Just Another Day in the Life...

New prospective and incoming students to the College of Optometry often ask whether we have lots of work to do on weekends and if we have any time for fun. My answer to both is YES!

So, what does a typical weekend look like through the eyes of a PUCO Opto student?

 

Fridays are a welcome end to the busy week. I was itching to get out of the Optometry building last Friday, particularly because it was a rare winter afternoon with sunny skies rather than rain. When the sun shines in the winter, we all collectively buzz a little higher than usual. My peers practically skip around campus, basking in the sunshine. I stepped out of the Optometry building to find the usual ‘sunny day’ scene: a few students unwinding after clinic on the slackline they often put up right outside the library. We all find our own style of Zen.

After lounging in the afternoon sun, break was over and it was time to put in another few hours before the weekend could start. Most of our procedural practice is on our own time, so we often get together to work in groups. Half of us dilated our eyes and sat as patients for the rest of the group to practice examining the back of the eye.

Saturday morning I had brunch plans, but before that I made a quick stop into the lab to practice procedures again. I often like to get into the labs early to beat the rush. To my surprise, I was met by a full house of fellow Opto students and their families. Sitting around the procedures lab were ten of some of the cutest and most well-behaved children in the world (most under the age of 6). While my classmates practiced procedures on each other, their children sat together and watched movies.  The College of Optometry includes many families, and we do welcome the visits from fellow student’s children.

After practicing in the lab, it was time to head to my brunch date, with a few dear friends (also classmates) and to meet the parents of the hostess. We indulged in organic and home-cooked foods (much thanks to our hostess & family), and also indulged in a nice down-tempo, relaxing few hours of conversation. Leading such a fast-paced lifestyle, away from my own family in Canada, makes me appreciate family brunches like this even more. My peers and their families have become my family here, and downtime with them is most refreshing.

Two things I love: Portland and chocolate. So, naturally the next Saturday adventure took me to the Portland Chocolate Festival, an easy 30-minute drive from Forest Grove. It is an annual foodie event at which you can sample some of the region’s finest chocolate. It seemed like all the rage this year was chocolate that incorporated chilies and salts into decadent assortments. We sampled, we tasted, and we savored.  Délicieux.

At this point the day had turned to evening, and seeing as we already had a sugar high, we thought we may as well check out a concert before heading home. Ra Ra Riot played at Wonder Ballroom, which is an awesome venue that showcases indie and great up-and-coming musicians. Whatever your musical tastes, Portland has something for you.

Sundays for me are usually days to catch up and prep for the next week. I found my own Zen on a Sunday morning run, up the West side hills of Forest Grove. The rest of the day I lounged at home with my dog, tea, comfy clothes, and books. My music, desk candle and I work well together for study days. All in all, some weekends are for work, some for play, and most include a bit of both.

How to find Housing in Forest Grove- Guest Blogger Jeanette Strommen

Hi everyone!

If you are anything like me 3 years ago, you are looking to find a place to live in Forest Grove while you are living halfway across the country. Believe me, this is no easy feat! After living in Forest Grove for the last three years, I have some recommendations and tips for you on how to find the best housing in this cute little town!

First of all, and I know this is probably THE HARDEST thing to do, especially if you’re accepted early in the year, but you should WAIT!!!! Don’t forget that us third years are leaving the places we’ve called home for the past 3 years in May.  Many of the landlords in Forest Grove love optometry students because they know that we’re responsible and will stay here for 3 solid years. So often times in the month or two before we move out, we send out emails to the incoming class (on behalf of our landlords) looking for people that may want to take over our house. In the past, some incoming students have even been able to snag a fully furnished apartment because the third years that left sold them all their couches, beds and miscellaneous items that they would need! It’s a sweet deal! Even if you can’t take over someone else’s fully furnished house, often times the house itself is a prime location or space because us third years know where all the good places to live are-we have lived here for 3 years! J

Often times what else happens in the spring is upperclassmen send out emails looking for a roommate or two to live with them, because their current roommate is moving out (probably because they’re a third year). These are ALSO often ideal situations because you move into a practically fully furnished place and have upperclassmen to live that can show you the ropes! Befriending upperclassmen can only benefit you so that you’re better prepared to know which classes to study for, which books to buy, etc.

