Optometry
I Chose Salus
Hi everyone! My name is Kimberly Pham and I am a second-year student at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry here at Salus. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree at The College of William and Mary with a Biology major and Chemistry minor. I chose Optometry because I wanted to provide qualitative eye care and develop trusting relationships with patients. I’m bilingual in English and Vietnamese, so I also hope to bridge the language barriers in my community.
In the fall, I was graded through numerous practicals that assessed my clinical skills and ultimately prepared me to see patients regularly at The Eye Institute in the spring. From this experience, I am able to apply the knowledge I have learned so far in my coursework in clinic. For the first few months, we were paired with a third year where we tag-team scribing and performing skills on patients. I enjoyed being able to collaborate with my peers and bounced ideas off of them while providing comprehensive eye care to patients. Since the beginning of March, we have been able to see patients on our own!
My week typically includes a few clinic days in primary care or specialty services and hybrid in-person/virtual classes with associated labs. We are normally scheduled until 5 p.m.
Here’s what a usual day looks like for me:
6:50 - 7:25 a.m.: Wake up, eat a quick breakfast, pack my lunch, and make sure I have all of my equipment for clinic. I typically leave around 7:25 - 7:30 a.m. to ensure I make it to clinic well before 8 a.m.
7:45 - 8:00 a.m.: Arrive at The Eye Institute and prepare everything I need before the first patient arrives at 8:15 a.m. Today, I was assigned to Primary Care.
8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Clinic! I typically see 1-2 patients during the morning shifts when I am assigned to primary care.
12:30 - 1:00 p.m.: Drive to Elkins Park campus and eat a quick lunch before class.
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.: In-person lectures are typically two hours each. We had two lectures today.
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.: We are done with in-person activities for the day! I usually stay on campus after class to catch up on virtual lectures or study.
6:00 - 11:00 p.m.: Eat dinner, work out, and shower. I usually treat the evenings as way of self-care unless I have an exam to study for the next day. I like to relax by reading a book or watching a show. It’s important to take care of your mental health!
On the weekends, I catch up on lectures, study, and/or hang out with my friends. I normally study at a local café for a change in scenery. I also like to treat myself to something fun each week for motivation!
Optometry school has challenged me to become a better clinician. Each setback is a learning opportunity for personal growth. I am beyond grateful for the support system I have here and back at home to propel me forward through the next few years.
Learn More About Our Optometry Programs
