Southern College of Optometry Pediatric and Vision Therapy ResidenciesMarc B. Taub, OD, FAAO, FCOVD; Cheryl Ervin, OD | Southern College of Optometry

Founded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1932, Southern College of Optometry (SCO) ranks as one of

the nations leading institutions of optometric education. Students and faculty enjoy the opportunity

to learn and practice optometry in The Eye Center, one of the largest and most clinically advanced

vision and eye care centers in the country. Our students benefit from hands-on learning as they

accompany faculty on community outreach initiatives at school vision screenings and regional health

care settings. SCO students even travel abroad to take eye care to those in need around the globe.

Following graduation, we encourage our students to attain further knowledge by participating in a

residency. Our residency program has grown exponentially since it beganalmost 40 years ago. There

are currently 22 programs and35 slots across the country. We are proud of the variety of program

ranging from Primary Care to Ocular Disease to Vision Therapy.

The largest growth area in the SCO residency program comes in the areas of pediatrics and vision

therapy. There are eight residency slots in seven programs. Two college-based programs, Pediatrics

and Vision Therapy/Low Vision area available. While working at SCO, the resident will have the

opportunity to work with a diverse and fantastic faculty. The pediatric faculty has two past COVD

presidents, the editor of a major optometric journal, the current President-Elect of COVD, the current

Chair of InfantSEE, six Fellows of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, nine Fellows of

the American Academy of Optometry and have authored over 150 articles as a collective.

Behind the vision of Dr. WC Maples, the first Private Practice Vision Therapy residency was created

in 2007 at the office of Dr. Stanley Applebaum in Bethesda, Maryland. Since that time, four more

programs have been created at the following offices: Dr. Pat Pirotte-Wichita, Kansas; Dr. Bradley

Habermehl-Flint, Michigan; Dr. Barry Tannen-Hamilton Square, New Jersey; Dr. Leonard Press-Fairlawn,

New Jersey. These private practices residency programs offer the opportunity for increased clinical

knowledge and the chance to learn the business side of running a practice that includes vision

therapy. Each residency supervisor is a Fellow of the College of Optomistrist in Vision Development

and considered a leader in the field of vision therapy. The goal of these programs is simple: produce

well versed clinicians that will incorporate vision therapy into their practices.

As the importance of residencies continues to grow in the optometric profession due to board

certification and specialization, there will be a need for an increased number of residency programs

and positions. SCO has stepped up to the plate by expanding both and has done so in a variety of

specialties. In the areas of pediatrics and vision therapy, SCO offers quality alternatives and offers the

optometric community a glimpse at the future of residencies.

EyeCare Professionals, P.C.Address Phone Web Program Supervisor

1777 Kuser Road Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 (609) 581-5755

www.eyecareprofessionals.com www.visiontherapyresidency.com

Dr. Barry Tannen btannenod@aol.com

The goals of this program are two-fold:1. To teach the resident through extensive clinical experience, didactic coursework, and

guided self study, the art and science of the practice of Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation. The resident will gain extensive experience in working with patients with binocular/accommodative and eye movement disorders, vision processing and perceptual deficits, traumatic brain injury, and special needs and other developmental disorders. Additionally, the resident will participate in primary care, specialty contact lenses, ocular disease and special testing, as the practice is a large full scope practice that encompasses all areas of optometric care.

2. The resident will learn the nuts and bolts of running a successful optometric practice. S/he will complete specific modules in all relevant areas of optometric practice administration including (but not limited to) staff hiring and management, insurance coding, billing and submission, team building, report writing, patient care and professional seminar, and many other topics.

Family Eyecare Associates, P.C. The Vision and Learning Center

Address Phone Web Program Supervisor

17-10 Fair Lawn AvenueFair Lawn, NJ 07410 (201) 794-7977

www.pressvision.com www.visionhelp.com

Dr. Leonard J. Press pressvision@aol.com

The resident in our facility will have the opportunity to work in a unique environment that positions the candidate to be highly successful in key areas of optometry. While the principal emphasis is on acquiring skills necessary for advanced competency and financial management in vision therapy and rehabilitation, interaction with externs rotating through our practice from ICO and PCO enable the resident to model clinical teaching skills as well. The resident will also interact with our optometric vision therapists who are board certified or board eligible members of COVD. At years end the resident will feel comfortable implementing a broad array of skills in any environment, be it clinical research, institutional practice, or private practice.

The learning objectives of the residency stem from the textbook, Applied Concepts in Vision Therapy, authored by Dr. Press, who is a Past President of COVD, former Chief of Vision Therapy Services at SUNY, current Chair of the Pediatrics and Binocular Vision Committee of the AOA, and a consultant on visual disabilities for the NBME (National Board of Medical Examiners).

Appelbaum Eye Care Associates, PCAddress Phone Web Program Supervisor

6509 Democracy Blvd. Bethesda, MD 20817

(301) 897-8484 www.visionhelp.com Dr. Stanley A. Appelbaum stan@visionhelp.com33 Defense Highway, Suite 113 Annapolis, MD 21401

The program emphasizes the diagnosis and treatment of binocular vision and visual perceptual disorders. The resident will gain extensive experience in Vision Therapy for Adults and Children, Vision Improvement Programs, Pediatrics, Primary Care, Special Testing, Infants Vision, Head Trauma/Rehabilitation, Children with Special Needs, Therapeutic Lenses, Contact Lenses and Low Vision.

