Summary (2021-2022, 2022-2023 Catalog)

Sequential (2021-2022, 2022-2023 Catalog)

Primary Eye Care Residency – IAUPR

Mission

The program expects to provide post-graduate training so that the resident can develop proficiency in areas of primary care optometry, gain experience with multidisciplinary settings, and obtain training in pre-and-post -ophthalmic operative care. The program also will provide the resident with experience in teaching and scholarly activities, so that he or she may further pursue a career in education and research.

Program Goals

• Provide post-graduate training, which develops the proficiency necessary to become a full-scope primary care practitioner
• Develop quality clinical educators and clinical researcher

Program Description

• One-year residency program (beginning by the third week of August)
• A yearly stipend of $40,000 with benefits
• Health Insurance benefits from IAUPR
• Professional Liability Protection from IAUPR
• Vacations as stipulated by the Academic Calendar of the IAUPRSO
• Sick leave: According to the Faculty Manual, page 38, section 4.6.1.1 Full time faculty accumulates sick days of 1-1/2 days per month, that is 18 days per year. Sick absences of greater than two days requires a note from a physician.
• No tuition or fees
• Position: One
• Workload: 80% (32 hours per week) in Clinical, 20% (8 hours per week) in Didactical
• Accreditation status: Accredited by ACOE
• Bilingual School’s Setting with Spanish’s speaking patients

Residency Experience

• Scholarly and teaching experience
• Clinical experience Worksites:
  • IAUPR’s Clinic Sites (Own transportation strongly recommended)
  • External Rotations at ophthalmology sites
  • Specialty areas rotation in Contact lenses, Pediatrics, Visual Training, Low Vision, Electro-diagnostics, Prothesis
• Library and research resources
• Administration time

Certificate requirements include:

• Optometry License in a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Puerto Rico Optometry license obtained by January of the residency year.
• Completion of Part I, II, III, and TMOD of National Boards Examination in Optometry (NBEO)
• Successful Clinical & Didactic completion evaluations
• Publishable quality paper

Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicant must have successfully completed parts I, II, III, and TMOD of National Boards of Examiners in Optometry as a requisite for admission to the residency program.
2. Candidates must be eligible to be licensed as an optometrist in a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
3. Recommendation letters: Three (3) are requested. One should be from the clinical director of graduating institution or chief academic officer. Two others from full-time faculty members have been involved with the applicant’s education.
4. A brief essay stating reasons for applying to a program that is addressed to primary eye care is requested.
5. Applicant should submit Curriculum Vitae and be available for interview.
6. Knowledge of basic conversational Spanish language is required to communicate with the majority of the patient population although the English language is the official written language.
7. Candidates must earn the degree of Doctor of Optometry from a school or college of optometry accredited by the Council on Optometric Education prior to the starting date of the residency program.
8. IAUPR affirms that all candidates are evaluated without regard to sex, race, color, creed, origin, or disabilities.
9. On the 10th of March 2021, the IAUPR established vaccination against COVID-19 as a requirement for employment, this requirement extends to the residency program and hence the resident. Candidates are aware of this requirement. As such, once a candidate is selected and offered the position, he/she must present evidence of vaccination against COVID-19 to complete the hiring process. However, during this process, the selected candidate may submit a COVID-19 vaccination waiver request under the recognized exceptions on the basis of medical or religious grounds following the IAUPR-established waiver evaluation process. Completing an application for a waiver does not imply or mean it will be granted. For more information, you may contact the IAUPR School of Optometry Human Resources Office, Mrs. Janice Martinez, at jamartinez@opto.inter.edu.

Application Process

1. Candidates must complete the application through the ORMatch. Deadline: February 1.
   For more INFO, refer to the ORMatch Webpage.
2. All serious applicants are encouraged to arrange a site visit.

Meet Our New Resident for the Year 2022-2023

Alyzbeth Caraballo Luna, OD
acaraballo@opto.inter.edu

Dr. Alyzbeth Caraballo Luna was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She holds a BS in Biology from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (IAUPR)-San German Campus.  During her undergraduate years, she was a member of the Honor Society Association and was an active member of other student associations.  Her interest in helping other students took her to work as a tutor for biology and chemistry courses.   She attended optometry school at the IAUPR-School of Optometry where she obtained an OD degree. Dr. Caraballo decided to pursue a post-graduate residency in Optometry to gain more self-confidence in managing patients in primary and secondary care, as well as to have exposure to teaching and scholarly activities within an academic center. In addition to primary eye Care, Dr. Caraballo’s professional interests include Pediatrics and Visual Therapy. In her free time, she loves gathering with her family and going to the beach. She enjoys listening to music and loves to travel.

Contact information

For additional information contact

Dr. Mayra Rullan, Residency Program Director mrullan@opto.inter.edu