AOA, with the help of the AOSA, is working to increase awareness, interests and opportunities to students interested in pursuing a career within optometry, especially to Black and Brown students.

Ongoing efforts include joint AOA/AOSA meetings, diversifying AOSA’s social media content and addressing barriers to the application cycle. In January 2021, the AOA and AOSA announced a long-term financial commitment to support the newly created Opportunities in Optometry Grant program to assist in alleviating costs associated with the application cycle. Up to 30 students will receive grants in 2021. Additionally, the AOA/AOSA are working to set up a mentorship program with practicing doctors for grant recipients. For more information or to partner with the AOA/AOSA to ensure the success of this grant in future years, visit the official grant page here.

The AOA also is encouraging ASCO to expand its “Optometry Gives Me Life” campaign to include more targeted messaging to members of the Black and Brown community. To promote diversity among AOA leadership, the AOA has developed the AOA Leadership Institute, chaired by Andrea Thau, O.D. The program is targeted toward newly graduated doctors 5-10 years out of school, empowering them to become leaders on the state and national level. This year’s Leadership Institute consists of 125 doctors who were nominated by affiliates, schools and colleges.

To further encourage cultural competency, both organizations have engaged in conversations with doctors of color to gain the perspective and knowledge to influence the most effective change. AOA and AOSA leadership have undergone training on diversity and cultural competency. Furthermore, the AOA and AOSA are committed to evaluating policies and resolutions to reshape organizational culture. For the past three years, the selection process for authors and speakers for Optometry’s Meeting^® has been based on content rather than demographics, resulting in an increase of young, female speakers. The AOA will continue removing demographic information during this process in efforts to minimize implicit bias.

In conjunction with AOA’s efforts to facilitate diversity, equity and cultural competency, this year’s Optometry’s Meeting will have several continuing education courses centered on diversity, including “Understanding Diversity & Inclusion in Eye Health & Vision Care for Enhanced Compliance, Continuity of Care and Practice Growth” and “Improving Patient Communication: What Does Culture Have to Do with It?” Finally, the AOA intends to increase optometry’s exposure and accessibility to the topics covered in these courses by offering them virtually on EyeLearn Professional Development Hub, an AOA member-exclusive education portal.

The AOA Diversity and Inclusion Task Force consists of AOA Board of Trustees members Jacqueline Bowen, O.D., James P. DeVleming, O.D., Steven T. Reed, O.D., and Lori L. Grover, O.D., Ph.D. The AOSA Diversity and Inclusion Project Team consists of Jaime Antonio (OSU), Devyn Hayes (IUSO), Mikala Herr (WUCO), Kimber Mapili (ICO), Anjali Paramanandam (UCB), Helene Pippin (PUCO), Madi Sachs (UCB), Lotus Schifsky (IUSO), Veronica Schuver (OSU), Shaily Sheth (NECO) and Anna Venizelos (NSUOCO).