Berkeley Optometry Ambassadors (BOA)

Andrea Buitrago
andrea_buitrago@berkeley.edu

I was born in Bogotá, Colombia and raised in Georgia, where I received a degree in Biology from the University of Georgia in 2001. Before I decided to come to Berkeley, I worked at Deutsche Bank in New York City as well as several non-profit organizations (The Children's Aid Society, DonorsChoose, and CACF). Since moving to the Bay Area last year, I have enjoyed exploring northern California, a place I have always wanted to live, as well as getting involved in school. My experience at Berkeley has been wonderful not only because it is preparing me for a career that I envision enjoying very much, but it has given me the opportunities to continue to give back to the community. For example, I have volunteered at the Suitcase Clinic and various health fairs throughout the Bay Area, and I am involved with COVD (College of Optometrists in Vision Development) and the philanthropy committee. As an optometrist, I hope to use my business and philanthropic experience to bring vision care to under-served individuals.

Jennifer Chen
jenniferchen@berkeley.edu

I did my undergraduate studies at UCSD, where I majored in molecular biology. I like to be involved in school, and am the secretary for our student body, UCOSA. I became interested in optometry from a young age, since I have always been very near-sighted and was one of the few people that went to see their optometrist every year out of necessity. During my time at UCSD, I shadowed a local optometrist for a little over 2 years to get a better idea of what the profession entailed. After that, I was hooked! I really believe that Berkeley Optoometry offers the best education in optometry, not to mention that the people here are some of the most down-to-earth people I've ever been around!

Lisa Craig
lisacraig@berkeley.edu

Hello! My name is Lisa Craig, and I am a member of the Class of 2009 at Berkeley Optometry. I finished my biomedical engineering degree at Northwestern University in 1996, so I am one of the "non-traditional" older students who took a few more years to discover our fantastic profession. Prior to optometry school, I spent nine years working in the orthopedic industry, specializing in knee replacement implants. The adjustment in returning to grad school was a big change from the corporate world, but the friendly environment made for an easy transition. Our instructors are as fantastic as you would expect, given the reputation of UC Berkeley, and our small class sizes ensure that you will get all of the personalized attention that you need. Outside of school, life in the Bay Area is awesome! Originally from Chicago, I also lived in Indiana, Memphis, and New York before landing here in 1999. There is no contest — the Bay Area has the most to offer in comparison to everywhere else I have lived. If you appreciate a mild climate, cultural and ethnic diversity, and the great outdoors, you will not be disappointed here. Thanks for your interest in our school, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Kandy Guan
huanguan@berkeley.edu

I immigrated to the United States from Southern China When I was 17. I made Berkeley my hometown when I started my undergraduate education here at Cal. I majored in Molecular and Cell Biology with an emphasis in Neurology. I really enjoyed learning about the visual system, so I decided to make the care of the visual system as my life-long career. I have been involved in vision research since I was a sophomore. I have been working in Professor Wildsoet's lab for the past three years studying how eye growth and myopia development are influenced by visual stimuli. I am also an enthusiastic participant of volunteer optometric services. I am actively involved in VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity) and Suit Case Clinic. These organizations provide eye care to those that cannot afford it. One of my career goals is to use the skills I acquired in optometry school to help those that cannot afford optometric office visits. My hobbies include creative cooking, badminton, and swimming.

Tanya Hashim
tanyahashim@berkeley.edu

I grew up in the LA area. I did my undergraduate education at Johns Hopkins University, in Public Health. During college, I also studied abroad for six months in Copenhagen, Denmark. At that time, my goal was to pursue a career in medicine. I applied to, and was accepted to, medical school, which I attended for one year. However, it was during my medical education when I realized that it was not the correct fit for me. I took a leave from medical school and after some introspection and research, decided to pursue optometry instead. While applying to optometry school, I interned with an optometrist and also worked for Kaplan, preparing pre-medical, pre-dental, and pre-optometry students for the admissions tests. After having completed my first year of optometry school, I could not be happier with my decision to switch careers. Not only do I love the academic program at Berkeley Optometry, but the small class sizes allow us to create a close-knit community with both the faculty and students. I have learned a great deal, and look forward to learning much more.

