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 on a rotation in Las Vegas, Nevada at the North LV Veterans’ Medical Center.

Rotation 2 of 4 (Fall)

EPISODE 2 | Written by Tiffany Chan, 4th-Year SCCO Student

Hello from the busy city of Las Vegas. Definitely a big change from my summer rotation in Oklahoma, and I couldn’t wait to get some good Asian food again.

For the fall quarter, I’m working in the enormous North LV Veterans’ Medical Center. It’s a fast-paced rotation where nearly all the patients are over the age of 60. If you want to focus on the many potentially blinding diseases, both ocular and systemic, that come with age, this is the place to do it. Your daily schedule is mostly glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, plus occasional cases involving neurology or rheumatology.

And of course, Vegas has a lot to do on your days off of work. You have 12 weekends to fill and since you meet about 11 new people every workday, you never run out of recommendations from locals. There are great hiking trails, some of the best restaurants out there, and busy shopping centers. There is the tourist-packed Strip, Fremont St, and theaters. I’m definitely putting this here so that I can find it later: the best deal I’ve gotten for a show was through smartervegas.com. Go through that site and then spend more for the good seats, it’s worth it, especially if you’re going to a Cirque du Soleil show.

The VA Vegas rotation is a busy quarter of retinal deteriorations and surgery referrals, loud music, neon lights, and a lot of walking.

Next up is a slower quarter in Southern California. Every student has 1 quarter at their school and its associated clinic(s).

See you all there,

Tiffany

Check out Episode 1