Residency Profile: Chinle Service Unit IHS

Residency Programs

Chinle Service Unit IHS

Established: 2008
Positions: 1

Chinle Service Unit IHS
Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility
Indian Health Service
PO Drawer PH
Chinle, AZ 86503

Program Faculty

R. Brandon Runyon, OD, FAAO

Residency Co-Coordinator

Adjunct Faculty:

• Erelda Gene, OD
• ReBecca Sorenson, OD
• Valerie L. Sharpe, OD, FAAO

Mission Statement

The mission of the Chinle Service Unit Optometry Residency Program is to provide qualified post-doctoral optometry graduates with an advanced educational experience focused on primary eye care and ocular disease management in a hospital-based setting.

The vision of the program is to foster an attitude of lifelong learning that will continue to guide residents beyond the completion of the program, cultivating patient centered clinicians that are capable of providing high quality and safe optometric services.

Residents will receive clinical and didactic training that will ensure the development of advanced competencies in eye, vision, and health care. Residents will be exposed to the Navajo culture in a fashion that facilitates the development of culturally safe, compassionate care.

Program Description

Program Goals

1. Enhance the resident’s skills in primary eye care and ocular disease management.

2. Expand the resident’s proficiency with specialized diagnostic instrumentation.
3. Strengthen the resident’s ability to provide patient-centered care through patient education, communication, and shared decision making.
4. Provide advanced optometric clinical training in a hospital-based setting.
5. Expose the resident to contemporary methods of ongoing provider performance improvement, quality assurance, and peer review.
6. Foster the resident’s ability to advance and master their knowledge base by analyzing the best current scientific information and assimilating this knowledge into evidence-based decision making.
7. Develop the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in the discourse of the global medical community through the presentation of clinical experiences and/or research.

Program Objectives

1. Provide the resident with an extensive primary care patient base.
2. The resident will develop skills in diagnosing, treating, and managing ocular disease through exposure to a variety of challenging and complex cases such as: anterior and posterior segment pathology, trauma, unusual refractive errors, and ocular related systemic disease. 
3. The resident will gain experience with pre- and post-operative care. 
4. The resident will develop skills in performing and interpreting retinal imaging with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ophthalmic ultrasonography (B-scan).
5. The resident will develop skills in performing digital anterior segment and digital fundus photography.
6. The resident will develop skills in providing both direct and translation assisted patient education, communication, and shared decision making in a cross-cultural setting.
7. The resident will function within a multidisciplinary healthcare environment, providing high quality, coordinated care through effective communication and collaboration with other healthcare specialties (i.e. emergency medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, radiology, public health nursing, behavioral health, etc.).
8. The resident will learn to efficiently utilize the broader support services afforded by a hospital-based practice setting.
9. The resident will develop an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of optometry and other providers in a multidisciplinary healthcare environment. 
10. The resident will learn to apply current methods of assessing provider performance to facilitate improvements in patient care through practice pattern modification and self-adjustment.
11. The resident will expand their knowledge base by developing and maintaining awareness of current standards of care and associated clinical and scientific literature. The resident will be expected to integrate and apply this knowledge into patient care through evidence-based clinical decision making.
12. The resident will develop the skills to prepare and deliver formal clinical presentations.
13. The resident will become familiar with the process of manuscript preparation. Pertinent deadlines will be enforced as mandated by SCCO.
14. The resident will develop understanding and experience of the responsibilities of an optometric educator. 

Typical Daily or Weekly Schedule in Clinic

• Program Length: 12 months (Starting Mid-July to early August, ending around late July depending on Federal pay periods)
• Hours:
  • Initially, regular business hours Monday to Friday. Later, a “flex schedule” may be approved which includes one weekday off during each two-week pay period (see example below).
• Call Schedule:
  • For most of the year, the resident will be on-call one week per month (Wed evening to the following Wed morning. Weekdays 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM and Weekends 24 hours per day).
    • The program starts with an intensive 4-week block of buddy call with faculty.
    • After this initial period, an assigned attending will be available for in-person and/or phone consultation.
    • The resident will provide call services independently when deemed appropriate by faculty.