Kelly Kao
kckao@berkeley.edu

Growing up in the SF Bay Area, I grew to love the diversity and the great weather. I did, however, leave for a short while in order to obtain my degree in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Molecular and Cellular Biology at UC Davis. After researching some healthcare fields while I was there, I fell in love with optometry. Now, I have returned to the Bay Area to enjoy the beautiful lifestyle while being a Berkeley Optometry student. I commuted to school daily my first year, and I would be happy to share my thoughts on that. Some activities I partake in are the Student Chapter of the American Academy of Optometry, Second Year Class Secretary, and sports clubs on campus. During my free time I enjoy hanging out with my Opto family, working at a private practice on the weekends, and playing tennis. Feel free to email me any questions or concerns you may have. You will surely enjoy your time here at Berkeley Optometry!

Jimin Lee
jiminlee@berkeley.edu

I was born in the Bay Area and lived here until I left for college. I attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where I majored in Biology. After college, I took a few years off to work and consider different career choices before returning to school. I lived in New York City and worked at the American Museum of Natural History. During that time, I explored many possible career paths, from journalism to medicine to paleontology. A family friend clued me into optometry school, and after spending several months working in an optometric office, I applied to Berkeley, was accepted, and moved back to where I grew up! I have found the students, professors, and administration at Berkeley Optometry to be wonderful, caring, and fun people, and I feel lucky to be a member of this school and profession.

Sarah Lewis
sel@berkeley.edu

Born and raised in Yuma, Arizona, I first began my college years at Arizona Western College. I majored in chemistry and after receiving my Associate's degree, I transferred to Northern Arizona University to major in chemistry and microbiology. I was on a path to continue my education into the medical field; however, I had other interests that I wanted to pursue first. Off I went to Mexico for a semester and for another semester interned at the Arizona state legislature. I followed that break with more schooling at Johns Hopkins University where I received my Master's degree in Biotechnology. After being a lab technician for a couple of years, I decided I wanted to go back to school to pursue my original career goal of becoming a primary health care provider, so here I am!

Eileen Ng
eng510@berkeley.edu

I spent my childhood in sunny southern California before starting my undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley. I majored in Integrative Biology and took an optometry seminar (by our Dean Emeritus, Dr. Enoch) for a breadth requirement. This sparked my interest in the optometric field, and it was an easy choice to go back to Cal for graduate school. The Bay Area has great weather, great food, and a fun environment. (I'm still discovering places to visit and things to do!) Even though Cal is a public institution, Berkeley Optometry gives you the attention and care of a private school. I love that professors know me by name and that my classmates feel like my extended family. Please don't hesitate to visit our school!

Dorothy Nguyen
dorothynguyen@berkeley.edu

I am originally from San Jose, CA. My educational background includes a BS in Biomedical Engineering (Mechanical) from Marquette University and an MS in Applied Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Before entering optometry school, I was a Navy cryptologist for seven years and served in Florida, Guam, Maryland, Hawaii, and Alameda, CA. I am always looking for ways to help the community and am very passionate about www.bookshare.org, an online library for the print-disabled.

Jen Sablad
jensablad@berkeley.edu

If there's one thing I don't regret, it's choosing optometry as a profession, and coming to Berkeley to pursue it! I made my segue into eye care when I was an undergrad facing the "what do I do with my life" dilemma, shadowing a ton of health professionals before realizing optometry is a pretty balanced and satisfying career. I eventually earned my BS in Microbiology from UC Davis in 2004 and spent the following year as a research chemist, though optometry was decidedly the better path. Berkeley offers some really great rewards: working among optometry's best and brightest — in the classroom and in the clinic — not to mention learning and growing in an environment that is challenging, supportive, motivating, fun, and surprisingly close-knit. It might very well be a place where everybody knows your name, and I'm sure I've made some life-long friends among my colleagues. I'm currently a co-President for the Berkeley chapter of Beta Sigma Kappa, the optometric honor society, which also offers free tutoring for all students (hey, optometry school can be tough!).

