The Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of California, Berkeley is pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Molina, OD, FAAO, as Director of Residencies, On-Campus Programs.
Dr. Molina has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Berkeley since 2018. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the State University of New York College of Optometry in 2017 and completed her Primary Care and Contact Lens Residency at UC Berkeley in 2018.
In her faculty role, Dr. Molina has demonstrated a strong commitment to resident and student education, precepting across primary care, contact lens, myopia control, and specialty clinics. She mentors residents across multiple tracks and is widely recognized for her supportive, evidence-based, and patient-centered teaching approach.
Dr. Molina is an accomplished clinician-scientist with significant involvement in myopia research through the Myopia Research Group and the Berkeley Early Ametropia Research (BEAR) Lab. She has served as a co–principal investigator or sub-investigator on numerous clinical trials and has authored peer-reviewed publications, as well as national and international presentations. She is also an active educator, delivering lectures and workshops on myopia management, orthokeratology, specialty contact lenses, and anterior segment disease.
In addition to her academic and clinical work, Dr. Molina brings substantial leadership experience and currently serves as President of the San Francisco Optometric Society, a Board Member of the Bay Area Optometric Council, and a Consultant for the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE). Her committee service and ACOE consultant certification provide strong preparation for residency program oversight and accreditation.
As a former UC Berkeley resident, Dr. Molina brings valuable insight into resident training and program development and expansion. In her new role as Director of Residencies, On-Campus Programs, she is committed to maintaining ACOE compliance, supporting resident development, promoting scholarly activity, and fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Kuniyoshi Kanai for his outstanding leadership over the past 10 years as Residency Director. Reflecting on his time in the role, Dr. Kanai shared: “On a personal note, serving as your residency director for the past 10 years has been an incredible journey and one of the best highlights of my career. I want to sincerely thank the entire residency community – past and present – for your hard work, your passion for patient care, and for putting up with me all these years. You have made this role truly rewarding.”
Dr. Molina has officially assumed all responsibilities and will serve as the primary point of contact for on-campus residency programs. She and Dr. Kanai will work closely together through the remainder of the current residents’ term to ensure a smooth transition and continued support.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Molina to her new role and thanking Dr. Kanai for his years of dedicated service.
About Dr. Molina About Dr. Kanai