You might be wondering what someone with twelve years of experience and what might be thought of as a “cushy job” is doing applying for a new position as a practicing Optometrist. I hope you will get the sense from my curriculum vitae that I am an experienced OD who is not afraid of a challenge.

After finishing a challenging residency at the Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Brockton, Massachusetts and completing ten years in private practice, I heard about an opportunity to teach Optometry at MCPHS University School of Optometry. The school had opened eighteen months prior and they needed someone to teach ocular disease in both the classroom and clinic. I loved the challenge of teaching and made the jump to academic optometry.

The clinical program at the school needed development and they recruited me to it; moving me into the position of Associate Dean of Clinical Programs. After successfully opening three Community Health Center based vision centers and more than tripling the patient volume available for student education, MCPHS asked if I would try developing the didactic curriculum. They promoted me to Associate Dean of Academic Programs. I am currently in the process of redesigning the classroom curriculum with goal of producing the best clinical Optometrists in the country.

So, why would I leave such a job? I love Optometry. I love Optometry so much that I sought out academics so that I could talk about Optometry all day. The thing that is missing from academics is direct patient care. When I see a patient, I am with a student. The exam room is more of a classroom. A student examination may take three hours to complete. I truly miss the one-on-one interaction that I had as a private practice OD. I miss the pace and the challenge of a private practice environment.

So, I love Optometry and I love seeing patients. It appears from your job posting that you are looking for someone who can provide excellent, cutting-edge patient care in a busy environment while still maintaining a warm bedside manner. I propose that I am that person.

I would enjoy learning more about the opportunity and hope that we can connect via telephone or in person soon.

Sincerely,

Amy Falk, OD