Optometric
Residency Program
VISION THERAPY
REHABILITATION AND PEDIATRIC EYE CARE
VISION NORTHWEST
FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON
SPONSORS: VISION NORTHWEST, FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON
AFFILIATE: PACIFIC UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY, FOREST GROVE, OREGON
MISSION
This program provides optometrists
the resident’s development into
with advanced clinical experience in
an exceptional clinician offering
the management of vision disorders
specialized skills in optometric care for
through both modeling and direct
vision rehabilitation patients, persons
patient contact including cases of
with binocular and developmental
amblyopia/strabismus, acquired
vision impairments and those with
brain injury, developmental delays
vision related learning difficulties in
and vision related learning difficulties.
reading, spelling and mathematics.
These experiences will facilitate
GENERAL INFORMATION
Residency Program Supervisor
Curtis R. Baxstrom, MA, OD, FCOVD, FNORA
Dr. Baxstrom received his O.D. degree from
Pacific University and a Master of Arts in
Reading from Seattle Pacific University. He
has practiced vision therapy in Federal Way,
Washington since 1993. In addition, he
consults at two local Rehabilitation Hospitals
providing Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation
services. He is also an adjunct professor
at Pacific University. He is a fellow of the
American Academy of Optometry, the
College of Optometrists in Vision
Development and the Neuro-Optometric
Rehabilitation Association.
Dr. Baxstrom is actively involved in many
committees and programs of COVD and
NORA. In his community he is involved in
his Lions Club and has received the Melvin
Jones Fellow Award. When not involved in
Optometry he is a climbing instructor and
leader for the Mountaineers. In 1989 he
received the “Young Optometrist of the
Year” award for California. He has published
multiple articles and lectured at meetings
across the globe.
Length of Program
54 weeks
Starting Date
July 1
Annual Salary
$35,000 - Salary is not contingent
upon productivity of the resident.
Hours
Expected range of hours of attendance in
a typical week of activities is 40-50 hours.
Vision Northwest hours are Monday-Thursday
8:15-5:30 and Friday 8:15 to noon.
Leave
Residents earn 10 days of paid leave that can
be used for vacation, education, or illness.
Professional Liability Protection
Provided by Vision Northwest
Health Insurance Benefits
Available at a nominal cost
Certificate of Completion
A certificate of completion will be awarded
to the resident upon satisfactory fulfillment
of residency requirements as outlined in
the Pacific University College of Optometry
residency program supplemental policy
manual and Vision Northwest guidelines for
residency program completion.
PROGRAM GOALS
1
Enhance the resident’s examination
skills in vision development and
rehabilitation
2
Strengthen the resident’s expertise
in the diagnosis and management
of vision problems in binocular, visual
information processing and vision
rehabilitation.
3
Expand the resident’s knowledge
in managing patients with
developmental delays, learning issues and
acquired brain injury.
4
Expand the resident’s knowledge
of binocular and perceptual vision
problems.
5
Develop the resident’s communication
skills that are required for successful
provision of services in vision therapy and
rehabilitation.
6
Develop the resident’s understanding
of the business and accounting aspects
of successful management of a practice
devoted to rehabilitation, and vision
therapy.
7
Develop the resident’s skill in
presenting topics to fellow
professionals.
8
Instill in the resident an appreciation
of the importance of scholarly activity.
SAMPLE WEEK IN THE LIFE
OF A RESIDENT
monday
8:15 am – 5:30 pm
tuesday
8:15 am – 5:30 pm
wednesday
8:15 am – 5:30 pm
thursday
8:15 am – 5:30 pm
friday
8:15 am – 12 pm
Daily patient care followed by case
discussion. Every effort will be made to
address immediate questions and concerns
for patients while they are in the office to
expedite appropriate patient care.
1:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Scholarly and Administration Time
saturday
closed
sunday
closed
After hours on-call assignments will be made
on a periodic basis.
Participation in community vision care
acitivities will be required on a periodic basis.
Our local optometric society supports vision
care programs for the homeless and the
Lions Club Special Olympics
RESIDENCY EXPERIENCE
Strengths of the Program
The Resident will gain clinical experience in
all aspects of vision therapy and rehabilitative
care. The resident will meet on a weekly
basis with the residency supervisor for
discussion of current cases. The resident has
the opportunity to see patients at external
multidisciplinary clinics in addition to the
clinical experience available at the Vision
Northwest. These locations provide exposure
to a wider variety of conditions. The exact
schedule for these visits will be determined
by the program supervisor.
Scholarly Activities
The resident is expected to author at least
one manuscript suitable for publication
and to present this work at the annual
Northwest Residents Conference at Pacific
University. The resident may attend Pacific
University sponsored continuing education
programs and the registration fees are waived
during the residency year. The resident is
encouraged to attend other educational
programs; however, travel, lodging, meals
and incidental expenses remain the resident’s
responsibility.
Performance Evaluations
The resident will receive written evaluations
and verbal feedback from the residency
program supervisor and the resident will
evaluate the residency program and supervisor
at least twice during the residency year.
WORKSITE
Worksite & Patient Population
The clinic shares space with a speech therapy
clinic and time can be made to observe and
interact with co-treatment of patients. The
patient base is primarily based in the area
of pediatrics, strabismus and amblyopia,
learning related vision problems and acquired
brain injuries. The facilities include two
refracting lanes and three therapy rooms.
Special testing and therapy equipment
includes Diopsys VEP System, Interactive
Metronome, Computer Orthoptics-Liquid
Crystal Vision Therapy Automated Vision
Therapy, Sanet Visual Integrator, Readalyzer
and a variety of other vision therapy
equipment.
Library & Research Resources
The resident is provided electronic access to
the libraries and computer databases of
Pacific University.
Computer, Email & Telephone Access
The clinic is equipped with computers that
have internet and email access. Most
rooms have work stations for easy access to
electronic health records. The resident has the
opportunity to have a personal email account.
Seattle ■
WASHINGTON
■ Federal Way
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
1
Candidates must earn the degree of
Doctor of Optometry from a school
or college of optometry accredited by
the Accreditation Council on Optometric
Education
2
Candidate must pass all three parts of
the NBEO and attain Washington State
licensure prior to the starting date of the
residency program.
3
Vision Northwest affirms that all
candidates will be evaluated without
regard to sex, race, color, creed, national
origin or non-disqualifying physical
disabilities.
APPLICATION PROCESS
1
2
Contact the residency program supervisor
and be available for a personal interview
Candidates must apply to this residency
program through the Optometry
Residency Match (ORMatch) online at
www.natmatch.com/ormatch/
3
4
5
Furnish official transcripts of all optometric
and graduate education.
Furnish official NBEO scores.
Three letters of recommendation from
individuals familiar with the candidate's
clinical and academic performance.
6
Candidates must provide a brief
essay stating reasons for applying to
this program.
LIVING IN FEDERAL WAY, WA
Federal Way is between Seattle and Tacoma
in King County, Washington. Its western
boundary is Puget Sound and the Cascade
Mountains are to the east. The area
offers a rich variety of activities including
sightseeing, hiking, kayaking, beachcombing
and restaurants. The area has cultural and
community events throughout the year.
CALL OR EMAIL TODAY
For additional information about these
residency opportunities, please contact: Curtis R. Baxstrom, OD
1705 South 324th Place
Federal Way, WA 98003
253-661-6005
253-661-0633 Fax
baxstrom@earthlink.net