Optometry Residency

The Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center is affiliated with Pacific University College of Optometry (PUCO) of Forest Grove, Oregon.

• Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center – Len V Koh, OD, FAAO (len.koh@va.gov) or .
• Pacific University College of Optometry – Michela Kenning, OD, FAAO (michela@pacificu.edu) or .

This program offers a diverse patient care experience.

Residents see 10-14 patients per day at the VA Eye Clinic. Here residents receive training in primary eye care, serving as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive, high-quality healthcare to the veterans. With a primarily geriatric patient population, ocular disease management is a significant portion of the training experience. Residents get to fit specialty contact lenses including scleral lenses and do low vision exams for eligible veterans.  Residents work with ophthalmologists for post-op cataract care. Further, residents get to shadow local ophthalmologists in specialty care such as retina, glaucoma, cornea, adult strabismus, and oculoplastic. Residents provide direct patient care at the eye clinic, under the supervision of the attending doctors.  

Starting on July 1st and ending on June 30th of the following year.

Specific benefits of a VA Optometry Residency:

• An outstanding 12-month (July 1-June 30) clinical patient care experience serving a challenging and rewarding veteran population.
• A stimulating interdisciplinary environment where the resident learns to coordinate quality primary optometric eye care services with other health care providers to maximize patient care outcomes and learning experiences.
• Research and academic opportunities mentored by a diverse group of experienced clinicians who have broad experiences in various optometric settings, and publications.
• Participate in weekly case reports/ journal club/ vision seminar.
• Opportunity to do specialty contact lenses, work with low vision devices, and perform minor lesion removals.
• Participate in co-management of cataract surgery patients.
• Opportunity to shadow at various local ophthalmological specialties such as cataract surgery, refractive surgery, retina, glaucoma, and oculoplastic.
• Opportunity to present at local optometric society conferences.
• Diabetes, macular degeneration, and glaucoma have a significant prevalence in our Optometry clinics
• Vacation, national holidays, and sick days along with authorized absence for approved continuing education.
• Competitive annual salary (unique 4x10 schedule, long weekend every week).
• Health & Life Insurance plans available.

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens
• Applicants must have passed Parts I, II, TMOD & Part III of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations
• Applicants must have received a Doctor of Optometry degree from an ACOE accredited School or College of Optometry by July 1 of the residency year.
• Applicants must have an Affiliation Agreement with Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center
• Prospective residents must apply through ORMatch (https://natmatch.com/ormatch/)
• Prior to residency completion, the applicant is required to obtain state licensure.

• Summer/Fall of 4th year: contact directors to relay interest and arrange for tours of facilities/meet staff
• February of match year: interview with program (interview lasts an entire day)
• March of match year: program selection and match announcement

All applications are handled through the Optometric Residency Matching Service (ORMatch).

Documentation Needed:

• Curriculum vitae
• Transcripts of optometric education
• NBEO Scores
• Letter of Intent: a brief statement detailing your desire to complete this residency
• Three (3) letters of recommendation

Optometry Residency Match (ORMatch)

Optometry students at the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC perform every aspect of full scope optometric exams. They are responsible for primary eye care, emergency patients, and management of chronic eye disease such as diabetes, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. 

Students provide patient care under the direct supervision of one of the attending staff doctors. The student will also have the opportunity to partake in pre/post operative cataract surgical care. Students are expected to devise an assessment and management plan for each patient prior to presenting to the attending doctor. Students take part in grand round case presentations or didactic education on a weekly basis. This includes lectures, case presentations, and literature reviews by staff, residents, or students.

Each intern is required to complete a 20 minute PowerPoint case presentation before the rotation is complete. 

The Mann-Grandstaff VAMC Eye Clinic is an outpatient clinic providing primary eye care as well as management of chronic ocular disease. The clinic is staffed by multiple optometrists and two general ophthalmologists. The staff optometrists are independently licensed practitioners credentialed and privileged to perform full scope optometry, including topical, oral, and injectable medications.  

The Eye Clinic is an outbuilding, “Building 30”, located on the southeast corner of the VA campus.  The clinic features eight modern exam rooms. Special testing equipment includes Cirrus OCT fundus photography, Humphrey visual field analyzer (HVF3), anterior segment photography, corneal topography, pachymetry, ultrasound, IOL master, Pentacam, and a minor surgery room.  

Interns are provided a fully-equipped exam room to use throughout their stay. Students do not need to bring any equipment on this rotation, although some students prefer to use their own BIO.  Exam room computers have full internet access and Microsoft Office software installed.

The Eye Clinic features the hospital-wide Cerner Millenium electronic medical records. All patient records are completely computerized. All hospital records, including master problem lists, exam notes, imaging, labs, medication, doctor orders, and patient demographic data can be accessed through the computer terminal in each exam room. 

No housing is provided to students on this rotation. There are many local apartment complexes that offer short-term leases. We will be happy to assist you in making advanced arrangements for housing in Spokane. Our current and former students are also good sources for housing information.

Each intern will need to submit fingerprints for security clearance before being granted computer access. This must be completed one month in advance of your rotation.

Feel free to contact us with any questions about the program. 

Internship Program Coordinator: Lindsay Kleinsmit OD FAAO (Lindsay.kleinschmit@va.gov)

Eye Clinic
Mann-Grandstaff VAMC
4815 N. Assembly St
Spokane, WA 99205
Phone:
Fax:

As you enter the Eye Clinic building, the reception desk is to the left, the triage room is to the right, and the waiting room is straight ahead.

The Eye Clinic features 8 full exam lanes. Three lanes are for the resident, three are for the students, two lanes are for staff doctors, and other rooms are for opticals, triage and ancillary tests.

Each lane has computer access to the hospital-wide Cerner Millenium, full internet access, and Microsoft Office 365 software installed.

The Procedure Room has the OCT, a Topcon non myd digital fundus camera, anterior segment photography, corneal topography, A/B scan ultrasound, and various other pieces of diagnostic equipment.