Optometry Residency: Is it Worth It?

This year is almost at its end, and for some of you 4th years, the deadline to apply for most optometry residencies is coming up! So you have an important question to answer: Is optometry residency worth it? Should I even apply? Let’s dive in to this topic! DISCLAIMER: I did do an ocular disease residency, and it was at the Orlando VA Medical Center. It was awesome. I am pro residency. BUT, this video is a combination of my opinions, some of my colleagues’ opinions, and a result of CONSIDERABLE research that I did online AND while scanning OD’s on facebook and OD’s on Financial Planning for posts relating to questions about whether to do a residency. So use this video to hear all the PROS and CONS because there are a lot of both and make your own informed decision based on your situation. First we’re tackling the PROS, which will hopefully convince you to AT LEAST apply. Because you can still apply, go to your residency interview, and still decide not to do one if it’s not for you. Or you could go and realize some of the benefits of a residency. 00:00 Intro 00:33 Disclaimer 01:05 Pro 1 02:36 Pro 2 03:56 Pro 3 05:15 Pro 4 06:17 Con 1 07:10 Con 2 08:01 Con 3 09:17 Con 4 11:11 Verdict Pros 1. Clinical Experience and Mentorship a. Large volume of Specialty care (Disease, Specialty Contacts, Peds, TBI etc.) b. Highly knowledgeable mentors 2. More Career Opportunities a. Resume booster b. Negotiation tool for higher salary/benefits c. Networking (Preceptors have connections to other doctors/practices) 3. Moonlighting before your career starts! a. Get to work in environments before you have to commit to a full-time job b. More networking 4. Confidence a. Personal confidence in general b. Ability to retain more complex cases vs referring Cons 1. LESS money a. less income, less money for loans, investing = OPPORTUNITY COST over $100K b. One day of fill in makes up for a week of residency 2. Professional Career backed up for a year a. Job already lined up or inheriting a practice 3. Academia is not for everybody a. case presentations, journal review etc. b. can be demanding c. minimal business education 4. Residency is Not required to be a great doctor -------------------------------------------------------------- Links to other Youtube videos I’ve made: 1) How to Pass NBEO Part 1:    • How To Pass NBEO Part 1 Exam! [2025]   2) How to Pass NBEO Part 2:    • How to Pass NBEO Part 2 Exam! [2022]   3) How to Pass NBEO Part 3:    • How to Pass NBEO Part 3 Exam! [2023]   4) I FAILED NBEO Part 3, what now:    • I Failed NBEO Part 3, What Now?   5) Why Doctors Should be Investing:    • Why Every Doctor Should ALREADY be Investi...   6) How Doctors can Easily and Effectively Start Investing:    • How Doctors can EASILY and EFFECTIVELY Sta...   7) Glaucoma Treatment: Improve IOP Reduction and Compliance:    • Glaucoma Treatment: Improve Eye Pressure R...   Receive $15 credit towards your OAT Exam Preparation at CrackOAT.com by redeeming gift certificate code: Andreas10 or redeeming it through this link: https://app.crackoat.com/checkout?rid... Facebook: Andreas Zacharopoulos Instagram: andreaskmk Email: [email protected]