Orthoptic Research Associate

University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, is seeking a 100% Orthoptic Research Associate (PRA2; 5A). The Orthoptic Research Associate serves as an orthoptic clinical research expert. The Orthoptic Research Associate provides direct patient care by performing sensorimotor testing, evaluating and treating eye movement disorders and binocular vision, participating in the evaluation and diagnosis of patients with amblyopia, diplopia, genetic disorders of the eye, and assessing pediatric/adult strabismus as well as other eye movement conditions. The Orthoptic Research Associate participates directly in clinical research related to eye movements disorders, nystagmus, binocular vision, diplopia, strabismus, and inherited eye disorders. Key duties include:

Research Activities (Patient Care)

• Performs actual testing of subjects with video-based devices which track eye positions and measure the dynamics of eye movements to specific targets.
• Screens patients for study eligibility and consent for clinical trials.
• Uses orthoptic skills to manually examine all study patients at each clinic visit and quantify their eye misalignment in different gaze positions using prisms and cross cover testing
• Consults with principal investigator to determine the cause of the patient strabismus
• Educates study patients and their families regarding the study's purpose, risks, benefits, and responsibilities.

Clinical Activities (Patient Care)

• Performs standard work-up of clinical trial research patients, including visual acuity, refraction, sensorimotor exam, medications, and summary of current complaint according to clinic assigned.
• Documents findings concisely and accurately.
• Consults with the appropriate physician as needed.
• Creates treatment plans for clinical research patients with eye movement problems and binocular vision
• Supervises the flow of clinical research patients and their charts in and out of clinics
• Acts as liaison between the Ophthalmology Clinic and other specific areas in and outside University Hospitals to assure the provision of tests within the Department.
• Coordinates the timing of the sequence of examination and University requirements for scheduling additional tests, alerting proper clinical areas to facilitate patient flow, patient care, and clinic operation.
• Assures proper signing of records and billing forms and submits them according to protocol.
• May assists ophthalmology scheduling with on-call or referral patients to coordinate the most appropriate care as needed

Protocol Development and Study Responsibilities

• Utilizes clinical expertise and experience in the specialized area of orthoptics to collaborate with colleagues in engineering and IT to devise an artificial intelligence training which automatically classify the cause of strabismus.
• Calls patients and relays information as needed. Follows through with messages, assignments, and responsibilities and delivers safe, efficient and effective patient care. Communicates effectively with other clinical staff as needed. Orders and/or disperses all supplies to participating institutions.
• Ensures all study procedures are performed in accordance with institutional protocol.

Subject Recruitment & Enrollment

• Screens, recruits, enrolls and obtains consents for clinical research activities.
• Enrolls subjects based on their medical history and prior evaluations in EPIC and ICVA.
• Reviews charts of patients with the specified clinical entity for possible study enrollment in compliance with study protocol.

Data Collection & Monitoring

• Participates in the design, development and testing of clinical research trial data systems.
• Uses software to analyze the eye movement recordings made with the instruments used.
• Uses statistical analysis software to compare the automated strabismus measurements with the manual measurements

Regulatory Guidelines and Documents

• Formulates progress reports for grant writing and reporting purposes.
• Undertakes responsibilities associated with multi-center and/or grant-funded research.
• Participates in training and certification of investigators in protocols and proper examination procedures.
• Serves as liaison between principal investigator and participating institutions or funding agencies.
• Documents patient status on appropriate data collection for each clinic visit and sends to the coordinating center.
• Actively participates in drafting publications as a co-author on research results. Presents research results at national meetings as applicable. Attends and participates in seminars, conferences, and conventions as needed.
• May participate in writing other grants in the relevant area of research.

Human Resources/Leadership

• Adheres to institutional policies and guidelines.
• Provides functional supervision over technicians, research assistants, orthoptists and other health care personnel providing patient care and involved related research.
• Serves as a role model while performing direct patient care and testing.
• Suggests improvements in work areas and takes an active role in working with others to achieve progress.
• Assists in maintaining and repairing research and clinic equipment as well as prioritizing needs for replacements.
• Participates in education and training activities as needed.
• Performs special projects as assigned.

University of Iowa Health Care—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.®

Percent of Time: 100%

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm with potential for 25% remote work pending approval as detailed below.

Location: UIHC, Iowa City

Pay Level: 5A

Hybrid within Iowa: This position is pending approval for hybrid work (75% on campus and 25% remote) within Iowa and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually, and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location.

Position Type: Specified Term. Initial appointment is for one year. Appointment may be extended based on performance and availability of funding.

Benefit Highlights: Regular, exempt position located in Iowa City, Iowa. Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans. For more information, visit https://hr.uiowa.edu/benefits.