1. Melanie Hennenfent
773 Westcot Place
West Vancouver, BC, V7S1P1
(503)-853-0166
melaniehennenfent16@neco.edu
EDUCATION
NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY; Boston, MA
Doctor of Optometry expected May 2016
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY; Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Bachelor of Science (Honors), received May 2012
Major: Life Sciences
FOURTH YEAR EXTERNSHIPS AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Veterans Affairs Medical Center Portland: Vancouver Division (Vancouver, WA)
Summer 2015
 Comprehensive eye exams: geriatrics and primary care
 Diagnosing, co-managing, and treating ocular diseases including glaucoma, age-
related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and anterior segment conditions
 Interpreting OCT, HVF, and fundus photography
Martha Eliot Health Center (Jamaica Plain, MA)
Fall 2015
 Comprehensive eye exams: pediatric and adolescent care, routine adult exams,
diabetic eye exams, and contact lens exams
 Providing contact lens and optical services
 Diagnosing, co-managing, and treating amblyopia, strabismus, and binocular vision
anomalies
 Performing and interpreting Heidelberg OCT & HVF
Special Populations (various locations in MA)
Winter 2015
 Tufts Medical Center: Broad scope vision care provided to children of all ages
including special populations with strabismus, amblyopia, oculomotor and binocular
anomalies, learning disabilities, and developmental delays. Also had the opportunity
to observe strabismus surgery and infantile cataract extraction.
 New England Eye (Contact Lens Division): Exposed to routine soft contact lens fits
as well as specialty fit cases (RGPs, hybrid lenses, etc for a range of conditions
including keratoconus, post refractive surgery, s/p filtering bleb, etc).

2.  New England Eye (Vision Therapy Division): Referral service that integrates
developmental and behavioral concepts of care (average patients 3-15 years old).
o Strived to improve individual’s visual performance and efficiency through the
use of lenses and/or vision therapy.
o Participated in developing appropriate VT programs for children with
visually related learning difficulties.
 New England Eye On-Sight Mobile Van: Provided preschoolers and elementary
school children with the opportunity to have comprehensive eye exams under their
health insurance during the school day. Typically performed about 10 exams per day
on patients aged 3-5 years old.
 Perkins School of the Blind: Provided optometric care to individuals who have
visual, mental and/or physical impairments. Became comfortable working with this
diverse population, which included individuals with complex and rare medical
conditions, those with acquired brain injury, and those with varying levels of
intellectual disability.
o Participated in a collaborative group to provide functional vision assessments
and low vision exams.
o Developed an understanding of the need for a collaborative approach for
effective care and the role of other professionals: MD, RN, SLP, OT, PT,
O&M, TVI, etc.
Eye Centers of South Florida (Miami, FL)
Spring 2016
 Externship program with a strong emphasis on ocular disease with the provision of
primary, tertiary and surgical eye care, sub-specialty eye care, and optometric co-
management.
 Opportunity to observe and work directly with two general ophthalmologists, a
vitreo-retinal surgeon, an oculo-plastic specialist, cornea and glaucoma specialist, and
neuro-ophthalmologist.
Shadowing Experience; July 2011-Present
 Dr. Bruce Kirn, OD, Family Eye Care (Saco, ME)
 Dr. Todd Kirn, OD, Associated Eye Care Optical (Sandford, ME)
 Dr. Dominique Holwitt, OD, Bayview Optometry & Clearview Optometry (Kingston,
ON)
 Dr. Vicki Chen, MD, Tufts Medical Center (pediatric ophthalmologist)
 Dr. William Trattler, MD, Center for Excellence in Eye Care (corneal specialist)

3. LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES
Professional Tutor; September 2007 - August 2012
 Assisted high school and university students in calculus, math, chemistry and physics
BSK Optometric Honor Society Member (2014 – current)
 Help students prepare for their proficiencies by providing timed mock examinations
in addition to constructive criticism and assistance in mastering their practical skills
“Crimson Care Collaborative” Optometry Student Volunteer; Spring 2015, Chelsea, MA
 Collaboration between Harvard Medical Students and Massachusetts General
Hospital to address the difficulty that patients face in seeking primary care in the post
Massachusetts healthcare reform era
 Student-administered evening clinic where medical students, dental students, physical
therapy students and optometry students provide multidisciplinary health care for
patients
AWARDS
 4.0 GPA Award, “Principal’s List” at Sentinel Secondary School (2005-2008)
 Provincial Examination Scholarship (2008)
 Principal’s Scholarship of Queen’s University (2008-2010)
 Dean’s Honor List of Queen’s University (2008-2012)
 Queen’s University Distinction for Writing Ability (2011)
 Dean’s Scholarship of Pacific University College of Optometry (2012)
 Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society (2014-2015)
 Exceptional performance on NBEO examinations:
o Part I: 746
o Part II: 831
o Part III: 616
o TMOD: 97
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Informal Childcare; 2005 - 2010, West Vancouver, BC
 250+ hours looking after two young boys and performing household duties
Hostess at The Keg Steakhouse; May 2011 - August 2011, West Vancouver, BC
 Seated guests, maintained equal distribution of servers, answered phone calls, made
reservations, made staffing decisions based on workforce demand
 Managed criticisms and complaints in a constructive and professional manner

4. Medical Office Assistant; May 2011-August 2011, West Vancouver, BC
 Dr. Wayne Smith, M.D. at Hollyburn Medical Center
 Answered multiple phone lines, ran test analyses, faxed and filed documents, tended
to patient inquiries, directed patients to rooms, maintained room cleanliness &
equipment supplies
Great Western Council of Optometry Conference Delegate; September 2012, Portland, OR
 Networked with optometry professionals and students at one of the Pacific
Northwest’s Premier Optometric Conferences
International Vision Expo East Attendee; March 2015, New York, NY
 Attended CE lectures, and explored the latest trends and advances in optometric
fashion, accessories and medical equipment
 Networked with optometrists, opticians, practice managers and frame buyers from all
over the United States
Clinical Internships; September 2013 – May 2015, Greater Boston Area, MA
 Provided 3 months of optometric care as a student intern at each of the following:
Boston Medical Center, Joseph Smith Community Health Center, Martha Eliot Health
Center, New England Eye Institute Roslindale, Lynn Community Health Center
Memberships:
 National Optometric Student Association (NOSA), Canadian Association of
Optometric Students (CAOS), American Optometric Student Associations (AOSA),
Practice Management Group, NECO Yearbook Committee
References:
 Dr. Amara Callahan, OD
o Email: Amara.Callahan@va.gov
o Phone: (360) 696-4061
 Dr. Michael Tomlin, OD
o Email: Michael.Tomlin@va.gov
o Cell: (360) 719-0803
 Dr. Nicole Quinn, OD
o Email: QuinnN@neco.edu
o Phone: (617) 266-2030 (NECO)
 Dr. Beth Harper, OD
o Email: HarperB@neco.edu
o Cell: (518) 312-6079
 Dr. Richard Laudon
o Email: laudonr@neco.edu
o Work phone: (617) 236-6323