Celebration Profiles – October 16-20
In honor of our centennial anniversary, we are featuring members of our optometry community — past and present — each day of 2023!
See below for this week’s profiles.
This Week, We Are Celebrating…
Alexis Meyer, BS
Alexis Meyer is a fourth year optometry student at UC Berkeley School of Optometry. She graduated from UC Davis in 2019 with a Neurophysiology, Physiology, and Behavior major and a minor in Psychology. Alexis has enjoyed being involved in Berkeley’s local chapter of the American Optometric Student’s Association (AOSA). The AOSA represents optometry students and encourages them to advocate for the profession, informs them on current legislative issues in CA and across the country, and ensures they have the resources to thrive as doctors of optometry.You can find Alexis exploring new restaurants, hiking in Marin County, or planning her next trip. In June 2022, Alexis had the opportunity to travel to the Rincon Reservation in San Diego, CA where her team provided eye care for over 900 patients over the course of one week. Trips like these show how impactful vision can be in improving people’s quality of life. After school, Alexis plans to pursue corporate optometry, private practice, and working with nonprofit organizations to provide quality vision care globally.
Charles E. Seger, OD, FAAO
Dr. Charles Seger was born in Sherwood, North Dakota on November 7, 1919. He received his BA from the State Teachers College in Minor, North Dakota in 1941, and served in the US Navy during World War II. He graduated with honors from Berkeley Optometry in 1948. He maintained a private practice in San Luis Obispo, California from 1948 to 1986.Respected nationally for his many leadership roles in the profession, he has been President, California Optometric Association (1960–61); President, American Optometric Association (1964–65); President, Vision Institute of America (1964-65); Chair, Council on Optometric Education, American Optometric Association (1965-75); President, California Chapter, American Academy of Optometry (1973-74); Chair, fundraising drive for Berkeley Optometry (1978); Chair, Board of Directors, California Vision Services (VSP, 1984-85); and optometric consultant, San Luis Obispo County Welfare Department. All of this in addition to the many committees he served on, as well as his community service involvement outside of the profession.
Cyrus McHugh, BS
Cyrus is a vision science student at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science since August 2022. Cyrus received his BS in Biochemistry from the University of Oregon in 2016. Prior to stating his PhD at Berkeley, he was a Research Assistant at the Doheny Eye Institute in Los Angeles for four years between 2018-2022, researching how novel hybrid action of GABA mediates inhibitory feedback in the mammalian retina.Between 2016-18, he was a Research Assistant at Morgans Lab at Oregon Health & Science University, where he conducted research studying mice retinal cells and the effects of genetic defects in correlation with congenital stationary night blindness disorder. He also conducted patch-clamp experiments on HEK cells, dissociated Rod Bipolar Cells (RBC) and from retina slices and split preparation. His analysis was performed in Igor Pro (waveform analysis program). Cyrus’ research included studying PCR reactions for transfection of HEK cells, Gel Electrophoresis for identification and analysis of proteins in RBCs.
Andrew Mick, OD, FAAO
Dr. Andrew Mick graduated from the University of Michigan before receiving his doctor of optometry degree from UC Berkeley in 2001. He then completed an ocular disease residency at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami. Dr. Mick is an Associate Clinical Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science and holds a volunteer faculty appointment at the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology. He has been an optometrist at the San Francisco VA Medical Center since 2002 and has served as the director of their ocular disease residency program since 2012. Dr. Mick is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and former member of the Academy’s Scientific Programs, Awards, and Membership Committees. He is a former Topical and Associate Editor of Optometry and Vision Science and current member of the American Academy of Optometry Board of Directors. When not involved in professional activities, Dr. Mick enjoys running, mountain biking, playing disc golf, and watching his beloved Michigan Wolverine athletic teams on TV.
Britney Kitamata-Wong, OD
Dr. Britney Kitamata-Wong is a clinician and clinical instructor in the PROSE and Specialty Contact Lens Clinic at UCSF Health. Her clinical interests include visual rehabilitation and contact lens management for patients with ocular surface disease and corneal irregularities. She is a fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society and American Academy of Optometry, in which she serves as a continuing education lecturer and member of the AAO Admittance Committee.She earned both her Bachelors and Doctor of Optometry degrees at the University of California, Berkeley. As a graduate student, she was involved in educating undergraduate students and was awarded the Teagle Foundation Award for Excellence in Enhancing Student Learning. Following her studies at Berkeley, she completed a residency in cornea and contact lenses at the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University.
Dr. Kitamata-Wong is a Bay Area native and has dedicated her career to connecting optometrists within the Bay Area. She is the president of the Bay Area Optometric Council, board member of the Alameda Contra Costa Counties Optometric Society, and committee member of the California Optometric Association.
Back to Archive Celebrating Our Community Return to Main Centennial Page