News and Events

This month, we’re proud to introduce Nancy Hollar, COT, OSA, from Vance Thompson Vision in Alexandria, MN. With over 15 years of experience in ophthalmology, Nancy brings both expertise and passion to her role as a preceptor. 

Nancy’s own career began as a student in an Ophthalmic Technician program, which helps her connect with today’s learners. “It is a great opportunity to be able to apply what you learn in class and expand on it in a clinical rotation,” she shares. 

For Nancy, precepting is about helping students bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. She finds the greatest reward in those “lightbulb moments” when a student realizes how something they studied in class applies directly to patient care: “I love it when they make the connection of what they learned in class or in the books to how to apply it in their role as a technician.” 

One standout memory: receiving a heartfelt thank-you card from a student who wrote that Nancy was “an amazing teacher” and that she’d “learned so much.” “It was truly an honor to be a part of her journey,” Nancy recalls. 

Nancy believes in the power of hands-on learning. Her approach: have students observe testing and exams, discuss and answer questions, then guide them as they perform the next exam. “You will learn so much more hands on,” she emphasizes. Above all, her guiding principle is clear: Patient care first. The more educated and skilled a technician becomes, the more patients, and clinics, benefit. 

Clear skill lists and expectations from ATCC help Nancy align daily patient care with student learning. “That helps me plan my day with our patients to match what we are learning in that semester. Our team is very supportive of the days we have students in our clinic,” she notes. 

Nancy encourages anyone considering precepting to give it a try: 

 

“It is very rewarding to have these students in our clinic. They are so eager to learn. It is a benefit to our entire staff as the students challenge us with their questions, and we all become better educated technicians.” 

We are grateful for Nancy’s dedication and the passion she brings to her students and patients. Her mentorship builds confidence, sharpens skills, and strengthens the entire ophthalmic community. 

Are you an ophthalmic technician certified at the COT or COMT level who loves teaching and mentoring? We would love to talk with you about joining our outstanding team of preceptors. 

 

Contact Kimberly Barblock, Ophthalmic Program Director at Kimberly.Barblock@alextech.edu for more information about how you can get involved.