Externship Site
Vision Therapy Institute
ICO STUDENTS ACCEPTED EACH QUARTER
Essentials
Location
3618 Sunset Blvd
City:
State:
Zip:
West Columbia
SC
29169
U.S.A.
Country:
Southeast US
Region:
Unit A
Additional Address Information:
Description
Learning Objectives:
Enhance the student doctor’s clinical skills in pediatric optometry, vision therapy, and neuro-optometric rehabilitation, including the treatment and management of disorders, strabismus, amblyopia, special populations, and TBI.
Familiarize and implement all specialty contact lens technology, including developing a referral network and clinical development. Gain experience with RGP, hybrid, scleral, and EyePrint lenses.
Develop dry eye disease protocols, assist in IPL treatments, and perform radiofrequency treatments.
If interested, can shadow vestibular PT, OT, and concussion specialists.
The student will perform comprehensive exams modeled after the IEI exam structure of supervision. The student doctor will also perform visual information processing testing, extensive binocular vision testing, and work with a vision therapist to perform VT. Our program is designed to help you make the most of your time in our office! While every student has two full days a week providing vision therapy, the other 3 days can be set up to maximize your experience with VT evals, dry eye, or specialty contact lenses.
Number of Student Encounters
Average number of patients per week per student:
31
25
How many are full exams?
How many are special testing?
How many are observation only?
5
Relative Percentage of Student Encounters
40
25
10
40
0
% = Routine Refractive
% = Contact Lens
% = Ocular Disease
% = Pediatric / Binocular Vision
% = Low Vision
Facility Details
Required equipment:
Contact for externship liason:
Arrival procedure for students:
Send introductory letter by email to office manager and Dr. Davis. On first day, arrive at 8:20am for tour and orientation.
Attending Staff - Full Time: Katie Davis, OD (Specialty Contact Lens, Dry Eye, Pediatrics / Vision Therapy)
Adjunct Staff - Full Time: Elena Martin, OD, Kaitlyn Creekmore, OD (Primary Care, Pediatrics / Vision Therapy)
Miscellaneous comments:
The student can customize their rotation to be more involved in vision therapy, primary care, or specialty lenses.
Additional Information:
Click here to review onboarding requirements. If you do not see your site listed on Sharepoint, contact your preceptor directly.
Student Review
"My expectations were exceeded. The staff members were so friendly and willing to help me learn in any way they could. All of the therapists had varying experience and provided me with different perspectives that enhanced my learning experience. Dr. Brinkley and Dr. Davis are so knowledgable about so many things not just in the realm of developmental optometry. I was also exposed to specialty contact lens fitting as well. I also got to have many interprofessional experiences including shadowing PT/OT and a pediatric ophthalmologist. I also learned more administrative things like how to write referral letters and reports. It was truly a fantastic experience."
Contact Lens, Pediatrics/Vision Therapy, Ocular Disease
Facility specialties:
Facility category:
Peds/BV/Advanced CL/VR (Specialty 3)
Max number of ICO students?
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Housing available or a stipend?
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Is this a residency program?
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Other externship affiliations?
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Do you provide formal journal club, case discussion, grand rounds?
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Are meals provided?
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Is an automobile necessary?
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Is there on-site parking?
No
Yes
No
No
No
1
Yes
Yes
Facility website
Student Clinic Hours
2:00 pm
8:30 am
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
5:30 pm
8:30 am
6:00 pm
8:30 am
5:30 pm
9:00 am
6:00 pm
8:30 am
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T:
W:
T:
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S:
S:
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Additional Info about Hours:
Private
Facility Type