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OD Residency

We are a consultative surgical ophthalmology practice offering one-year optometric residencies with an emphasis in Anterior Segment Ocular Disease and Glaucoma. The Minnesota Eye Consultants Optometry Residency was established in 1994 and has trained 25 residents to date.

About the OD Residency Program:

The goal of this residency is to help a new optometrist gain vast knowledge and experience in ocular disease with a special focus on anterior segment disease and perioperative care as well as urgent eye care. The resident will become a well-rounded optometrist with terrific marketability, especially in OD/MD and private practice settings. 

Our program is 53-54 weeks, with a one-two week overlap with an outgoing resident at the start of the year. We will have two optometry residents this year that will have separate schedules, but are able to work synergistically together. Expected weekly hours of attendance will be about 42 on average. 

A day in the Life of an OD Resident:

40-45% of clinic time is spent in mentored clinics working alongside our distinguished cornea and glaucoma surgeons, our optometry team (dry eye and specialty contact lenses), and occasionally with our oculoplastics specialists. Residents will work with patients on their own within these clinics alongside a mentor (not a “shadowing” clinic).

  • At the beginning of the year, residents will also shadow in the operating room 1-2 half days with each surgeon.
  • 40-45% of clinic time is spent in an autonomous clinic. Residents are the doctors seeing their own patients. They do not have to report directly to an attending after each patient, however, another provider will be working in the same clinic should questions or issues arise. These clinic visits will include urgent, postoperative, glaucoma, cornea, broad-spectrum ocular disease, and comprehensive care.
  • There is an optional opportunity for some specialty contact lens fitting within the resident’s clinic.
  • 15% of the weekly experience is devoted to “research time”. This is spent on a research project(s) assigned by our research chair, Dr. Sherman Reeves. This time can also be spent on preparing presentations, papers, and completing charting.
  • On-call: 30% of primary on-call coverage for the year (every third week). This means the resident is the primary contact person during non-business hours (weekday evenings and weekends) while they are on-call. Call shifts span from either Monday-Thursday or Friday-Sunday. There is always a “back-up” call contact which is either our cornea or glaucoma ophthalmology fellow. On weeks the resident is scheduled for on-call, he/she will also be scheduled to see 1 Day Post Op exams on Saturday mornings. Our team will try to be as flexible as possible with the call schedule.
  • Residents will spend time at 4 different clinic locations: Blaine, Minnetonka, Bloomington, and Woodbury.
  • 12-Month Commitment, July – July
  • Compensation with Malpractice Insurance
  • Stipend to attend meeting registration and licensing fees
  • Work alongside our renowned clinical researchers *OD Residents have the opportunity to complete their own research project and have opportunities for publication if desired.
  • 15 days PTO
  • Present at 1-2 Illinois College of Optometry Resident Grand Rounds dates
  • Attend and present (poster or case presentation) at annual AAO meeting
  • Quarterly Minnesota Eye Consultants Journal Clubs
  • Quarterly Twin Cities OD Residents Journal Clubs

All applications are through the online ORMatch System (https://natmatch.com/ormatch/).  The applicant must, prior to matriculation, have attained the Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from a school or college of optometry accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education and must be eligible for licensure in Minnesota.  All applicants will be evaluated without regard to sex, race, color, creed, age, religion or non-disqualifying physical disabilities. 

The program coordinator, Dr. Mark Buboltz is the primary contact and will email candidates.

Residency interview dates are to be determined and posted on the ORMatch website. For questions about our residency program, please contact Alyse Page, Fellowship Coordinator, at [email protected].

1997-1998
Chad Christenson, OD

1997-1998
Jason Jedlicka, OD

1998-1999
Diane Houtman, OD

1999-2000
Scott G. Hauswirth, OD

2000-2001
Mary Jo Femrite, OD

2001-2002
Tina McCarty, OD

2002-2003
Brian Snyder, OD

2003-2004
Tanya (Sadler) Erntson, OD

2004-2005
Ahmad M. Fahmy, OD *

2005-2006
Benjamin J. Fogal, OD *

2006-2007
Sandy Vang, OD

2007-2008
Mona M. Fahmy, OD *

2008-2009
Noumia Cloutier-Gill, OD *

2009-2010
Jacob Kozisek, OD

2010-2011
Jaclyn Morin, OD

2011-2012
Tommy Lee Elton, OD

2012-2013
Katherine Montealegre, OD

2013-2014
Mitch J. Ibach, OD

2014-2015
Mark R. Buboltz, OD *

2015-2016
Kasie Mix, OD

2016-2017
Alicia Alvarado, OD

2017-2018
Michael D. Scheidt, OD

2018-2019
Emmalee A. Toldo, OD

2019-2020
Shelby K. Anderson, OD

2020-2021
Julia A. Osowski, OD

2021-2022
Lorin C. Larson, OD *
Samantha W. Lee, OD

* MEC Residents currently practicing with Minnesota Eye.

2022-2023 Optometric Resident
Nicole Bergman, O.D.
[email protected]

2022-2023 Optometric Resident
Jacob Jenness, O.D.
[email protected]

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