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Residency Programs

COVID-19 Changes

Please contact the respective Residency Coordinator at the individual residency program for the most updated changes made to the application requirements and selection criteria due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID Vaccination Requirements for Residency Programs

Clinical Residency: Enhance Your Skills. Advance Your Career.

Completing an accredited, one-year postdoctoral residency program is a great way to enhance clinical expertise in your chosen optometric specialty. Under the guidance of experienced clinician-mentors, you’ll gain invaluable knowledge and skills through participation in patient care, scholarly activity, and hands-on optometric research.

Be Part of a Rich Tradition

Since 1977, the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) has enjoyed a rich tradition of providing exceptional residency education to qualified optometry-school graduates.

What began as a local, one-residency opportunity has blossomed into dozens of residency programs that today comprise more than 47 positions across the United States in optometric specialties such as:   

  • Cornea and Contact Lenses
  • Low Vision Rehabilitation
  • Ocular Disease
  • Primary Care
  • Neuro-Optometry
  • Pediatric Optometry/Vision Therapy

How to Apply

You may contact Assistant Dean of Residencies, Judy Tong, OD, FAAO to learn more or apply for a residency: 

  • Email: jtong@ketchum.edu
  • Tel: 714.463.7568  Fax: 714.872.5683

But before doing so, we ask that you first preview available programs and create a ‘short list’ of opportunities you’d like to know more about.

5 (More) Things to Know About Residency Education

  1. Residencies in the optometric profession are optional and not required either for licensure or starting a specialty practice. 
  2. Residencies for newly degreed ODs typically run about one year.
  3. Most often, residencies are located within hospitals, VA facilities, outpatient clinics, or the clinical facilities of participating colleges and schools of optometry. 
  4. Residencies vary within areas of emphasis and typically are identified by specialty or at a location in which the specialty is emphasized.
  5. All SCCO programs are structured in accordance with the guidelines of the AOA’s Accreditation Council on Optometric Education and are fully accredited or in the process for review.

Residency Program Locations

Click here to download the SCCO 2023 Residency Brochure.

Indian Health Service

Albuquerque Indian Health Center – Est. 2019

Primary Care/Ocular Disease

Christopher C. Cordes, OD, FAAO

Chinle Service Unit IHS – Est. 2008

Ocular Disease

R.Brandon Runyon, OD, FAAO

Gallup Indian Medical Center – Est. 1997

Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease

Alicia Thibodeaux, OD, FAAO

Lilian Thoi, OD, FAAO

Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital – Est. 1996

Ocular Disease

Mackenzie Black, OD

Northern Navajo Medical Center – Est. 1993

Ocular Disease/Primary Eye Care

Shannon Lee, OD

Riverside San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc. – Est. 2020

Primary Care Optometry

Nha-Han Nguyen-Deo, OD

Santa Fe Indian Hospital – Est. 2015

Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease

June Morikawa, OD

Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation – Est. 2011

Primary Eye Care

Breanne Flores, OD

Zuni Comprehensive Community Health Center – Est. 2011

Ocular Disease

Kieran McMillan, OD

Sophia Ries, OD

Private Practice & Health Maintenance Organizations

Azul Vision / California Eye Specialists - Inland Empire - Est 2022

Ocular Disease

Matthew Diggory, OD

Rex Villegas, OD, FAAO

Azul Vision / California Eye Specialists - Los Angeles - Est. 2019

Ocular Disease

Rex Villegas, OD, FAAO

Kaiser Foundation Hospital / The Permanente Medical Group - Est. 2016

Primary Eye Care

Paul H. Peng, OD, JD

Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, CA - Est. 2021

Primary Eye Care and Ocular Disease

Jonathan P Christie, OD, FAAO

Kaiser Permanente, Seattle, WA* – Est. 2007

Primary Care Optometry

Gelea Ice, OD

Kaiser Permanente, Tacoma, WA* – Est. 2009

Primary Care Optometry

Rodney Jacob Gunn, OD, FAAO    

Northwest Eye Surgeons' Dr. Matthew Niemeyer Memorial– Est. 2022

Ocular Disease

Davina Kuhnline, OD  

On-Campus Programs

CCL University Eye Center at Ketchum Health, Anaheim, CA – Est. 1991

Cornea and Contact Lenses

Dawn Lam, OD



POVT University Eye Center at Ketchum Health, Anaheim, CA – Est. 1978

Pediatric Optometry and Vision Therapy

Angela Chen, OD, MS

Veterans Affairs

Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT – Est. 2002

Primary Eye Care/Cornea & Contact Lenses

D. Lee Tanner, OD

Brittany Capstick, OD

 

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson, AZ – Est. 1995

Ocular Disease and Low Vision Rehabilitation

Danielle L. Weiler, OD

 

Greater Los Angeles / Sepulveda VA Medical Center, North Hills CA – Est. 1992

Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease

Steven G. Ferrucci, OD

Brenda Yeh, OD

 

VA Long Beach Healthcare System - Major Charles Robert Soltes, Jr. Blind Rehabilitation Center- Est. 2012

Primary Care/Low Vision Rehabilitation

Edward Chu, OD

 

VA Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center, Los Angeles, CA – Est. 1979

Ocular Disease/Low Vision Rehabilitation

Diana Wu, OD

 

VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA – Est. 2006

Primary Eye Care

Katherine Wang, OD

 

VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, Las Vegas, NV – Est. 2004

Ocular Disease

Lane Fujimoto, OD

Jennifer Monarrez, OD, FAAO

 

West Los Angeles VA Health Care Center, Los Angeles, CA – Est. 1983

Primary Care / Ocular Disease

Pauline Ilsen, OD