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Optometry Care Residency

The Mission of the Optometry Residency at the St. Louis VA is to inspire and cultivate capable and skilled optometric practitioners. The primary care Optometry Residency seeks to fulfill its mission by providing clinically focused post-graduate education in a multi-disciplinary VA setting with emphasis on an adult and geriatric population. The residency will provide didactic opportunities, scholarly activities, and a broad clinical experience all while fulfilling the Medical Center’s commitment to provide high quality eye care to our veterans.

The St. Louis VA Optometry Residency is designed to cultivate skilled, knowledgeable optometric practitioners based on a 4-prong approach:

I. Patient care

  1.   Perform primary care eye examination
  2. Manage patients with ocular diseases including glaucoma and macular degeneration
  3. Perform low vision examinations
  4. Fit specialty contact lenses at UMSL College of Optometry
  5. Precept optometry students from UMSL College of Optometry and Southern College of Optometry during the second half of the residency

II. Didactic Experience

  1.   Attend optometry Grand Rounds at the St. Louis VA on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
  2. Participate in weekly Formal Education lectures on Thursday afternoon
  3. Participate in Journal Club with the optometry externs
  4. Attend local continuing education events in the St. Louis area 

III. Scholarly Development 

  1.   Present one academic poster at a national meeting during the residency year (i.e. AOA, AAO, SECO, Heart of America)
  2. Present lectures at Optometry Residency Day and Grand Rounds at the UMSL College   of Optometry
  3. Complete a paper of publishable quality by the completion of the residency year.

Curriculum

Goal and Objectives

The goal of the curriculum is to provide post-graduate training in primary care optometry. The curriculum is deigned to accomplish the mission, goals, and objectives of the residency. 

The objectives of the curriculum are: 

  • To improve the resident’s skills and competency in patient care through the management of a broad range of visual, ocular and systemic disorders
  • To develop the resident's ability to function as a member of the health care team through participation in a multidisciplinary health care delivery system
  • To develop the resident's knowledge of the characteristics and needs of the elderly and the skills to better care for this special patient group
  • To broaden the resident's clinical knowledge through lectures, seminars, grand rounds, and continuing education
  • To enhance the resident's appreciation of clinical research and scholarly activity 

Clinical experience makes up approximately 80% of the learning activities while conferences, grand rounds, teaching, seminars, and library and literature review compromise the remaining 20%. The resident’s clinical experience is comprised of primary care, emergent care, ocular disease management, specialty contact lenses and low vision. 

Teaching methods include: examination and discussion of patient care, clinical demonstration of exam techniques and procedures, case presentations and discussions, lectures and seminars, literature review and independent study, and formal quarterly evaluations. Residents maintain a daily patient log with documentation of clinical activities in order to assess that the residents are meeting outcome measures. Residents are under supervision by a staff optometrist at all times. 

Application/Admissions

The residency participates in the Optometry Residency Matching Service (ORMS).  All ORMS applications must be completed by February 1 in order to be considered for the residency position, and offered an interview.  Application requirements include: 

  • Personal letter of interest
  • Curriculum vitae
  • National boards scores
  • Optometry school transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Must be eligible to obtain a state license in optometry
  • U.S. Citizen  

Selection Procedure

The selection committee will review and evaluate all applications.  Those applicants whom the Committee feels to be the most competitive will be selected for a required interview.  Interviews are typically conducted between December and February. 

The STLVA Optometry Residency Program does not exclude any person from participation on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, disability, or national origin. 

Requirements for Successful Completion

  1. Complete a one-year residency term beginning July 1 and ending June 30th of the following year
  2. Graduate from a school or college of optometry recognized by the AOA
  3. Obtain a current state license in optometry
  4. Pass all sections of the NBEO Examination
  5. Comply with all VA St. Louis Health Care System and Optometry Service policies during the residency
  6. Attend clinic as assigned
  7. Must be in good academic status and not be on probation, remediation or suspension at the time of completion
  8. Comply with the evidence-based patient care and practice guidelines such as those published by the AOA
  9. Complete all residency outcome measures 

Residency Information

Academic affiliate: University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) College of Optometry 
Positions available per year: 3 
Salary: $46,129 
Benefits: health insurance, paid annual and sick leave 
Length of Program: 12 calendar months  
Weekly schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm 

Accreditation  

The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) has granted the Residency in Primary Care Optometry, with Emphasis in Ocular Disease at St. Louis VA Medical Center the accreditation status of “Accredited”. Accredited is a classification granted to an educational program indicated that the program generally meets the standards for accreditation. For more information, see the ACOE’s website at www.theACOE.org or contact the ACOE at accredit@theacoe.org 

Additional Resources
Facilities

John Cochran Division
915 North Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63106-1621
Main phone: 

Jefferson Barracks Division
1 Jefferson Barracks Drive
St. Louis, MO 63125-4199
Main phone: 

Contact information

Allison Schafers, OD, FAAO 
Optometry Residency Coordinator 
Board Certified by ABCMO  
VA St. Louis Health Care System 
John Cochran Division 
915 N. Grand Ave. 
St. Louis, Missouri 
Allison.schafers@va.gov 
 ext. 5-3619 