• 		Week 1
  Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
  Patient Care (8:00-12:00)	Patient Care (8:00-12:00)	Patient Care (8:00-12:00)	Admin and Didactics	Patient Care (8:00-12:00)
  		Lunch (12:00-1:00)
  Patient Care (1:00-5:00)	Patient Care (1:00-5:00)	Patient Care (1:00-5:00)	Patient Care (1:00-5:00)	Patient Care (1:00-5:00)
  Didactic/Administrative Time (5:00-6:00)

   

  		Week 2
  Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
  Patient Care (8:00-12:00)	Patient Care (8:00-12:00)	Patient Care (8:00-12:00)	Admin and Didactics	Flex day
  Lunch (12:00-1:00)
  Patient Care (1:00-5:00)	Patient Care (1:00-5:00)	Patient Care (1:00-5:00)	Patient Care (1:00-5:00)
  Didactic/Administrative Time (5:00-6:00)

Type and Number of Patients

• Approximately 80% of the resident’s time is spent in clinical care:
  • Direct patient care with technician support
  • Primary and secondary eye care services for management of anterior and posterior segment ocular disease
  • Outpatient, inpatient (adult and pediatric), and emergency department encounters
  • Minimum of 1,200 patient encounters
  • Prior residents have seen an average of ~2,000 patients per year
• Patient demographics:
  • All ages from neonate to elderly
  • Across the spectrum of development
  • When available, the resident will provide services at the local nursing home and conduct school screenings.
• Post-operative care provided for several sub-specialties of ophthalmology:
  • Cataract
  • Glaucoma
  • Retina
  • Cornea
  • Oculoplastic

Observations:

• On-site: The resident will have the opportunity to observe on-site medical and optometry providers over the course of the program.
  • Optometry: low vision, minor procedures, and laser clinics.
  • Other Hospital Departments: emergency medicine, radiology, pediatrics, internal medicine/family practice, laboratory, native medicine, and pharmacy.
  • Rotating sub-specialties (pending availability): rheumatology, dermatology, neurology, cardiology, and other specialties are on-site periodically and may allow for observation.
• Off-site Ophthalmology: there are no on-site ophthalmologists at the hospital. Clinical and surgical observations in Albuquerque. Flagstaff, and/or Phoenix will be scheduled during the course of the program.

Teaching and Lecturing Opportunities

• Teaching: instructing non-optometric trainees rotating at CSU (i.e. pharmacy, medical students; Armed Forces medics, medical residents, etc.). This will not be at the exclusion of an independent patient care schedule.
• Lecturing: The resident will be required to present at least:
  • One (1) continuing education lecture to the CSU Medical Staff
  • One (1) continuing education lecture to CSU Optometry support staff
  • One (1) continuing education lecture at an optometry education meeting
  • Two (2) lectures at IHS Resident’s weekly Virtual Grand Rounds.
  • The resident is encouraged to pursue additional lecturing opportunities that interest them.

Scholarly Activities

Scholarly activities include, but are not limited to:

• Resident Discussion Series:
  • Seminars primarily led by faculty on clinically relevant topics.
  • Example topics: ocular trauma, B-scan ultrasound, neuroimaging, patient-provider relationship, uveitis, minor surgical procedures, lasers, infectious keratitis, etc.
• Resident Reading List:
  • A required reading list designed to supplement the Resident Discussion Series. The list is maintained and updated periodically by faculty in collaboration with the resident.
• Journal Clubs:
  • Quarterly Indian Health Service Residents’ Journal Club
  • CSU Optometry Journal Club
• Inpatient Rounds:
  • Participation in at least 1 week of Medicine in-patient morning rounds
• Continuing Medical Education
  • At least one (1) optometry education meeting (Attending additional conferences is strongly encouraged)
  • At least four (4) CSU Medical Staff lunch CME lectures
• Thesis Paper:
  • Preparation of a manuscript of publishable quality.

Requirements for Residency Completion and Awarding of Certificate

• The resident is required to keep a detailed log of all program activities, which will be reviewed by the SCCO Dean of Academic Affairs, the SCCO Director of Residencies, and the Residency Coordinator.

