Optometric Residency & Student Externship Program - Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates

Optometric Residency & Student Externship Program

Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates is proud to be an accredited teaching facility with an Optometric Residency and Student Externship program.

The residency program is an ACOE certified Optometric program in Ocular disease.

The mission of our Optometric Residency and Student Extern program in ocular disease is to elevate the academic, clinical, and professional skills of the resident and student to enable the individual to be a leader in the profession of optometry.

Residency Program

Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates’ ACOE certified optometry residency program in ocular disease is affiliated with Pennsylvania College of Optometry@Salus University. The program is based in Havre de Grace, Maryland.

Program Coordinator

At Program Site

David D. Reed, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Residency Program Coordinator
Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates, P.A.
2023 Pulasky Highway
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-6477

 

At Optometric Institution

Shital Mani, O.D.
Director of Residency Programs
Pennsylvania College of Optometry@Salus University
8360 Old York Road
Elkins park, PA 19027
215-276-6193

Program Mission

The mission of our Optometry Residency program in ocular disease is to elevate the clinical, academic, and professional skills of the resident to enable the individual to be a leader in the profession of optometry. The resident will obtain these skills in an optometric/ophthalmologic setting within the framework of multidisciplinary and comprehensive health care. The resident is afforded the opportunity to deliver the highest quality of eye care to thousands of people with a multitude of medical conditions. Life-long learning resources will be conveyed to the resident to enable the delivery of exceptional care throughout the professional’s career.

Description of Program

Full scope eye care with an emphasis on secondary and tertiary eye care. Direct patient care with an emphasis on treatment and management of ocular disease in a high volume, clinical, pathology practice. The program consists of independent and supervised interaction by optometry and ophthalmology to provide independent thinking in therapeutic management and co-management of a vast variety of ocular disease conditions.

Educational Opportunities

Educational Opportunities:

Clinical:

Residents will provide direct patient care to a multitude of in-office clinical cases.  They will observe and co-manage a large variety of surgical procedures such as; cataract, refractive surgery, blepharoplasty, entropion, ectropion, chalazia, ALT/SLT, MIGS procedures, trabeculectomy, intravitreal injections, and retinal detachment.  Residents will participate in direct and observational care with retinal and glaucoma specialists.  They will participate in direct care of nursing home patients, in-office hospital consultations, in-office emergencies, and after-hour on-call emergency care which allow for greater autonomy and independent learning.  Finally, a variety of procedures will be learned during the program; corneal topography, external photography, slit lamp photography, fundus photography, OCT & OCT-A, A-scan ultrasonography, B-scan ultrasonography, foreign body & rust ring removal, punctal plug insertion, port release, corneal scraping, dilation & irrigation, and amniotic membrane insertion.

Didactic: 

Lectures and conferences regularly attended include; Seidenberg Protzko weekly lectures, Johns Hopkins weekly case conferences, and Resident’s Day at PCO@Salus.  In addition, residents will review the American Academy of Ophthalmology Basic Science books, present a case report lecture for area ODs and SP Eye doctoral staff in the spring & fall of the program, give a case report presentation at the PCO@Salus Resident Day Event, write a publishable quality paper, and attend at least one major eye care conference (AAO, AOA, SECO, etc.) in order to present a publishable quality poster.

Teaching Responsibilities

Residents will provide orientation to student doctors regarding office equipment, procedures, protocols, and EHR.  They will also aid in the delivery of clinical care with student externs in the second half of the program year, as well as present cases, lectures, and moderate journal club.

Research and Scholarly Responsibilities

Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates is a national research center for glaucoma, dry eye, allergy, ocular infection, and ocular inflammation. The residents will participate in these studies throughout the program year.

The resident will prepare a research project/paper/poster of publishable quality.

Program Business Details

  •     Weekly hours: 40-45 hrs per week
  •     Emergency on-call Service once every 4 weeks
  •     Program length: 53 weeks
  •     Start Date: last Monday of June through June 30 of the following year
  •     Salary/Stipend: $40,000 for 2022/23
  •     Benefits:
    • Paid holidays recognized by Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates
    • Medical and Dental:  Contact site for details
    • CE travel reimbursement:  $1000
    • Purchase of AAO books
    • 15 days paid leave: includes vacation, sick and interview time
    • Reimbursement for licensure during the year of the program  
    • Reimbursement for malpractice insurance during the year of the program
  •     Completion Acknowledgement: certificate from SP EYE and PCO@Salus      
    • (see Curriculum Overview and Program Requirements for Completion)
  •     Therapeutics: yes
  •     Ophthalmology Service: yes
  •     Date Program Established: January 1, 1997
  •     Accreditation Status: Accredited with next site visit scheduled for 2022
  •     Number of positions: 4

 Prerequisites/Eligibility: 

  • The applicant must have earned an O.D. degree or will have earned such a degree from an accredited school or college of Optometry prior to matriculation.
  • The applicant must successfully complete Parts I, II, III, and TMOD of the NBEO examinations in order to complete the program and receive a completion certificate.
  • Residents need to obtain a Maryland license by the end of the first quarter of the program; individual cases may be considered, in order to complete the program and receive a completion certificate.
  • Residency applicants will be evaluated without regard to sex, race, religion, age, nationality or handicap.
  • Residents must be a U.S. citizen, hold a Visa, or be able to extend a current Visa.
  • Qualified candidates are asked to visit the facility and interview for the residency position.  Under special circumstances, a telephone/FaceTime/Zoom interview may be granted.

Program Application

  •     Application Deadline: February 1st of any year
  •     Application must include:
    •     Letter of Intent
    •     Transcripts
    •     NBEO Scores: typically supplied by ORMS
    •     Letters of Recommendation appropriate for ocular disease program

How to Apply

Application materials and procedures for the residency program can be obtained by contacting:

David D. Reed, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Director, Residency Program
Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates, P.A.
2023 Pulaski Highway
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
(410) 939-6477

Or complete our Online Letter of Interest Form.

Forms