Affiliate Residency Program: Ocular Disease / Emphasis on Glaucoma

Affiliate Residency Program: Ocular Disease / Emphasis on Glaucoma

Clinique d’Optometrie des Laurentides, Boisbriand, Quebec

The School of Optometry and Vision Science will be offering a 13-month non-accredited residency at the Clinique d’Optometrie des Laurentides in Ocular Disease with an emphasis on Glaucoma. The Clinique d’Optometrie des Laurentides is a French-speaking environment. The resident may experience a wide diversity and complex clinical findings in the sub-discipline areas of glaucoma, anterior segment disease, posterior segment/neurological disease and acute care. In addition to patient care, the residency is supplemented by seminars, grand rounds, discussion groups, journal clubs, e-portfolios and writing workshops.  Preparation of a suitable paper for submission is required of the resident participating in the residency.

Date of Residency: August 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025.

Current Position Available: 1

Salary

$42,000 per year, plus an additional $2000 to be used toward travel to optometric meetings. For benefits and other information, please see the Residency FAQs.

Facility and supervisor information

Primary Supervisor at the Clinique d’Optometrie des Laurentides:  Dr. Dan Samaha OD, MSc.

Additional supervisors at Clinique d’Optométrie des Laurentides

  • Dre. Marie Eve Gray, OD
  • Dr. Sebastien Gagne, MD, FRCSC, glaucoma subspecialist
  • Dr. Mike Kapusta, MD, FRCSC, retinal surgery subspecialty

Location: The Residency will be located at Clinique d’Optométrie des Laurentides,

6110 Doris Lussier, suite 302, Boisbriand, PQ, J7H 0E8

Schedule

The Affiliate Residency is a full-time position that will include, direct patient care, intern supervisors, on-call emergency care and scholastic activity.  There is an expectation that personal study time over and above this, will be required.

Anticipated Weekly Curriculum:

Term 1 Fall

(August – December)

Term 2 Winter

(January – April)

Term 3 Spring

(May – August)

3.5 days of emergency clinic

1 day of either retina or glaucoma (observation followed by direct patient care after ~ 2-3 weeks)

2-3 days emergency clinic

1.5-2.5 days in glaucoma and retina clinic

2 days emergency clinic*

2.5 days retina/ glaucoma clinic*

* may be adjusted according to self and preceptor assessment

0.5 days = Self Study

Hours

The clinical components of the residency are scheduled during operating hours at either Clinique d’Optométrie des Laurentides. The schedule may be slightly heavier in one term than another, but in aggregate will be 5 days per week. Self-study is expected in the resident’s own time; however, one half day per week is also scheduled for self-study, administration tasks and the didactic components provided by the residency curriculum.  Saturday clinics will be scheduled, in lieu of clinic time during a weekday.  The resident may be scheduled to be on-call, both inside or outside normal clinic hours.

Eligibility

Residencies at the School of Optometry & Vision Science are available to those who have received an OD degree from an ACOE accredited program, and who are eligible to hold a full general license of registration in the province of Quebec. For more information regarding optometric licensure in Quebec, please visit the Ordre des Optometristes De Quebec website.

Application Procedure

The application deadline is February 15, 2023 by 12:00 PM EST.

Address your applications to Dr Dan Samaha, and email your documents to the Administrator for Residencies at the address below. Your application should include:

  • Letter of application/interest
  • Curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Three letters of reference (Applicants are required to submit one internal reference letter from their school and two additional references that may be either internal or external. A variety of references are suggested)
  • Official Doctor of Optometry transcripts (hard copies to be sent directly from the University/College to the Administrator for Residencies). You may include transcripts for other higher degrees may be included, if relevant. You may send unofficial OD transcripts initially but official transcripts will be required before you are offered an interview. Please note University of Waterloo graduates are not required to provide transcripts as we can access them directly.

Please send all required application documents electronically to:

optometry.residency@uwaterloo.ca

Interviews

If you are granted an interview, you will be notified by email no later than February 22, 2023. Unfortunately, if you do not receive an interview, you will no longer be considered for admission.

Virtual interviews will be conducted during the period of February 28 to March 11, 2023. The residency interview will consist of the following: 

  • Personal interview with residency supervisors
  • Oral assessment of clinical decision making
  • Round table discussion with current and/or past residents

Short-listing and final selections will be made based on merit, as determined by your application package and interview, with no regard to gender, age, race, marital status, sexual orientation, place of origin, citizenship or religion. Under the Ontario Human Rights Code and University of Waterloo policy, all applicants have the right to equal treatment in employment, free from discrimination based on the following prohibited grounds: race; ancestry; place of origin; colour; ethnic origin; citizenship; creed/religion; sex; sexual orientation; age; record of offences; marital status; same-sex partnership status; family status; receipt of public assistance; mental or physical handicap.

Residency Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Expert Role

To train the resident to competently examine and manage patients with diverse and complex clinical findings in the sub-discipline areas of glaucoma, anterior segment disease, posterior segment/neurological disease, and acute care.

