Options beyond OD

[010101]

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Hi,
I was wondering what more someone could do after they've received their OD. I know there's research involved (i.e. OD/MSc. and OD/PhD.) but for those who aren't interested in research, is there anything else?

I'm trying to draw parallels to doctors who study further to become i.e. opthalmologists or i.e. dentists who become endodontists.

Thanks.

 

[Jason K]

Hi,
I was wondering what more someone could do after they've received their OD. I know there's research involved (i.e. OD/MSc. and OD/PhD.) but for those who aren't interested in research, is there anything else?

I'm trying to draw parallels to doctors who study further to become i.e. opthalmologists or i.e. dentists who become endodontists.

Thanks.

There is no true parallel since optometry has no defined specialties. All ODs are considered general practitioners. You can do a residency or fellowship, but it is really for your own education and does not allow you to present yourself as a "specialist" in a certain area. In any event, due to the excess of ODs, there is really little likelihood of being able to survive as an OD while completely limiting your practice to a certain area, although legally you could as long as you don't call yourself a specialist.

An endodontist is a true specialist and is no longer permitted to do general dentistry if he/she chooses to practice endodontics as a specialty. But there's little down side since enodontists usually have plenty of patients. If an OD decided to do "just contacts," for example, the practice would not be able to support itself for long since the fees generated would not be sufficient to pay the bills.

 

[cjensen20]

there is residency(s) that you could complete,
there is teaching,
there is research,
there is clinical practice,
there is marketing (many of the reps for OD-related sales companies were first ODs),
Im sure there is law, if you want to go back and get your JD
there is military,
there is business in general,
etc etc
I'm sure the limits are very small

there are other people who, sadly, end up doing something un-OD-related

to address your concern about vertical movement ie dentist to endodontist...currently in optometry there is no vertical movement. The optometry degree is a terminal degree in that sense.