Jennifer Thatcher
jrthatcher@berkeley.edu

I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio, but have made the Bay Area my new home as of 3 years ago. My path to optometry was somewhat non-traditional. I attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland where I received a BS in Computer Engineering. I worked as a software engineer for seven years before deciding on complementing my career with optometry. I wanted to "upgrade" my career into one that would allow me to have a direct impact on my community as well as nurture my love for all things technical. As an optometrist with an engineering background, I hope to help others by using technology to enrich their lives.

Pinky Weiser
pinky@berkeley.edu

My path to optometry was slightly unusual. Growing up in a poor neighborhood where education was not a big topic, I yearned for higher education. With countless odd jobs, I was able to matriculate at City College of San Francisco and later transferred to San Francisco State University. Upon graduation, I got married and also began my career as a researcher, where I was promoted four times in 5 years. Research was rewarding and exciting; however, I found that I was lacking human interaction. After researching different professions and volunteering with various professionals, I decided to apply to Berkeley Optometry, where I could remain close to home. Here at Berkeley, I have discovered many wonderful opportunities. I am able to follow my passion in research through the NEI summer research program and the optional research thesis project, and simultaneously pursue a profession that will allow me to directly benefit the well being of others. I welcome you to come visit us and feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Way Yu
wyu@berkeley.edu

I'm a So-Cal girl at heart (born and raised in LA, graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a BA in Literature and History). My path into optometry is a bit different than most — after graduation, I worked in product management for three years before realizing I wanted a more fulfilling career. I fell in love with optometry after volunteering for a non-profit organization that provided free eye exams and glasses to low-income communities. My subsequent experience volunteering at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute gave me insight into the research and hospital-based sides to optometry and solidified my desire to enter the profession. Now, here I am, a happy second-year student! I know I made the right choice in choosing Berkeley because the school has become a second home to me. We have an awesome learning environment because of our brilliant, caring professors and early access to clinic training. More importantly, I know that my classmates will not only be colleagues, but friends for life. Definitely come visit and see if Berkeley Optometry is the right school for you!

Brandon Friedman
bjf@berkeley.edu

I completed my Bachelor's degree in Psychology at UC Santa Barbara and grew up in Lake Arrowhead, a small mountain community in Southern California. I will be a second-generation optometrist, as my father is currently practicing optometry. I have worked at his two practices during the summers since high school. Though I gained valuable experience and insight into the field of optometry while working for my father, it was not until my junior year of undergraduate that I decided to pursue optometry as a career. I considered all the benefits of optometry, which include direct social interaction with people, the ability to assist individuals in need of vision care, and the opportunity to learn about the eye, an organ filled with fascinating structures and abilities. It is not an easy task to complete all the prerequisites for optometry school along with other undergraduate requirements. The challenge, however, is well worth it once you consider the opportunities provided to you by entering Berkeley's distinguished program. I am excited to be here at Berkeley Optometry with the opportunity to study under some of the greatest minds this field has to offer.

Ellie Kung
elliekung@berkeley.edu

I attended Berkeley High School and have lived in the Bay Area my whole life. I completed a BA in Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley Then I took a two-year break to travel and enrich my life before going back to academia. Now I'm back again for another four years. I practically bleed blue and gold! Optometry is a great way to get involved with the community. You get to see people from all walks of life and directly impact their quality of life. There's no better place to learn than at Berkeley Optometry, especially with its close proximity to culture, fun, and FOOD! (Besides optometry, you can ask me about the good places to eat and play.) Feel free to email me.