• The resident is required to complete all basic components of the clinical, didactic, and scholarly activities as outlined in the Chinle Service Unit Optometry Residency curriculum. 
• The resident is required to provide patient care services at a level deemed satisfactory to the Residency Coordinator and faculty, in line with the highest levels of current optometric standards of practice.
• The resident is required to submit a paper based upon original research, literature review, and/or clinical case or cases suitable for publication in a peer reviewed optometric journal.
• The resident is expected to deliver patient care services in a professional manner and to observe those proprieties of conduct and courtesy that are consistent with the rules and regulations governing SCCO and the IHS.
• Upon evidence of satisfactory performance in meeting all requirements of the program, the resident will be awarded a Certificate of Completion by SCCO and a Certificate of Residency from the USPHS IHS.

Compensation and Benefits

Application Process and Eligibility

All applications are processed through the Optometry Residency Matching Service (ORMatch) in accordance with published guidelines. Application Deadline is January 31st of each year.

Prerequisites

• Must be a citizen of the United States of America.
• OD degree conferred by a school, college, or university of optometry accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) prior to the beginning of the program.
• Must pass all parts of the NBEO examinations (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3), including TMOD prior to ORMatch Rank List submission date (which is usually late February). 
  • In order to meet this criteria, Part 3 of NBEO generally should be taken no later than the December so that scores will be guaranteed by February. Please confirm expected availability of NBEO Part 3 results with NBEO when scheduling the exam.
  • ISE and/or LSPE not required but encouraged if applicant wishes to obtain clinical privileges for correlating advanced procedures.
• Applicants must be eligible for licensure as an optometrist in a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

Required Application Materials: (submitted via ORMatch)

• Official transcripts for all optometric education
• Official copies of NBEO scores
• Letter of intent including a statement of goals applicant hopes to achieve during the residency program
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation from faculty members and/or clinical preceptors

Site Visit and Interview:

• An interview is mandatory either in person or via telephone for competitive applicants.
• Interviews will be scheduled based on application information and quality of credentials.
• On-site interviews are strongly recommended due to the very rural nature location of the program. Interviews are half-day slots and include lunch on select dates in January and February. The interview consists of departmental meet and greet, departmental tour, hospital tour, housing tour, clinical observation with current resident or clinical faculty, and formal interview. Lunch with the doctors and resident is included for applicants.

Selection Process

Candidates are ranked using a scoring matrix with the following categories and weights:

• Academic Performance (GPA, NBEO score) - 33%
• Letters of Recommendation and Special Qualities - 33%
• Interview, Letter of Intent & Goals - 33%

All residency program applicants will be evaluated without regard to gender, race, color, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, or non-disqualifying physical disabilities.

Program Accreditation

The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education granted the program the status of “accredited” in 2016. The next scheduled site visit will take place in March 2025. The review by the residency program will be submitted in the annual report on or before September 1st. For more information on accreditation status, please visit the ACOE website (http://www.theacoe.org) or contact the ACOE via postal mail, email, or phone at:

Accreditation Council on Optometric Education
243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., Suite 301
St. Louis, MO 63141
Phone: 1-800-365-2219
E-mail address: accredit@theacoe.org

Local Activities & Attractions

• Chinle is located in the heart of the Navajo Indian reservation with abundant opportunities to experience a vibrant Native American culture.
• Chinle is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise with unlimited access to hiking, camping, biking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and more.
  • Canyon de Chelley National Monument (only 5 minutes away)
  • Mesa Verde, Canyonlands & Arches National Parks (3 hours away)
  • Flagstaff, AZ & Mount Humphrey (3 hours away)
  • Moab, Utah (3 hours away)
  • Albuquerque (4 hours away)
  • Telluride & Durango Mountain resorts (4 hours away)
  • Grand Canyon National Park (4 hours away)

Contact Information

R. Brandon Runyon, OD, FAAO
Residency Coordinator
Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility
PO Drawer PH
Chinle, AZ 86503
Phone: 928.674.7160
Fax: 928.674.7700
Email: Richard.Runyon@ihs.gov

Judy W.H. Tong, OD, FAAO
Assistant Dean of Residencies
Southern California College of Optometry at
Marshall B. Ketchum University
2575 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Fullerton, CA 92831-1699
714.449.7429 • Fax: 714.992.7811• Email: jtong@ketchum.edu