Optometry Staff

Matthew Simpson, OD, FAAO 
Chief of Optometry  
Dr. Matthew Simpson graduated from the Indiana University School of Optometry in 2007. After graduation, he completed an ocular disease residency at the Huntington, West Virginia VA Medical Center. Following residency, Dr. Simpson served as a staff optometrist at the Lexington, KY VA Medical Center and the Huntington, WV VA Medical Center. While at the Huntington VA, Dr. Simpson served in multiple capacities including: student extern program coordinator, optometry residency director and chief of the optometry service. He became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 2014.   Dr. Simpson served five years in the Indiana Air National Guard at the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne, Indiana and 6 years in the US Army reserve. Dr. Simpson has been in practice at the VA St. Louis Health Care System since 2015, and the chief of the optometry section since 2019.  

Allison Schafers, OD, FAAO 
Board Certified by ABCMO  
Resident Coordinator 
Dr. Schafers graduated from the University of Missouri –St. Louis College of Optometry in 2016. After graduation, she completed her residency training in primary care at the St. Louis VA Medical Center in 2017.   She serves as adjunct faculty at the UMSL College of Optometry and was the externship coordinator before becoming the residency coordinator in 2019. She became a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry in 2019. Dr. Schafers is a member of the American Optometric Association, National Association of VA Optometrists, Armed Forces Optometric Society, Missouri Optometry Association, and St. Louis Optometric Society. She currently serves on the board of the St. Louis Optomeric Society as the Immediate Past President.  

Mary Chivetta, OD, MBA, FAAO, Dipl ABO  
Teleretina Coordinator 
Dr. Chivetta earned her Doctorate of Optometry from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN in 2019 and completed her residency at the St. Louis VA Medical Center in 2020. She is board certified by the American Board of Optometry and is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She serves as adjunct faculty at the UMSL College of Optometry and is an active member of several national organizations including the American Academy of Optometry, Armed Forces Optometric Society, Missouri Optometric Association, National Association of VA Optometrists, and St. Louis Optometric Society.  

Jessica Hanson, OD, FAAO  
Low Vision Clinic Coordinator 
Dr. Hanson earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences at Minnesota State University, Mankato where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Dr. Hanson then attended Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry where she graduated in the top of the 2018 class with multiple clinical honors and a Doctorate in Optometry. Following graduation, Dr. Hanson completed a residency focusing on ocular disease and primary care while also providing low vision exams at the Marion, IL Veterans Affairs Medical Center.  She is an active member of the American Academy of Optometry, where she's helped build the fellowship candidate crash course.  Dr. Hanson is adjunct clinical faculty with the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry.

Ramya Natarajan, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO  
Grand Rounds Coordinator 
Dr. Natarajan received her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Missouri – St. Louis College of Optometry in 2018. She then completed a residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease Management at the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, AR and the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry in 2019 where she enjoyed performing laser procedures and lid lesion removals.

She formerly served as the Contact Lens Coordinator from 2019-2025 having initiated the joint program between the VA residency and UMSL College of Optometry Contact Lens Clinic to streamline the fitting process for veterans needing specialty contact lenses. She is board certified by the American Board of Optometry and is also an active Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Dr. Natarajan serves as adjunct faculty at the UMSL College of Optometry, member of the Armed Forces Optometric Society, St. Louis Optometric Society, American Optometric Association, and Missouri Optometric Association.  

My-Chau Nguyen, OD, FAAO 
Board Certified by ABCMO  
Externship Coordinator 
Dr. Nguyen graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2018. After graduation, she completed a primary care residency at the VA St. Louis Healthcare System in 2019. Dr. Nguyen became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 2021. Currently she serves as the Externship Coordinator and adjunct faculty at both the UMSL College of Optometry and the Southern College of Optometry. Dr. Nguyen is an active member of the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, National Association of VA Optometrists, and the Armed Forces Optometric Society. She is a consultant for the Accreditation  Council on Optometric Education and is board certified by the American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry. Dr. Nguyen has been in practice at the VA St. Louis Health Care System since 2018.

Jennifer Sutter, OD, FAAO 
Board Certified by ABCMO  
Dr. Sutter graduated with clinical honors in 2014 from the Illinois College of Optometry. She completed her residency at the Marion VAMC in Southern Illinois. Following residency, she served as staff at the Evansville Health Care Center (Marion VAMC). During her time in Evansville she was the externship coordinator, adjunct faculty at the Indiana University School of Optometry, a member of the visual impairment services team, and volunteered on various committees.  After 4 years in Evansville, Dr. Sutter accepted a position with the Saint Louis VAMC and is adjunct faculty at the UMSL school of optometry. A fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, she served on the fellowship admittance committee from 2019-2021.  Dr. Sutter is a member of the National Association of VA Optometrists and is board certified by the American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry.

Savannah Winkel, OD 
Contact Lens Coordinator 
Dr. Winkel graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2022 and completed her residency in primary care and ocular disease at the St. Louis VA. She currently serves as adjunct faculty at the UMSL College of Optometry and Contact Lens Coordinator for the St. Louis VA residency program. 

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