Joy Ohara
jmohara@berkeley.edu

I was born and raised in Orange County and received a BS in Chemistry at Berkeley. I have since fallen in love with the bay area and love the fact that I get to spend another 4 years here! I decided to pursue Optometry accidentally by taking an undergrad survey course on vision as a means to bypass "real" science class. By far, it has been the best thing that ever happened to me! I was immediately impressed by the enthusiasm and satisfaction that the profession exudes.  Visiting more eye care professionals, I found it easy to envision myself doing and enjoying this career. That was the real clincher! For me, Berkeley Optometry was the school to apply to. I love the area and I knew the top rate, affordable education I would get here. So far, I’ve really enjoyed my professors and the material we've been learning. I love how we've had the opportunity to be hands-on from day one. In addition, the atmosphere of cooperation and my classmates have really reaffirmed my decision to attend this school. Go Bears!

Alison Pierce
apierce@berkeley.edu

I'm a Navy brat who spent my childhood living in different areas both within the United States and abroad, including Maryland, California, Hawaii, and Japan. I did my undergraduate studies at UCSD, where I received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. After a short stint working in a chemistry lab for a pharmaceutical company, I realized I enjoy working with people more than chemicals and considered the possibility of a health profession. After looking at a few fields, I found optometrists to be especially enthusiastic about their work and helpful to newbies like me. I quickly found a job at a private practice where I worked for 3 years and have been an opto-fan ever since. Berkeley is a great place to study optometry and live! Our class size allows us to get to know each other and our professors very quickly. Not only that, but our professors are forerunners in their fields, and I am highly confident that I am receiving the most up-to-date and applicable education possible. Living in Berkeley is a blast! Here you'll find some of the best food, culture, and company around. Come visit us at Berkeley and see for yourself!

Kim Tran
kimtran@berkeley.edu

I am currently a second year at Berkeley Optometry and originally from Southern California.  Prior to living in the Bay Area, I attended UCLA for undergrad and majored in Psychobiology. During the first few years of undergrad, I knew I wanted to work somewhere in the medical field. I didn’t decide I wanted to go into optometry until my 4th year. During my 5th year, I studied abroad in Cordoba, Spain and the following fall I started at Berkeley Optometry. I knew I wanted to go into Optometry after my friend told me all about the profession, the funny thing is, she is in medical school now. After shadowing two optometrists in Santa Monica, I realized it was the career for me. I loved the flexibility of the profession along with the respect given to the doctors. I am a second-year representative for the Berkeley Optometry Alumni Association and SEE International, which is a program geared toward ophthalmic surgery in countries without surgical resources. In the past, I have been an Opto-Camp counselor (summer 2007) and a volunteer for the Special Olympics eye screening.

Erica Volker
evolker@berkeley.edu

Born and raised in San Diego, CA, I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2004 with a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. I have lived in the Bay Area for seven years and I’m still discovering how fantastic this place is!  The daughter of a CAL football player, my family has been attending our football games for as long as I can remember. I also grew up camping at the Lair of the Golden Bear (UC Berkeley Alumni camp), where I also spent three of my undergrad summers working as a staff member. I guess I am trying to say that I am Blue and Gold through and through and this campus is a huge part of my life. My first year of Optometry School was amazing I was able to go on a VOSH trip to Palau, be the Chair of the Equipment Committee, attend conferences in Las Vegas, Denver and D.C., and work for three local optometrists. I love the opportunities this profession offers and can see this mirrored in my classmates. We are an Opto-family and this is a very rewarding program to be a part of. Please feel free to contact me with any questions…GO BEARS!

Helen Zhou
helenz@berkeley.edu

I grew up in a suburb not far from Berkeley and attended UC Berkeley as an undergraduate. After one fun summer of traveling, working to pay for the traveling, and relaxing, I started optometry school at UC Berkeley. Even though I've been around the Bay Area my entire life, I am still discovering new places to eat, explore, dance, and have fun. The Optometry School itself offers a great faculty, curriculum, and clinical facility. But to really know what I'm talking about, you'll have to come visit and see for yourself!