Portland, OR

[swiftiii]

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This question is mainly for the Pacific students. I have wanted to live in Portland for the longest time, but I am worried that by having a school so near, the supply of optometrists is much greater than the demand. Does anyone know if this is true? Also, I don't want to work in private practice; more like a medical practice or HMO. Do a lot of doctors really lean toward this area? It was my understanding that most ODs didn't so I am curious; certainly it would help my prospects if I am looking toward an area that most aren't.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

This question is mainly for the Pacific students. I have wanted to live in Portland for the longest time, but I am worried that by having a school so near, the supply of optometrists is much greater than the demand. Does anyone know if this is true? Also, I don't want to work in private practice; more like a medical practice or HMO. Do a lot of doctors really lean toward this area? It was my understanding that most ODs didn't so I am curious; certainly it would help my prospects if I am looking toward an area that most aren't.

There are definitely a lot of optometrists in the area. As you mentioned, Pacific is 30 minutes away, and many students fall in love with the area and don't want to leave. (I may be falling into that category myself...) As far as HMO or medical practices (by which I'm assuming you mean VA or ophthalmology practice) I know there are many good ones in the area, but don't know how often they have openings. Be prepared to have competition for any available spot, as there are many new grads that will be out looking. If you are willing to live a few hours from Portland in either Washington or Eastern Oregon, you may have a better chance at finding something. Bottom line - do your research if you are really interested. Things change, and you never know when something might show up!

Other docs/students in the area want to chime in?

 

[xmattODx]

I had the fortune to attend PUCO. I married a local girl and had the misfortune of starting my career in the Portland area.

Portland is an awesome city. I would love to live there.

As an optometrist I will never move back to Portland and not just because the Oregon Board of Optometry is among the least helpful entities I have ever encountered. (You need a separate license for every location!? If you take fill-in work at a location you need to notify the Board before you work there!? If you phone to ask a question you will be met with disgust! A license is HOW MUCH!?)

Everything PGE says is 100% correct. There seems to be a vast oversupply of optometrists in the Portland area. Most new grads and optometric immigrants begin the first few years of their career working multiple jobs to equal full time work. After a few years of this some find something full-time, some go out on their own, and some get disgusted and leave.

The pay in Portland is notoriously low. Just by moving away from Portland (to Atlanta) my pay nearly doubled for fill-in work. A commercial OD I know in GA is jealous of his Portland brethren as they charge the same for an exam, pay the same for rent, but pay their associates half as much (therefore the leasing doc makes more money).

As to a more medical type practice you have the VA, PCLI and any ophthalmology practices that are looking. The day a job is advertised the employer will receive multiple resumes as people are constantly shuffling jobs looking for something better in PDX.

While I was in the Portland area I worked in Forest Grove, Vancouver, Portland, Corvallis, Cornelius, Eugene, Beaverton, and more. Often in the same week. I would gladly drive 100 miles one way just for a day of work in a private practice.

That said Portland is great. Many optometrists are very successful (some of my classmates opened a practice together right out of school and are doing well I believe) and there is always work to be found. What happened to me from 2002-2004 may not happen to you in 2010. If you love the city and are willing to sacrifice just to live there. Go for it! If you just kinda like the city and would rather make money/find something more permanent/open on your own I wouldn't recommend Portland.

Good luck.

 

[swiftiii]

Thanks guys.

Yes, the response is not much different than what I expected. I had been trying to do research on working there, but I wasn't having much luck so I thought I might as well ask. The thing is, I do love Portland. After much thought, it is the only city I can think of where I would like to work. Otherwise, I would have to move back home, and as much as I love where I grew up, I am ready to try somewhere new. Now I guess it's back to figuring out where else that might be.

Sigh. Anyone know of a nice, clean, environmentally friendly city, near the great outdoors, with 1/2 mil people, that is not inundated by ODs and is not in FL =) ?