A Veterans Administration medical center optometry residency program

A form of postgraduate optometric education began in 1973 with the initiation of residency programs within two colleges of optometry. The availability of residency programs for optometrists, however, was essentially nonexistent until the Veterans Administration became actively involved. The first Veterans Administration Optometry Residency Program was established by the Kansas City Veterans Administration Medical Center and the Illinois College of Optometry. This paper briefly discusses the development and philosophy of this program and describes its clinical and academic content and future goals.