Pediatric Optometry Residency

Our Department

Faculty and Trainees

The Pediatric Optometry Residency Program at Children's Mercy Kansas City provides qualified optometrists with advanced clinical education in the diagnosis and management of pediatric ocular disease and vision development disorders.

The Pediatric Optometry Residency is based in the Division of Ophthalmology at Children's Mercy Kansas City Hospital, which is comprised of ophthalmologists, optometrists, orthoptists, fellows, residents, and students who all work together to provide collaborative patient care. The optometry resident will travel to all three clinic locations:

Broadway: 3101 Broadway, 5th floor, Kansas City, MO 64111
Northland: 501 NW Barry Rd., Kansas City, MO 64155
Kansas: 5808 W. 110th St., Overland Park, KS 66211

Your clinical experience

The resident will participate in outpatient clinical duties, examining patients 4 ½ days per week with ½ day per week reserved for administrative duties. Clinic hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The resident is not required to participate in any on call activities.

Participants of this program will have the opportunity to care for patients with complex medical and ocular health conditions. These include but are not limited to: amblyopia, strabismus, premature birth, optic nerve disorders, retinal dystrophies, aphakia, keratoconus, and glaucoma. In addition, residents will become well versed in treating patients with specialty contact lenses, including aphakic contact lenses, standard and scleral rigid gas permeable contact lenses. Also, if interested, the resident may participate in research activities.

Each clinic is furnished with standard equipment in each exam room. Specialty equipment available for patient care includes OCT, Optos, Pentacam and Humphrey visual field.

More about your clinical experience

Salaries and benefits

2024-25 salaries

Optometry residents start at $51,958.40.

Benefits for residents

$1,500 Educational stipend per academic year for books, travel and other educational materials
$2,250 Professional stipend for academic year to present scholarly activity
Health and dental insurance for trainee and dependents with no premiums
Hospital-issued iPad
Free parking
Moving allowance
20 days of vacation
Paid sick time
Paid board exam
Access to clinical and research librarians, statisticians, scientific writers and learning specialists
Tuition allowance of $5,250 per year
On-site fitness center and wellness center

Academic curriculum

Each week the resident has a protected ½ day of administrative time to devoted to completing their academic activities. These include but are not limited to: patient care logs, journal discussions and professional development.

In addition, the following is required throughout the residency year:

Attendance of the Pediatric Ophthalmology Department Lecture series twice a month presented Friday mornings at 7:30 a.m.
Participate in the Graduate Medical Education lecture series monthly.
A quarterly virtual journal club to facilitate discussion of cases and articles with additional hospital based pediatric optometry residency programs.
Attend and present at the continuing education program, Residency Days, hosted by the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry.
Submit and present an abstract/paper to a national or regional Optometry conference.
Prepare a publication-quality manuscript on an approved topic or publishable case report. The written case report and posters can be used for application for Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry.
Complete required scholarly activities to apply for fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry.

More about your academic curriculum

How to Apply

The Children's Mercy Pediatric Optometry Residency Program is affiliated with the University of Missouri - St. Louis College of Optometry. This program uses the Optometry Residency Match (ORMatch).

Learn more about how to apply.

How to Apply