Objective 1: To train the resident to accurately and efficiently assess patients in each of the identified subdiscipline areas:

Outcome measures:

  1. The resident will experience a minimum of 250 encounters for patients with glaucoma, 300 with anterior segment diseases/disorders, 300 with posterior segment/neuro diseases; as well as 70 independent encounters in imaging services and 200 in an acute care setting. Visits will be primarily in direct care and supervised care, as well as some shadowing.
  2. The resident will be required to examine patients in each clinic or disease area listed above.
  3. The resident will discuss patient encounters and/or have patient files reviewed by a supervisor until the resident displays adequate competency for each specific type of assessment based on level of difficulty.
  4. There will be at minimum of bi-weekly meetings scheduled with a supervisor to discuss case management.
  5. The resident will maintain an accurate log of all patient encounters.

Objective 2: The resident will become proficient in utilizing and analyzing the results of imaging instruments for the management of ocular disease:

Outcome measures:

  1. Training will be provided to allow the resident to become more proficient with the use of the following:
    1. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT-Spectralis, Zeiss, Nidek) – anterior and posterior segment
    2. Scanning laser tomography
    3. Fundus Autofluorescence
    4. B-Scan Ultrasonography
    5. Fundus photography
    6. Perimetry
  2. A supervisor will review the files from the patients seen in imaging clinic until     adequate level of competency has been demonstrated.
  3. The resident will maintain an accurate log of all patient encounters.

Goal 2: Expert Role

The resident will develop and solidify strong clinical diagnostic and management skills in the area of ocular disease.

Objective 1:  To train the resident to understand advanced management options for more complex cases and to appropriately identify when referral is required:

Outcome measures:

  1. Regular supervisor meetings to review knowledge will ensure exposure and understanding of the following:
    1. Fluorescein angiography analysis
    2. SLT/ALT, peripheral iridotomy, YAG – including post-op care
    3. Glaucoma filtration surgery – including post-op care, where appropriate
    4. Cataract surgery – including post-op care
    5. Anti-VEGF injections – including post-op care
    6. Pan-retinal photocoagulation and macular grid laser – including post-op care
  2. The resident will discuss outcomes of patient care during meetings with supervisor.
  3. The resident will submit ePortfolio/Reflections based on a patient encounters during which experiences were gained, and knowledge and skills learned, and changes developed to implement for improvement.
  4. The resident will maintain an accurate log of all patient encounters.

Goal 3: Scholar Role

To develop the resident’s knowledge in the area of ocular disease and management and the ability to critically review the literature

Objective 1: The resident will create at least two evidence-based rounds/presentations

Outcome measures:

  1. Supervisor will work with resident to develop
    1. two evidenced-based rounds to be presented during scheduled UW residency rounds sessions. One case must be glaucoma-related.
    2. a third case will be encouraged to be presented in a venue other than in internal rounds (e.g. continuing professional development venue)

Objective 2: To expose the resident to different continuing education experiences on various disease topics

Outcome measures:

  1. Attend at least one large optometric/ vision conference (American Academy of Optometry preferred). 
  2. Attend evening local optometry or ophthalmology meetings whenever possible
  3. (Virtually) participate in the Residents’ Evidence-Based Medicine/Journal club

Objective 3: Efficiently and effectively use library and other on-campus resources to develop skills, access literature and use evidence-based medicine

Outcome measures:

  1. Attend and participate in resident enrichment didactic activities and workshops on topics such as writing skills, oral communication skills, case study development and supervision skills (attendance may be virtual)
  2. Participate in the Residents’ Evidence-Based Medicine/Journal club.

Goal 4: Communicator role

To become a skilled clinical communicator

Objective 1: The resident will participate in speaking and writing opportunities.

NOTE: Candidates for the residency should be aware that proficiency in the French language is a mandatory criterion for acceptance in the residency program at Clinique d’Optométrie des Laurentides

Outcome measures:

  1. The resident will present at least four oral presentations during the year: two of these will be short rounds presentations and one will be a Grand Rounds (case-oriented) presentation. The final one may be another Grand Rounds or instead may be a lecture-style oral presentation.  All formal presentations should be suitable for COPE-approval. The two main presentations will be given at scheduled Residency Grand Rounds sessions / Residency seminar setting, as part of the University of Waterloo Optometry & Vision Science Graduate Conference or in a continuing professional education setting.
  2. The resident will be encouraged to submit a poster to a recognized optometry or ophthalmology conference.
  3. Develop a publishable quality paper based on a case in which the resident was involved.
  4. The resident will participate in a series of enrichment workshops on topics such as writing skills, oral communication skills, case study development and clinical teaching.

Goal 5: Collaborator role

To develop the resident’s communication and knowledge-base to be able to engage in inter-professional education, collaboration, and care.

Objective 1: The resident will collaborate with ophthalmology and other health professionals to optimize patient care

Outcome measures:

  1. The resident will have access to the EMR of the patients to check blood work and send reports about mutual patients.
  2. The resident when available, will sit in on trans-disciplinary/inter-professional rounds.

Objective 2: The resident will communicate effectively and collaborate with ophthalmology and other health professionals

Outcome measures:

  1. The resident will have a seminar with their supervisor(s) on how to effectively and efficiently communicate with other health professionals
  2. Letters/reports for complex patients (e.g. Blood work requests, glaucoma surgery referrals, etc.) will be reviewed by supervisor(s) prior to sending until appropriate level of competency has been demonstrated