National Capital Consortium at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Laura Addy, OD, FAAO

Director of Residencies

Midwestern University Eye Institute

5865 W Utopia Rd.

Glendale, AZ  85308

laddy@midwestern.edu

(623) 806.7267 

The Mission of the National Capital Consortium’s Optometry Residency in Vision Rehabilitation at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is to provide advanced clinical training for optometrists with concentrated emphasis on traumatic brain injury (TBI) including diagnosis, treatment, and vision rehabilitation with additional advanced competencies in primary care optometry. Upon completion of the Program, residents are expected to experience greater autonomy and increased professional capacity for managing diverse and complex patient populations across the spectrum of military and public health service assignments.

The National Capital Consortium optometric residency in Vision Rehabilitation with emphasis in Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Primary Care Optometry is conducted at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.  The residency is open to Army, Navy, Air Force, and Public Health Service active duty optometrists. Civilian optometrists are not eligible for this program.

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) is one of the nation's largest and most renowned military medical centers.  Recently dubbed "The Nation's Medical Center, " it represents the joining of the "Best of the Best" in military medicine.  The National Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center came together in September of 2011 to form WRNMMC as decreed by the Base Realignment and Closure law of 2005.

WRNMMC is comprised of nearly 7,100 dedicated staff members who make it their daily mission to achieve the vision and mission of the medical center.  Its vision is to serve military families and the nation's active duty, returning war heroes, veterans, and our Nation's leaders.  WRNMMC is committed to operational readiness;  outstanding customer service; maintaining excellent graduate medical and dental education and research; and always delivering premier quality health care within an integrated system.  Those who come through its doors come to heal, stay healthy, help others, teach the next generation, practice quality medicine, and take part in cutting-edge clinical research.  While taking pride in its rich history, WRNMMC is moving toward a new horizon in health care - one that offers synergy and revolutionary collaboration.

The WRNMMC Optometry Service is a world class clinic that specializes in eye and vision care.  The Optometry Service offers state of the art testing, diagnosis and treatment in ocular pathology, refractive conditions, binocular vision, TBI and low vision.  WRNMMC Optometry Service serves as a center of learning for our nation's optometry colleges as well as conducts and collaborates on vision and eye related research.

The resident is scheduled 40-45 hours per week at the various clinics; the resident typically starts at 0700 and ends at 1600 with an hour break for lunch.  The resident is encouraged to pursue scholarly activity during the scheduled time and after clinic as needed.

1. Participate in 1000 patient encounters


2. Prepare and submit a manuscript of publishable quality to a peer-reviewed optometric journal


3. Submit one poster or lecture to a major optometric meeting


4. Deliver a COPE-approved continuing education lecture at a quarterly NCRFOS meeting.

Interested applicants should contact his/her specialty leader for information regarding the program.

Residents are appointed by their respective branch service optometric consultant.

1. Applicants must earn the degree of Doctor of Optometry from a school or college of optometry accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education prior to the starting date of the residency program.


2. Pursue a full and unrestricted optometry license in any U.S. state by starting date (and obtain within one year)


3. Have a competitive GPA


4. Successfully complete Parts I and II of the NBEO examinations (successfully complete Part III within one year)


5. Submit completed U.S. military or USPHS application materials


6. Be on U.S. military or USPHS active duty status