Optometry Service Program Information - Optometry Internet Webpage

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Optometry Internet Webpage

Useful Links

Optometry Service Program Information

Program Name

Veterans Health Administration Optometry Service

Audience Statement

This website page is intended to provide information about the Department of Veterans Affairs Optometry Service program to Veterans, the public, trainees, optometrists, and researchers as well as healthcare providers and employees within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

About Us

The decentralized VA Central Office Optometry Service program within the Office of Specialty Care Services in the Office of Patient Care Services is responsible for:

Serving as the Optometry subject matter expert to the Under Secretary for Health and the Veterans Health Administration

Advocating for the field and providing guidance and oversight for field-based Optometry Service programs

Developing policies and procedures aimed at improving processes and optometric eye and vision care services provided to patients and residents

Serving as the Optometry consultant on clinical, business and legal manners with other VA offices/services/ programs such as the Office of the Under Secretary for Health, the Office of Research and Development, the Office of Clinical Logistics, the Chief Business Office, the Office of Academic Affiliations, Geriatrics and Extended Care, General Council, the Office of Rehabilitation Services, the Office of Mental Health Services, the Chief Public Health and Environmental Hazards Office, the Office of Care Coordination and the Prosthetic and Sensory Aid Service, among others.

Providing innovative strategies to improve the delivery of high quality optometric eye and vision care services as well as clinical outcomes for patients

Ensuring excellence in optometric patient care, education and training, and research to meet the ever changing needs of the Veterans we serve

Useful Website Links

Frequently Asked Questions: Inquiry Routing and Information System (IRIS)

Leadership

John C. Townsend, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Director, Optometry Service

Biography

Contact Information:

VHA Optometry Service Primary Contact	Ms. Kathy Gernhart Administrative Officer, Optometry Service Specialty Care Services (10P4E), within Office of Patient Care Services Veterans Health Administration 103 South Gay Street, Room 714 Baltimore, MD 21202-4061 Email: Kathleen.Gernhart@va.gov Telephone: 410-779-1576 Hours 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM EST Fax: 410-779-1581
VHA Optometry Service Director	John C. Townsend, O.D., F.A.A.O. Director, Optometry Service Specialty Care Services (10P4E), within Office of Patient Care Services Veterans Health Administration 103 South Gay Street, Room 714 Baltimore, MD 21202-4061 Email: John.Townsend@va.gov Telephone: 410-779-1576 Hours 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM EST Fax: 410-779-1581
VHA Optometry Service Website Administrators	Jesse Hamilton, O.D. Gurjit Singh, O.D.
VHA Optometry Service Optometrist Directory	Catherine Egusa, O.D. Susie Lim, O.D. Dawn Pewitt, O.D.
VHA Residency Trained Optometrist Directory	Katherine Wang, O.D.
Veterans Health Administration	http://www.va.gov/health/index.asp
Veterans Benefits Administration	http://www.vba.va.gov/
Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs Home	https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg/php.exe/enduser/home.php

Public Affairs Inquiries

All public affairs inquiries should be directed to the Department of Veterans Affairs Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Office at (202) 273-6000.

National VA Toll-free Numbers

Click here for toll-free numbers for contacting the Department of Veterans Affairs.