One more tidbit I wish I knew when moving out here is that you don’t have to buy everything new! I mean you totally can if you want, there’s no sales tax in Oregon so it’s a great place to shop, but the upperclassmen sell everything they don’t need before they go on rotations! The couch currently sitting in my living room is from a now graduated optometrist, and I got it for a steal! So keep your eyes peeled for those types of emails in the future too.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that you may have to rent starting in the spring to reserve a quality place. Its possible to find something you can start renting later in the summer, but the odds are unlikely. But of course there are exceptions to every rule so don’t swear by that one, just be prepared to build that into your upfront expenses of your move here.

If I haven’t convinced you to not look for housing yet, here are a few recommendations on places optometry students notoriously live. Parkview Apartments are very common; I’d say optometry students occupy the grand majority of their apartments.

The company that manages Parkview Apartments also manages Meadowlark Apartments, located near Safeway. Both apartment complexes have the same 2 BR, 1 BA internal design. Here is one picture to give you an idea of what they look like on the inside:

Another seemingly popular place to live is in the Sherwood Manor Townhome complex just north of the school. It is a 2BR, 1 BA 2-story townhome that is probably about a ten-minute walk from school. Here is a picture:

If you lived at the Sherwood Manor complex, there are a TON of students that live within just a few blocks from there because there are a lot of optometry renters in the houses in that area.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can live in Hillsboro. Some students really enjoy living a little closer to the city, either to shorten a spouse’s commute time or for easy access to the finer things that Portland has to offer. A few students have had good luck with the Jackson School Village apartment complex. They have a pool that is quite lovely in the summer! Here’s a picture of the inside:

And here’s a picture of the outside:

This is by no means a complete list of the housing opportunities available in Forest Grove and the surrounding areas, but hopefully it can get you started! Good luck and happy house hunting!

Starbucks Holiday Meet and Greet!

Boxer in the snow!

 

I love the holiday season! I can’t deny my excitement when I see people strolling around Portland with their candy-cane red Starbucks holiday cups. Though these often come out right after Halloween, ignoring Thanksgiving entirely, they certainly do their job! The scrambling for presents for friends and family begins, and the stress is piled high! All of us here at PUCO know how stressful the holiday season can be, so we like to offer a little break from all the hustle and bustle.

This photo belongs to Fiona Thomson and was found on Flickr; link here

On December 21^st and December 28^th, PUCO students from over 40 cities in the US and Canada are offering to grab coffee with prospective students­ at a Starbucks near the PUCO students’ location— and the coffee is on us! At these Meet & Greet sessions, prospective students will be able to ask questions that faculty or staff at the College of Optometry may not be able to answer, like “Why did you choose Pacific?” or “How many hours of sleep can I really get in optometry school??”

Students from past Meet & Greet sessions found the experience incredibly rewarding (not just because of the free cup of coffee!). One student said;

“The meet and greet gave me a very strong and personal sense of the friendly, caring environment here at PUCO... A student was willing to meet with me, and you guys bought me coffee. I think it is a clear picture of the type of environment a student can expect if they are accepted. That certainly has been my experience in the last year! I think this is a very creative and effective way to communicate who we are with interested students.”

The sessions will last around an hour, getting answers to questions you have about Pacific or the profession of optometry; to talk about living in Oregon; and to share with you why they decided to come to Pacific over the other optometry schools out there. We want you to have access to all resources about Pacific, so when you choose an optometry school, you can make the choice that’s right for you!

We will be sending out an email on the week of November 19^th, at which point you will have until December 3^rd to respond to the offer! If you have any questions regarding the Meet & Greet, feel free to contact Andrea or Abby with your questions and comments!

Pacific Welcomes a New Clinic- Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center

Braving the dreary fall weather, hundreds of supporters and community members crowded on the corner of Adair and 12^th Avenue in Cornelius last Friday to observe the Grand Opening Celebration of The Virginia Garcia Cornelius Wellness Center. After three long years of construction, design, and preparation, the community was beyond ready to welcome this new staple to Washington County healthcare. Combating the light rain, Portland Mariachi engaged the audience with festive tunes, successfully warming up the crowd. 

