One of the six students selected from a class of 151 students for the advanced clinical skills program in second year based on academic performance, ability to work independently, and professional attitude. During third and fourth year, I pursued electives in cornea and contact lenses and became proficient in working with different contact lens modalities such as corneal gas permeable lenses, scleral lenses, hybrids, monovision, multifocals, soft lenses, and orthokeratology. In addition, I rotated through urgent care, glaucoma, and retina clinics and learned about the management of patients with advanced stage glaucoma, ocular emergencies, and retinopathies.

Worked in a multidisciplinary VA setting alongside ophthalmology residents, vitreo-retinal surgeon, cornea specialist, and emergency department to provide care to patients with a wide array of conditions ranging from general eye exams to treating advanced presentations of artery occlusions, traumatic blowout fractures, and proliferative retinopathies. Rotated through blind rehabilitative clinic and conducted low vision examinations as well as observed various rehabilitative services provided to the veterans.

Managed care for a high volume of pediatric population with various ocular diseases such as amblyopia, strabismus, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, congenital cataracts, and retinopathy of prematurity. Performed pediatric routine examinations and managed amblyopia and other ocular pathologies. In addition, participated in weekly journal clubs to discuss evidence-based management of amblyopia and the role of vision therapy.

Managed soft and specialty contact lens fitting for patients with keratoconus, transplants, and other corneal pathologies. Worked with different contact lens modalities: soft lenses, multifocals, monovision, orthokeratology, corneal gas permeable lenses, reverse geometry lenses, scleral lenses, hybrids, piggybacks, custom soft lenses.

Trained in the medical management of patients with keratoconus, corneal transplants, post-refractive surgery complications, and other corneal dystrophies. Through a year long rigorous program, I became proficient in fitting corneal rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, hybrids, custom soft, and scleral contact lenses for keratoconus, corneal transplants, and corneal irregularities secondary to radial keratotomy and other dystrophies. Additional rotations in pediatrics and prosthetics helped me broaden my skills in contact lens fittings for aphakia, Peter’s anomaly, corneal transplants, corneal trauma, aniridia, and other anterior segment disorders.