Optometry Residency Class of 2023: Dr. Nicholas Puzzella

After graduating from Widener University with a degree in Biology, Nicholas Puzzella, OD ‘22, Resident ‘23, began working as an ophthalmic technician in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, prior to entering optometry school. That turned out to be a wise choice indeed.

That year as a technician helped Dr. Puzzella improve his skills in eyecare, particularly in the area of ocular disease. And it helped reinforce the idea that he did indeed want to pursue a career in optometry.

One of the main reasons Dr. Puzzella chose the Pennsylvania College Optometry (PCO) at Salus University was because he knew he was going to get really good clinical experience.

So when he was considering doing a residency, it made sense for him to stick with a winning formula. Now Dr. Puzzella is one of the residents in the Class of 2023, which started July 1, 2022, right at home in The Eye Institute (TEI) at PCO.

“When I was looking into residency programs, I was really interested in potentially looking into academia as a motive for working in the optometry profession,” said Dr. Puzzella. “Knowing that Salus has a top clinical program and knowing what I was getting while going to school there as a student, it reinforced the idea. Doing a residency at Salus would be a great opportunity, especially working in the primary care ocular disease residency.”

He admits being on the other side, as a preceptor now and not a graduate student, has been an “interesting” transition for him.

“It’s given me an opportunity to expand upon my ability to not only practice myself but to teach others,” he said. “The skills I learned in school definitely helped me to do what I’m doing now. I think it will be fulfilling to watch the students leave a year from now. Watching how they grow as clinicians, I find that will be an interesting thing to observe.”

Teaching is one avenue he would like to pursue after his residency. The other avenue he’d like to explore is working in a group practice specializing in ocular disease or in a healthcare network physicians’ group.

“The medical and the ocular disease aspect of optometry is really interesting to me and partially why I did the ocular disease residency,” he said.

When he has some time to himself, Dr. Puzzella likes going to the beach, hiking and traveling. He’s a big Disney fan — Hercules is his favorite Disney character — and he enjoys going to Disney World with his fiancé.

“I just try to find that balance. When you’re in the clinic, you’re inside a building. Going outside and exploring nature helps me find that balance and Philadelphia has a ton of great places to do that.”