Optometry, Occupational Therapy Students Perform Examinations on Dental Students

Students from the Chicago College of Optometry (CCO) and the Occupational Therapy (OT) Program held examination sessions for the first-year College of Dental Medicine (CDMI) students for their future practice success under the direction of Jenelle Mallios, O.D., FAAO, Associate Dean, CCO; Melisa Alabsy, D.D.S., M.H.A., Director, CDMI; and Dana Lingle, OTR/L, CHT, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, College of Health Sciences (CHS-Downers Grove). The exams assist the dental students with proper practice for healthcare, help them correct any underlying issues, and encourage them to seek further medical care if necessary.

During the interdepartmental collaboration, the optometry students performed several vision tests on the dental students including depth perception, visual acuity (the eye’s ability to see details on an object from a certain distance and identify shapes), and retinoscopy (a test for refractive eye errors such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness). The optometry students also measured the dental students for their dental loupes, a magnification tool.

Optometry student Gavin Olson (CCO ’27) said, “It's been really fun to actually start to use the skills that we've been learning on real patients and test them, besides just working in the lab. This experience contributes a lot to our future. It’s one of the first steps we have in beginning our practice in becoming a doctor.” Gavin continued, “Coming to a vision screening like this is a great way to expose ourselves to what life might be like in a little bit when we’re working as optometrists or on mission trips.” He highlighted some of the vision tests the optometry students performed, including checking how the dental students could view an object up close and at a distance. 

Optometry student Hannah Maples (CCO ’27) shared that the optometry students focused on near vision testing for the dental students. “We checked their eye fatigue because they’ll be using their near vision for extended periods of time.” Hannah also expressed that the dental students were interested in the tests the optometry students were performing, asking questions, and expressing appreciation for the interdisciplinary aspect of an education at Midwestern University. “As doctors, we’re going to be working with all types of other healthcare professionals and we might refer patients to them, so it’s important to know their expertise, how to communicate, and make sure we’re all a team to ensure that the patient’s health is taken care of,” Hannah said.

Hannah also mentioned that they might not always be performing vision tests in the space that they’re used to, and this experience gives them practice in other spaces, which prepares them for other types of experiences, such as mission trips or sporting events. “It’s nice to see how we make do with what we have and be put in different situations,” Hannah said. 

Gavin and Hannah also reflected upon the interdisciplinary experience. “I would take away a new level of confidence in the skills that I’ve learned this far and the ability to approach a patient and take care of them, even when we’re not in a perfect exam room setting,” Gavin said.

Hannah continued, “I think it’s nice to work with people outside of our class and with a real-world situation where the patient doesn’t know what’s happening and for me to be able to explain the tests.”

Another interdepartmental screening between Occupational Therapy faculty and students and the dental students examined if the dental students were experiencing high or low degrees of hypermobility, as well as their pinch and grip strength. If any underlying issues were found, adjustments and treatments were recommended such as strengthening exercises, splits, or adding a 3D-printed hand piece to practice proper positioning to use the dental hand piece. 

Dental student Ellie Manning (CDMI ’28) described the screening and expressed appreciation for Midwestern University faculty and students caring about their students’ health and career longevity. “It was a unique experience getting to work with occupational therapy students and faculty and seeing how they add corrective practices for mobility,” Ellie said. 

Dental student Amrit Kaur (CDMI ’27) concurred as she reflected on her screening the previous year and how much the care from Midwestern University meant to her. “For the incoming dental students, this experience is great exposure. You get to feel parts of your hand that you didn’t think about so carefully before the screening. You know your whole career is going to be focused on your hands, and the occupational therapists are telling you firsthand what to work on and the resources available,” she said. Amrit is involved with the ongoing University research about hypermobility, and she discussed how the screening will help the students succeed. “When you start practicing in the Dental Simulation Clinic, with the faculty consistently telling us about ergonomics such as how to sit and hold instruments, then all these things come together. You start to think about longevity. If you know that those are the problems that can occur on your hands or on your overall musculoskeletal health, helps a lot and would help someone practice however long they want,” Amrit said.

The Midwestern University educational experience involves interdisciplinary collaboration, with the screenings as a way to introduce incoming students to an integral aspect of their future healthcare careers as they become future healthcare professionals including eye doctors, dentists, and occupational therapists.