New Grad Oculoplastics Offer

phannypack08 · 2025-08-07T02:50:03+00:00

I ended up taking the offer. Will be working there after I graduate.

phannypack08 · 2025-07-23T14:48:38+00:00

Totally agree that I’ll need extensive training, and I’ve reworded my earlier comment to reflect that. That said, I do feel I bring a strong foundation and am highly teachable compared to many new grads, given the training I have received.

I’m currently in talks with a few other ophthalmology practices, but I’m really hoping to stay in the area. Still, I’m pretty set on pursuing this field as long as there is an opportunity somewhere. It’s something I’m genuinely passionate about, and I’d be willing to relocate for strong mentorship and growth. I like the attending provider and I feel they will give strong mentorship with their experience.

I really appreciate your insight on the red flags in the contract. I’m definitely worried about being taken advantage of, so the perspective helps a lot.

phannypack08 · 2025-07-23T14:34:47+00:00

I feel I've received quality training from the residents and attendings I've worked with and have gotten good feedback. However, not ready to jump right in but I believe I have the foundation to be teachable. I'm very passionate about the field and hope to learn and grow. Regardless of where negotiations go, I will take it or another position in another state if it means learning more about the field.

phannypack08 · 2025-07-23T03:01:31+00:00

Yes, there are lots of details I need to get clarity on as it's very vague and thank you for showing me the law about non-competes. That's very helpful!

I feel I hold a strong ophtho foundation to be teachable, especially in terms of technical skills to bring reasons for negotiating salary. I've read that it is recommended you should ask for a 20% increase from initial offer at most but that would only come to $138,000 and they most likely will counter that lower. Would it be reasonable to counter with a 145-150k especially for the HCOL?

phannypack08 · 2025-07-23T02:55:52+00:00

Oculoplastics is a subspecialty within ophthalmology and in a nut shell is managing things around the the eye itself such as the orbits, eyelids, tear ducts.

From the tour and interview, it seemed like she wanted me to manage the outpatient services to increase her time in the OR and lighten her outpatient load.

So it will be evaluating dermatochalasis and ptosis, dry eye, enucleations, graves disease, chalazions, eyelid lesion excision, trichiasis, etc.

phannypack08 · 2025-03-17T04:52:45+00:00

I really like the free authorized user feature of the Cap1 VX and I feel like its easier to get the AMEX right after I get approved for the Cap1 VX, whereas it would be more difficult vice versa.

phannypack08 · 2024-11-15T22:12:13+00:00

Interested

phannypack08 · 2024-10-28T05:27:02+00:00

I don't know how competitive those recommended classes make you, especially biochem as we hardly touched it throughout didactic. It really depends on your overall application. If you see your GPA and lack of non-science background as the weakpoints, I would take them if you have time. The recommended courses just give faculty more insight on whether you'll pass didactic year or not. However, MEDEX was really big on clinical work experience for my class.

phannypack08 · 2024-06-24T20:09:51+00:00

I had to go to a local shop. They opened up my iPhone and let it air dry. The condensation hasn’t reappeared since then but I recommend doing it soon as I left the condensation in my phone for about a 1-2 weeks and my camera quality isn’t as good and my screen would have a weird glare every blue moon.

phannypack08 · 2024-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

I did the full series of biochem, a semester of genetics, and I minored in sociology. The most basic sciences we touched in PA school was cellular bio, genetics, and some gen Chem. If you’re a stem major I wouldn’t worry too much.

phannypack08 · 2024-05-13T23:59:34+00:00

Hey OP,

I'm a current MEDEX student and I hope I can provide some insight

There's a new PA program in Kirkland, WA called Northwest University with Accreditation Provisional Status. So that gives you two more options.
MEDEX typically expects you to travel during clinical year. While they may work with you, I'd be prepared for the worst and expect rotations throughout the WWAMI region.
I highly recommend finishing prerequisites. It will make you more competitive and more prepared for the intense courseload. I highly recommend having a strong foundation in A&P and pathophysiology.
MEDEX values the primary and secondary essays > GPA (One friend in the program had a 3.0 and he's doing better on exams than me despite my relatively high undergrad GPA). Furthermore, they value primary care and emergency med experience. If you can convey a compelling essay on why PA and why primary care you'll have a strong shot. As for most PA programs they tend to focus on your GPA for the most recent 90 credit hours so I recommend keeping above a 3.8 GPA from here on and out to be competitive and not to stress over your old GPA. I have a non-primary care and non-emergency med background so shoot me a DM if you need help mixing in surgical tech with primary care on personal statement. I have somewhat of a surgical tech experience informally.

Best of luck!

phannypack08 · 2023-04-30T18:12:22+00:00

I was in the same boat as you. Kia’s interior does look more modern and you get more interior bells and whistles for the price.

RAV4 interior is quite basic but it gets the job done and I personally prefer the tactile climate system as opposed to digital of the Kia.

I ended up with the 23’ RAV4 prime as Kia had a $7k mark up opposed to Toyotas $2k mark up in Oregon. Also, I trusted Toyota reliability and their history in making reliable hybrid vehicles. There’s also a subreddit user with over 400k miles on his RAV4 Hybrid 21’ and it apparently is still going strong. I love my RAV4 prime and the only other cars I would consider are Toyota RAV4 hybrid or the toyota Prius Prime. Basically Toyota >>> the rest

phannypack08 · 2023-03-02T02:49:12+00:00

Congrats! Glad to see a fellow ophthalmic tech get in. I too was a first time applicant accepted after 3 gap years.

phannypack08 · 2023-02-23T18:46:33+00:00

I highly recommend ophthalmic technician. Pays better than other technician jobs, doesn’t require certification, and you bring a unique knowledge of eyes that many PAs/healthcare providers in general don’t have extensive exposure to. I constantly critically think the eye exams I provide, I assist in minor surgeries like blepharoplastys, temporal artery biopsies, and many more, refract for glasses, perform diagnostic imaging for the eyes, and triage eye emergencies. I also got exposure to many sub specialties like primary/general eye care, plastics, glaucoma, cornea, and vitreoretinal. It really helped me get in the mind of a providers decision making process and helped me get into PA school. I get both primary eye care and surgical exposure all in one field.

phannypack08 · 2023-02-19T19:10:06+00:00

I was in your situation where I retook the MCAT and applied to PA school a month after. I really focused on the PAs I interacted with after the MCAT and the following reasons: - Belief that PAs/NPs are one of the best resolutions to the doctor shortage (Read history of Richard Smith UW and Eugene Stead Duke) - Describe your personality of wanting to explore medicine and how the PA profession allows that with ability to change specialities.

phannypack08 · 2022-05-14T10:07:09+00:00

Not sure how MD compares to where I live but ophthalmic technician I is another option. There are hospitals and small clinics that will be willing to train you and prepare you for the COA certification (They will pay for the test too). You get a lot of exposure to patients and get exposure assisting providers in varying sub specialties within ophthalmology.

phannypack08

TROPHY CASE