Handbook Of Current Optometric Residencies.

Background: Available information on residency education does not include detailed information needed for applicants to make a knowledgeable decision. Current information located on the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) residency or the affiliated Optometry school websites is not detailed enough for a perspective applicant to make a decision on which programs would be best suited for the individual’s future goals. A user friendly handbook of all the available residency programs was designed and compiled. The handbook contains information unavailable to students at the websites and allows the initial process of researching a residency programs easier. Methods: A survey was sent to residency program supervisors to gather information on curriculum, faculty and facility information. Conclusion: The information in the handbook allows for the narrowing of the search to the top five to ten programs that would best fit the needs of the individual. It is recommended that ASCO redesign the information in residency websites to provide the information needed.