The Eye Institute Resident Profile: Dr. Rachel Brodt

Meet one of the newest residents at The Eye Institute. Dr. Rachel Brodt is  a member of the  Resident Class of 2027 at The Eye Institute (TEI) of Drexel University, where she will be specializing in Primary Care/Ocular Disease.

Dr. Brodt is originally from Adna, Washington and moved to the Philadelphia area with her husband and many cats four years ago at the start of her education at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO).

Dr. Brodt explains why she chose to pursue a residency at TEI. “TEI is where it all started. It was one of the first places I truly saw what comprehensive, medically focused eye exams look like in practice,” she said.  She recently detailed how her past experiences at TEI motivated her to continue further speciality training with PCO: “Early on at TEI, I was exposed to a high volume of complex ocular disease, and my preceptors emphasized thorough patient centered care. Returning there for residency feels like a full circle opportunity to continue developing in an environment that set the standard for me, while taking on greater responsibility and refining my own clinical decision-making skills.”

Dr. Brodt is passionate about pursuing a specialty in Primary Care/Ocular Disease because she “see(s) primary care as the foundation of optometry” and “routine exams aren’t always just routine; they are often where you first catch disease and begin further management.”

In addition, Dr. Brodt also expresses the balance primary eye care provides: “I also really value the opportunity to build relationships with patients and follow them over time, whether that’s annually or more frequently for complex cases. I like that balance of providing comprehensive care while also working through more complex cases over time.”

Before her residency started in July, she was looking forward to growing in an environment that really challenges her clinically. “TEI has such a high volume and variety of ocular diseases, and I’m excited to keep building my clinical decision making and management skills,” she said. In addition to enhancing her clinical skills, Dr. Brodt also looks forward to “working more closely with the attendings and co-residents and learning from their different approaches” as well as “building strong relationships within the professional community.”

She’s excited to have the opportunity to come back to TEI with a stronger foundation and take on more responsibility in patient care.