1124 S. State Street
Big Rapids, Michigan
[email protected]
(231) 591-3700
John D. Dingell VA Medical Center
4646 John R St.
Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: 313-576-1000 x64018 or x64016
Fax: 313-576-1025
Type of Practice:
Veterans Administration Hospital
The medical center provides both outpatient and inpatient care to eligible veterans living in the region. Services include comprehensive primary health care, substance abuse treatment, surgical care and treatment, psychiatric care, dental care, and nursing home care. The facility was built in 1998 and extends primary medical care to veterans living in Michigan.
Number of MCO students per rotation: 
Summer: 3
Fall: 3
Spring: 3
ALL VA's nationwide are requiring the COVID-19 Vaccination. This mandate has been established by the national VHA Office of Academic Affiliations in conjunction with the CDC, as it has been added to the CDC guidelines web site: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html
This requirement does not include boosters, just the two initial doses. However, if a student got the original does of J&J, we require at least one booster.
Exemptions must be approved through the VA.
Accomodation Requests Information
We highly recommend that any student rotating through the Detroit VA has at least the initial two doses of a COVID vaccine. It would likely take too long to clear an exemption and would cut into their rotation time.
Much like the Influenza vaccine, all Health Professions Trainees (HPT) training in
a VA facility must be fully vaccinated or have an exemption filed (medical or religious)
with the Office of the Designated Education Officer at the VA using the following
VA Form 10-263.
If an HPT is not vaccinated or filed an exemption, they cannot come to the VA.
ADDITIONAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS BEFORE ROTATION:
The following must be verified through documented confirmation or through student attestation-
- Hepatitis B Vaccine
- Influenza Vaccine
- MMR Vaccine
- Varicella Vaccine
- TDAP Vaccine
- Negative TB test 90 days prior to start date
- Physical Exam
The externship rotations and hospital-based optometry residency program at John D.
Dingell VAMC Health Care System will provide clinical experiences resulting in advanced
competency in the evaluation, treatment and management of a wide variety of ocular
conditions, with a special emphasis on ocular disease.
This site rotation and residency program will provide the professional and clinical
foundation for the extern/resident's future contributions to the profession of optometry,
and provides extensive experience in the interdisciplinary clinical care of patients
with systemic health problems. The site/residency program serves to sharpen management
skills in dealing with specific ocular diseases. The program offers the opportunity
for scholarly pursuits, including but not limited to oral and written presentations.
You should contact Dr. Andersen 8 weeks prior to the first day of the rotation to verify dates, times, directions, parking, and any other instructions. YOU MUST:
- Prior to the first day of the rotation provide Dr. Andersen with your email address and phone number.
- AT LEAST two weeks prior to the first day of the rotation all on-line forms must be completed , fingerprinting complete and online HIPAA training completed. Interns will NOT be allowed to see patients until this has been completed.
- Here is the link to follow for information for: Fellows, Residents, Students and Trainees Forms to fill out: WOC Appointment Request, OF 306, VA 0711, Mandatory training for Trainees, and the National Rules of Behavior.
Upon arrival, students are escorted to the surgical service office to begin the on-boarding process. Prior to arrival they will have completed fingerprinting and the online computer training detailing HIPAA and cyber security guidelines. After completion of initial paperwork, students are given a tour of the clinic, after which they will begin shadowing an established optometry resident for approximately a day and a half.
Contact Person:
- Courtney Andersen, O.D., FAAO
[email protected]
Clinical Teaching Faculty:
- Arlene Gold, O.D.
- Chad Gallatin, O.D.
- Colleen Downey, O.D.
- Craig Swanson, O.D.
- Jaime Zadoff, O.D., FAAO
- Phillip Elston, O.D. FAAO
- Jared Most, O.D.
- Courtney Andersen, O.D., FAAO
- Christopher Walsh, O.D.
- Meredith Jeffrey, O.D., FAAO
- Abigail Cash, O.D.
- Tatevik Movsisyan, O.D.
Support Staff:
- 5 MSA's, 2 VF Technician, 2 OCT Technician, 2 Photo Technician
Operating Hours: M-F, 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Hours of direct patient care for extern per day: 8 hours per day (40 hours per week)
Number of patients seen by extern per day: 6-8
- To improve knowledge base in ophthalmic diseases and ophthalmic manifestations of systemic diseases.
- To develop technical clinical skills.
- To expand professional communication and interdisciplinary interaction abilities.
- To provide exposure to multi-disciplinary programs.
- This externship practices full scope optometry including medical treatment of various eye conditions, emergent and otherwise.
- Not provided by the facility
- Approximate cost: $300-800/mo
- Neighboring the hospital is Wayne State University and DMC Hospital.
- Psychology
- Neurology
- Rehabilitative - Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Diabetes
- Dispensing Pharmacy
- Respiratory
- Psychiatry
- Geriatric Medicine
- Dentistry
- Hypertension
- Clinical Pharmacy
- OCT (2) Cirrus HD
- A/B-Scan ultrasound unit
- Posterior Segment Camera
- Fundus and non Fundus Contact Lenses
- Gonioscopy mirrors
- Angiography
- Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer
- Fundus Camera
- BIO with condensing lens
- Laser
- Autorefractor
- A-Scan
- Pentacam
- IOL Master
- Optos with Fluorescein Angiography
- The clinic also is affiliated with Illinois College of Optometry, Pennslyvania College of Optometry, Southern College of Optometry, Arizona College of Optometry, Indiana Univeristy School of Optometry, The Ohio State University College of Optometry
- FA Training - if interested
- Reference library available for student use
- Internet access available
- Ophthalmology residency training at same clinical setting
- Low vision service on sight
If you have any questions, please contact (231) 591-2187 Dr. Sara Bush, Director of Externships- [email protected].