<p> RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP TRAINING BENEFITS OF A VA FELLOWSHIP The fellowship program is designed to develop  An outstanding two-year clinical research individual potential for VA optometry research and patient care experience serving a careers. At least 75% of fellowship time is to challenging and rewarding Veteran be devoted to biomedical, rehabilitation, VA OPTOMETRIC population clinical, or health services research, including didactic education related to research. Up to RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP  A stimulating interdisciplinary environment 25% of fellowship time may be allotted to where the fellow learns to conduct research advanced clinical and/or teaching activities. PROGRAM and coordinate quality optometric eye care with other health care services to maximize The purpose of this two-year post-residency patient care outcomes and learning RESIDENCY COMPLETION REQUIREMENT VA Optometric Research Fellowship Program experiences is to ensure the continuation and future Successful completion of an ACOE accredited development of VA optometric research in  Research and academic opportunities optometry residency program in geriatrics, age-related eye diseases and vision disorders, mentored by experienced clinicians and hospital-based, ocular disease, low vision to improve visual rehabilitation capabilities, researchers who are among the most rehabilitation, or primary eye care is required. and to enhance visual outcomes. published optometrists and vision scientists OTHER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA worldwide Selected fellows will receive guidance from Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have one or more researchers with proven records of  Vacation, national holidays, and sick days a full and unrestricted TPA license to practice optometric clinical research, or research areas along with authorized absence for approved optometry in any state, commonwealth, or relevant to optometry, such as Rehabilitation continuing education territory of the United States, or in the District Research & Development (R&D), Biomedical  Health & Life insurance plans available of Columbia before the beginning of the Research, and Health Services R&D. fellowship. The license does not have to be  Competitive annual stipend from the state where the fellowship program is Research, education, and clinical fellowship located. training experiences may focus on areas such as: eye and vision disorders; vision loss from APPLICATION age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Each VA fellowship program diabetic eye disease, and glaucoma, etc.; use of is unique as experiences and VA Form 10-2850D: Application for Health new technologies, including telemedicine to opportunities are different at each Professions Trainees, NBEO examination results, evidence of optometry licensure, Drug screen for AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and site. More specific fellowship optic nerve disorders as well as other eye Enforcement Agency (DEA) certification, program information can be evidence of education/training, U.S. citizenship disease conditions; low vision rehabilitation obtained by contacting the strategies; low vision device development and documentation, and reference letters should be evaluation; dual sensory impairment issues; individual sites. sent directly to the Coordinator/Director of the and visual rehabilitation outcomes, etc.. VA Optometric Research Fellowship Program site(s) of interest to the candidate. VA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM SITES Alabama Birmingham VA Medical Center Optometry (112-C) 700 South 19th Street Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 933-8101 x3242 Fellowship Areas: Ocular Disease, Visual Impairment & Low Vision Rehabilitation, Geriatrics, Health Services Research & Development Fellowship Coordinator: Thomas A. Keith, O.D.; [email protected] Affiliated School/College of Optometry: University of Alabama at Birmingham – School of Optometry Number of Fellows: 1 – 1st Year, 1 – 2nd Year</p><p>California VA Palo Alto Healthcare System 795 Willow Road, Bldg. T-365 Menlo Park, CA 94025 (650) 493-5000 x24640 Fellowship Areas: Visual Impairment & Low Vision Rehabilitation, Gerontology, Dual Sensory Impairment, Telemedicine, Rehabilitation Research & Development Fellowship Coordinator: Gregory Goodrich, Ph.D.; [email protected] Affiliated School/College of Optometry: University of California, Berkeley – School of Optometry Number of Fellows: 1 – 1st Year, 1 – 2nd Year</p><p>Massachusetts VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Division Optometry Clinic (112B) 150 S. Huntington Avenue Boston, MA 02130 (857) 364-4211 Fellowship Areas: Vision Rehabilitation, Clinical Trials, Telemedicine, Epidemiology, Geriatrics Fellowship Coordinator: Baharak Asefzadeh, O.D.; [email protected] Affiliated School/College of Optometry: The New England College of Optometry Number of Fellows: 1 – 1st Year, 1 – 2nd Year</p><p>VA OPTOMETRIC RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM</p><p>VA OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS & VA OPTOMETRIC SERVICE Contact Persons: Dr. John Townsend in VA Optometric Service at: [email protected] or (410) 779-1576</p><p>Dr. Debbie Hettler in VA Office of Academic Affiliations at: [email protected] or (202) 461-9499</p><p>Fellowship Program details may be viewed at: www.va.gov/optometry/ or www.va.gov/oaa/ </p>