As part of SCCO’s Clinical Outreach program and beginning in the summer quarter of each year, 4th-year students begin their first of four clinical rotations.  This clinical program consists of many sites all over the U.S., with some sites in Canada, Japan, and Guam. Sites can be in private practice, medical clinics, on military bases, and in private or group practices.  The various sites and their locales have distinctively different patient demographics.  SCCO students select their own clinical rotation sites, giving them the ability to tailor their last year of clinical education to their particular interests in the various specialties within optometric practice.  For example, should a student have an interest in pediatric optometry, a rotation site at a military base where families are the demographic would be the best choice.  Should a student have an interest in ocular disease, a rotation site where older patients (the demographic for ocular disease) present like a veteran’s hospital.  It is through this diverse clinical program that SCCO is able to give each student the spectrum of clinical experience necessary to yield a well-rounded clinical education.

This continuing series features a 4th-year SCCO student, Tiffany Chan, who is off to her first rotation in Lawton, Oklahoma at the Lawton IHS Hospital optometry clinic. “IHS” is the acronym that stands for Indian Health Services, an operating division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  IHS is responsible for providing medical and public health services to members of federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Natives. IHS is the principal federal healthcare provider and health advocate for Native American people.

Unfortunately, because there is a high incidence of diabetes and hypertension among Native American people, along with other systemic conditions affecting the eye, this population is at risk for ocular disease.  This will be the type of patient our 4th-year student will most likely see.  For more information on the Lawton IHS Hospital, visit Lawton IHS Hospital .

Rotation 1 of 4 (Summer)

EPISODE 1 | Written by Tiffany Chan, 4th-Year SCCO Student

Hello future applicants! I’m Tiffany Chan, a fourth-year OD student, and that means I just wrapped up my first rotation this summer. This article is going to be the first in a series called “Adventures of a 4th year” because 4th year is a time to branch out and explore! Throughout our final year of optometry school, we’ll work in a different site every quarter, so we’re encouraged to choose a wide variety and expand our horizons. SCCO has over 80 sites to choose from and we get to select three out of the four sites based on our interests or career goals… I chose to travel!

I was born and raised in California, so I was really happy to learn that SCCO had so many out-of-state rotation sites to choose from. The first place we’re headed is Lawton, a small town in Oklahoma. After shipping my car and flying in with a suitcase stuffed with summer clothes and scrubs, I’m working at the Lawton Indian Hospital. It’s a big facility where I get to see patients of all ages and diagnoses. I both learn and teach something every single day. All the while, I’m hearing stories about last year’s tornado or that time someone’s car got wrecked by a hog… just a little different than northern California where I grew up! After work, I’ve spent the evenings/weekends exploring and have gathered some tips/culture shocks/recommended activities for a future student who may choose to follow in my footsteps: 

1. If you want to spend a relaxing day on the lake, pretty much anyone you ask has an extra kayak you can borrow. 
2. Learn about Native American life and culture, and go to some events! One weekend, the office staff invited us to a powwow that was full of energy, vendors, shows, and contests. Another time, our office manager took me and one of the doctors to our first 5k. It was hosted by their tribe, a lot of fun, and definitely not something I thought I’d do while I was here. 
3. It’s more humid than you think it’s going to be. 
4. The animals here are so used to humans. Prairie dogs have huge towns set up in the fields and parks. In the nearby wildlife reserve, there are no fences or barriers along the road, so bison, longhorn, and prairie dogs will cross the street right next to your car.  Highly recommend going if you like animals, just drive slowly. 

Between glaucoma work-ups and thunderstorms, dilating drops, and 3-day long powwows, I’ve already learned so much these past few weeks. 

Thanks for joining me here, next time you hear from me, I’ll be writing from the middle of the fall quarter. Lawton’s one of the smallest towns I’ll ever live in, and my next rotation is going to be in one of the biggest: Las Vegas, Nevada.

Check out Episode 2