Optometrist

UPMC; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading medical institution in Pittsburgh seeks an optometrist to enhance patient care, focusing on specialty contact lenses. Responsibilities include providing comprehensive care, collaborating with ophthalmology colleagues, and promoting optometry's role in healthcare. Candidates should have strong communication skills and a passion for teaching. The institution offers exceptional training and research opportunities. Join a distinguished team at one of the top academic medical centers in the country.

Qualifications

• Eagerness to grow professionally.
• Strong commitment to teaching and mentoring.
• 3+ years of experience in specialty contact lens fitting (if no residency).

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive clinical care focused on specialty contact lens fittings.
• Collaborate with ophthalmology colleagues in managing complex corneal disease.
• Triage patients effectively to ensure optimal care delivery.
• Contribute to optometric education and scholarly activity.

Skills

Specialty contact lens fitting

Excellent communication skills

Team-oriented mindset

Education

Optometry degree

Residency in specialty contact lenses (preferred)

Tools

EyePrint Prosthetics

Pentacam CSP

Job description

Overview

The Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh is seeking an optometrist to join our department to provide top quality patient care with a clinical emphasis in specialty contact lenses including specialty soft, rigid gas permeable, hybrid, scleral, Pentacam CSP, EyePrint Prothetics and cosmetic contact lenses. Residency training strongly preferred but not required if the optometrist has 3+ years of experience in specialty contact lens fitting.

Key Qualities

• Eagerness to grow professionally and stay current in the field.
• Strong commitment to teaching and mentoring students, residents, and staff.
• Excellent communication skills and respectful, team-oriented mindset.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive clinical care with a strong emphasis on specialty contact lens fittings in a high-volume medical setting.
• Collaborate closely with ophthalmology colleagues, particularly cornea specialists, in managing complex corneal disease.
• Accurately and efficiently triage patients to ensure optimal care delivery.
• Promote the role and value of optometry within both the public and inter-professional communities.
• Contribute to the advancement of optometric knowledge through scholarly activity.
• Build and maintain a strong professional identity and leadership presence in the field.
• Establish a reputation for excellence in clinical teaching and interprofessional collaboration.

We welcome candidates who are enthusiastic about making a meaningful impact on patient care, education, and the future of optometry. At the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Department of Ophthalmology, we are dedicated to advancing the field of eye care through exceptional training, groundbreaking research, and world-class clinical care. Each year, we welcome six ophthalmology residents as well as fellows in every ophthalmic subspecialty. We also offer optometric residency programs in Ocular Disease and Low Vision Rehabilitation, and host fourth-year optometry externs for advanced hospital rotations and specialty contact lens training.

Our distinguished team includes 60 clinical faculty and 35 research scientists, working together to push the boundaries of what is possible in vision science. As part of the highly ranked University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the nationally recognized UPMC health system, our department thrives within one of the country\'s top academic medical centers, ranking number 5 in National Institutes of Health funding for departments of ophthalmology.

In May 2023, we opened the doors to our new 410,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Vision Institute—designed to accelerate innovation, collaboration, and the future of vision care. Join us in shaping what’s next.