Externship and Residency Programs at Veterans Affairs Health Care Systems Offer SUNY Optometry Students and Residents Exposure to Unique Demographics of Patients in Need of Critical Vision Care
NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 11, 2019) – With a commitment to providing access as well as serving a growing and diverse population, SUNY College of Optometry commemorates Veterans Day by honoring its longstanding partnerships with 17 Veterans Affairs (VA) health care centers and military hospitals across the United States. Through the College’s externship and residency program, students and residents participate in programs that give them first-hand exposure to the distinctive needs of both retired and active military personnel.
These programs bring critical eye and vision care services to the community while creating the exposure and understanding of the unique needs of the U.S. military that are critical to future innovations and policies. Services include comprehensive eye exams, diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury (TBI), and low vision rehabilitation. Currently, SUNY Optometry alumni serve as externship and residency site supervisors at nine of the 17 affiliated VA hospitals and health centers.
“As health care providers, understanding the needs of the populations we serve is critical to providing the best care possible. Eye and vision related services are essential for retired and active members of our military who often are, or were, required to function in extreme circumstances, and heavily relied on their vision to achieve their missions,” said SUNY Optometry President David Heath, OD, EdM.
SUNY College of Optometry’s class of 2023 student and U.S. Navy Lieutenant, Michelle Kim said: “When I was applying to college, I knew that I wanted to become a doctor, but I felt like I didn’t understand what was going on in the world. Having a deployment under my belt opened my eyes to the lack of availability of eye care, not just for people in underserved areas, but also for our deployed service members. They [service members] have different visual demands than most civilians; for example, not having color blindness is pivotal for driving a ship at night, contact lenses and glasses are not readily available in the middle of the ocean, and lack of clear vision has potentially lethal ramifications in regards to shooting weapons, driving the ship, spotting friendly or enemy vessels, and even scanning the radars and screens.”
Below is a full list of SUNY College of Optometry’s VA- and military-affiliated residency and externship rotation sites (starred locations feature programs with SUNY Optometry alumni):
- Albany Stratton VA Medical Center*
- Baltimore VA Medical Center
- Brooklyn VA Medical Center*
- Buffalo VA Medical Center*
- Keller Army Community Hospital
- Lyons VA Medical Center
- Newington VA Clinic*
- Northport VA Medical Center*
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
- St. Albans VA Medical Center
- St. Cloud VA Health Care System
- Syracuse VA Medical Center*
- VA Boston Healthcare System
- VA Hudson Valley Health Care System*
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center*
- West Haven VA Medical Center*
- Wilmington VA Medical Center
Veterans, U.S. military personnel, and their families are invited to join us for a free eye screening on November 14 from 2:30 – 4:30 pm at the University Eye Center. Call (888) 601-8811 to schedule.
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About SUNY Optometry
Founded in 1971 and located in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry is a leader in education, research, and patient care, offering the Doctor of Optometry degree as well as MS and Ph.D. degrees in vision science. The College conducts a robust program of basic, translational and clinical research and has 65 affiliated clinical training sites. SUNY Optometry is regionally accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; its four-year professional degree program and residency programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association. All classrooms, research facilities, and the University Eye Center, which is one of the largest optometric outpatient facilities in the nation, are located on 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in midtown Manhattan. To learn more about SUNY Optometry, visit www.sunyopt.edu.