Kathleen O’Leary, a Board Member for the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, gently hushed the spectators and provided an introduction for the clinic. Among the prominent speakers at the event (Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Councilor Kathryn Harrington, and Mayor of Cornelius Jef Dalin!) was one of Pacific’s own—Dean Dr. Jenny Smythe. Dr. Smythe was present to announce her excitement for Pacific’s new EyeCare clinic housed in the Wellness Center! 

Clinic view from sidewalk

Barb Colter, Director of Clinical Operations for PUCO 

As you may know, Pacific prides itself on patient-centered education, enabling PUCO students to flourish into flexible and personable clinicians. This new clinic allows for those positive patient relationships we encourage to develop through the mission of Virginia Garcia;

To provide high-quality, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate primary health care to the communities of Washington and Yamhill Counties with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farmworkers and others with barriers to receiving healthcare.

Along with the high quality care that the patients receive, students and doctors can also directly benefit from this clinic with the innovative technology present!

4th year optometry student providing demonstrations for visitors

Below, we see Dr. Kenneth Eakland with an Optovue Inc. iVue, deemed the first true World OCT, and quite the technological gift for Pacific. This is another example of Pacific’s commitment to providing the best technology for our students, practitioners and patients!

Among a variety of resources this clinic houses a primary care facility, mental health services, pharmacy, physical therapy services, fully encompassing its title as a “wellness center” by utilizing a whole patient model. The center also includes a community garden and test kitchen space, integrating an entirely new level of promoting healthy living. During the Reception & Tour portion of the Ribbon Cutting ceremony, the Center offered free PT exams, healthy cooking demonstrations and Zumba classes as an example of what will be available to the community! 

As its mission encompasses the idea of total healthcare, the Wellness Center did not fail to remember the health of the surrounding environment! A rain garden in the Northeast section of the campus provides a filtration system to break down pollutants naturally, and includes a rain collection pipe that facilitates water flow to a retention garden.This feature is also synonymous with Pacific University's commitment to sustainability, only enhancing our relationship with the community and this fantastic new center!

Only time will tell how large of an influence the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center will have on the community, but we believe that it will be nothing short of incredible!

Introducing... Abby Boardman

Red and golden leaves decorate the trees around Pacific University's campus, and hundreds of Oregonians are braving the rain sans umbrellas. It's cider season at the local coffee shops, clouds line the sky, and the impending doom of midterms is hanging over every student's head. We all know this means that autumn has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest! Though not without some transitions for Pacific.

Around this time last year, Pacific University College of Optometry experienced a big change; the addition of Andrea Lybarger­­! She has been a phenomenal asset to these programs, impressing students, professors, and staff alike. Thankfully, this post is not to announce any departures, but another new arrival! My name is Abby Boardman, and I am excited to begin work as Andrea’s counterpart, and Pacific’s new Assistant Director for Graduate and Professional Admissions for the Optometry Program and M.A. in Counseling Psychology Program.

 

 I am a born-and-raised Oregonian, and I recently received my B.A. in Psychology from Pacific’s undergraduate program. My father also works at Pacific as a Math professor, and as I have grown, so has my knowledge of Pacific from all perspectives. When you want to know the ins and outs of the Grove, now you’ll know who to talk to! My hobbies are singing, yoga, crafting, and exploring Portland’s endless sea of restaurants. 

For the Grove-bound soul, there are plenty of things to do when you’re looking for time to kick back! Rainbow Lanes offers free bowling on Thursdays, and McMenamin’s Grand Lodge sports a fine Frisbee Golf course. On Wednesdays, the local Farmers Market gathers on Main St. for wonderful food, products, and music! However, as these cold fall days appear, one might want to be indoors catching a show at Theater in the Grove or grabbing a warm drink at Maggie's Buns. There’s always plenty to do around Pacific, and although I am in a different environment, I am thrilled to begin this new chapter of my life and to continue working with the Pacific community as it has truly become my home.