As an employee of Appelbaum Eye Care Associates, PC, the resident will gain experience working with visual perceptual deficits, developmental vision anomalies, general binocular and eye movement skill deficiencies, complex Strabismus and Amblyopia as well as patients with visual/vestibular disorders including sensory integration dysfunction, sensory processing disorder, tactile defensiveness, apraxia, vertigo, dizziness, balance, movement, attention, and coordination disorders.

Child and Family OptometryAddress Phone Web Program Supervisor

746 N. Maize Rd., Suite 100 Wichita, KS 67212 (316) 721-8877 www.childrensvision.com

Dr. Pat Pirotte pirotte@childrensvision.com

The mission of the residency at Child and Family Optometry is to give the graduate all the tools necessary to start and succeed privately practicing in the specialty realm of pediatrics and vision therapy and integrating it into a primary care setting. The resident will obtain advanced competence in clinical, social, and business aspects of successfully practicing in this area of optometry. Graduates of the residency will be uniquely suited to successful private practice.

Our unique position is to try and teach clinical care in the management of Strabismus and Amblyopia, visually-related learning problems, stroke, head trauma, and rehabilitation, while also developing skills in communication, marketing, and business.

Vision Therapy Group and Sensory Learning CenterAddress Phone Web Program Supervisor

4091 Richfield Road Flint, MI 48506 (810) 736-6673 www.visiontherapygroup.com

Dr. Bradley Habermehl dr.habermehl@prodigy.net

Dr. Bradley Habermehl and the Vision Therapy Group have been in practice in Southeast Michigan for over 21 years. This dynamic practice is split into three separate, but interconnected businesses. A resident who is selected to serve at this location will have the opportunity to experience a full scale optical practice as well as the added benefits of participating in Dr. Habermehls thriving vision therapy and sensory learning programs. Specific experiences in general optometry include the following: fitting for glasses and contacts, care for pre and post cataract and lasik surgery, and childrens vision care including vision therapy for vision-related learning problems and working with children on the autism spectrum. The resident will also be assigned vision therapy cases and will learn firsthand practice management of running a vision therapy practice. Dr. Habermehl currently serves as president-elect of the College of Optometrist in Vision Development.

Southern College of OptometryAddress Phone Web Program Supervisors

1245 Madison Avenue Memphis, TN 38120 901) 722-3250 www.sco.edu

PEDS / Dr. Marc B. Taub / mtaub@sco.edu VT & LVR / Dr. Cynthia Heard / cheard@sco.edu VT & LVR / Dr. David Damari / ddamari@sco.edu

Pediatrics ResidencyThis residency program provides advanced training in the care of pediatric patients as well as

using vision therapy as a treatment modality for various vision disorders. Residents gain extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of anomalies of binocular vision and assessment of vision function. Specialty areas of infant vision, strabismus, amblyopia, visual perception, vision therapy, pediatric eye disease, head trauma, special needs, electrodiagnostic techniques are explored. Residents work with other optometric specialties including contact lens, low vision and ocular disease, as well physicians, educators, psychologists, and other professionals in a diverse assortment of clinical and educational settings. This program is flexible and is adjusted to meet the residents needs and desires.

The Residency in Vision Pediatrics affords the resident the following opportunities: Provide vision care to a large number of patients from varied socioeconomic and cultural

backgrounds Participate in direct patient care in the Pediatric and Vision Therapy Services Supervise third and fourth year students in the Pediatric and Vision Therapy Services Participate in Emergency Care services Participate in the Community Outreach Program which includes vision screenings at local

area public and private schools Interact with other health care professionals including ophthalmology, pediatric

ophthalmology, neurology, occupational, physical and speech/language therapy and reading specialist

Provide consultative services to SCO faculty and other health care and education professionals

Attend national and state conferences including but not limited to the College of Vision Development, American Academy of Optometry and American Optometric Association

Participate in research and article authorship with SCO faculty Lecture in related courses and participate in laboratories related to those courses

Vision Therapy and Low Vision Rehabilitation ResidencyThis residency program provides advanced training in the care of low vision patients as well as

using vision therapy as a treatment modality for various vision disorders. Residents gain extensive experience in the diagnosis of ocular disease, management of patients with low vision, anomalies of binocular vision and assessment of vision function. Specialty areas of brain injury, neuro-rehabilitation, strabismus, amblyopia, visual perception, electrodiagnostic techniques are explored. Residents work with other optometric specialties including contact lens, pediatrics and ocular disease, as well physicians, educators, psychologists, and other professionals in a diverse assortment of clinical and educational settings. This program is flexible and is adjusted to meet the residents needs and desires.

The Residency in Vision Rehabilitation affords the resident the following opportunities: Provide vision care to a large number of patients from varied socioeconomic and cultural

backgrounds Participate in direct patient care in the Low Vision and Vision Therapy Services Participate in direct low vision patient care at off campus clinic locations

Star Center in Jackson, Tennessee Clovernook Center for the Blind in Memphis, Tennessee Memphis VA Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee

Supervise third and fourth year students in the Low Vision and Vision Therapy Services Participate in Emergency Care services Participate in the Community Outreach Program which includes vision screenings at local

area public and private schools Interact with other health care professionals including ophthalmology, pediatric

ophthalmology, neurology, occupational, physical and speech/language therapy and reading specialist

Provide consultative services to SCO faculty and other health care and education professionals

Attend national and state conferences including but not limited to the College of Vision Development, American Academy of Optometry and American Optometric Association

Participate in research and article authorship with SCO faculty Lecture in related courses and participate in laboratories related to those courses Advocate for patients requesting services or accommodations under various federal laws,

including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the ADA Amendments Act.