Community Stories
Hana Alsoudi
Doctor of Optometry (OD) StudentClass of 2025
Similarly, I have witnessed a strain on our healthcare system in the United States, with fundamental faculties of health neglected in the most vulnerable populations. In both settings, I have been inspired by the resilience of medical providers in the face of crises. I hope to one day yield the same dedication of the medical providers I have met through my diverse experiences to best treat those in need.
My time at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science has been nothing short of extraordinary, and your generosity has played a pivotal role in shaping this experience. As a result of scholarship support, I have been able to focus wholeheartedly on my studies and practical training, gaining invaluable insights that will undoubtedly shape my future in the field.
I have had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed faculty members and participating in hands-on clinical experiences. These experiences have not only expanded my knowledge but have also deepened my passion for optometry and strengthened my commitment to making a meaningful impact in the field.
I am committed to dedicating my skills and knowledge to addressing the eye care needs of those who are often overlooked. Upon graduation, my primary goal is to work in domestic and international community hospitals, focusing on assisting underserved communities.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for your support. I look forward to carrying forward the spirit of generosity and making a meaningful impact on underserved communities in the years to come.
Jorge Cuadros, OD, PhD
Assistant Clinical ProfessorDr. Jorge Cuadros was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1956 after his parents emigrated from Cochabama, Bolivia. After undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), he attended UC Berkeley School of Optometry and graduated in 1980, subsequently working in private practice and community clinics in underserved communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. He continued to pursue his interest in information science that started at UCLA, and designed his first electronic health record in 1988 that he used in his own optometric practices.
In 1993 Dr. Cuadros began exploring telemedicine as a way to improve access to specialty care for his patients with advanced disease who often experienced language and cultural barriers to ophthalmological care. He completed a few demonstration projects connecting patients with specialists at Berkeley where he began working as a clinical instructor. He became interested in how telehealth fits in the larger picture of medical information science and went on to complete his doctorate in that subject at the University of California, San Francisco, in 2004.
Along the way he and a classmate created EyePACS, a web-based telehealth platform using an open source design that allowed low cost access for clinics caring for underserved patients. In 2005 he was awarded a grant by the California Health Care Foundation to further develop the retinal telehealth program for patients with diabetes in community clinics in California.
He was selected as the California Optometric Association Key Person of the Year and UC Berkeley’s Alumnus of the Year for his help preparing acceptable wording for California Assembly Bills 354, 1224, and 175 that provide a legal framework for teleophthalmology and optometric telehealth in California. He has conducted several clinical trials on innovative technologies, such as automated retinal image reading, laser imaging devices, and primary care programs.
Dr. Cuadros co-authored three books on ocular telehealth and artificial intelligence and has lectured on these topics throughout the world, including several keynote and award presentations. In 2014 the California Health Care Foundation and the Kaggle Data Science company worked with EyePACS to conduct a competition that resulted in thousands of private and public domain automated retinal reading algorithms and became the standard ground truth for most of the algorithms in use today. A similar competition, AIROGS, was developed in 2021 with the University of Rotterdam for glaucoma triage. Dr. Cuadros and EyePACS continue to work with tech companies, academic centers, and health systems to improve access to care and improve health equity.
Rebecca Harbert, OD
Doctor of Optometry (OD) Class of 2024What attracted me to Berkeley's optometry program was its strong emphasis on clinical learning and the diverse patient population it serves. These factors and the excellent community at Berkeley motivated me to apply and attend the program. My classmates have fostered such a strong bond, and we help support each other through the program. The professors and attendings are amazing as well — they truly care about each student and want to help support and foster their learning.
After graduation, I hope to pursue an ocular disease/primary care residency. Through my clinical experiences at Berkeley, I have developed an interest in ocular disease, especially in a primary care setting. Ever since the beginning of my optometric education, I have been intrigued by the various manifestations of ocular and systemic diseases and how to approach the diagnosis and management of these conditions. This is what has intrigued me to learn more and gain more experience in this area.
I genuinely thank you for your generosity in offering this scholarship fund to students. It truly makes a difference and helps to support us through our education and our adventures out in the optometry field.
Pabita Dhungel, BOptom, MS
PhD Student, Vision Science2023 Ezell Winner
Orneika Flandrin
PhD Student, Vision Science2020-21 CEND Fellowship
American Association of University Women scholarship recipient, the first at UC Berkeley
Mihret Girum, OD
Doctor of Optometry (OD) Class of 2024Empowering Equity Scholarship, National Optometric
Association (NOA)
Carl Jacobsen, OD
Chief, Ocular Disease ClinicLanden Longson
Doctor of Optometry (OD) StudentClass of 2025
My favorite classes have been anatomy and contact lenses. I have been very interested in contact lenses throughout my clinical experience so far. As a second-year optometry student, I was the Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH) president who led a group of students on a four-day, free humanitarian clinic in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, in January 2023.
When I graduate and become an optometrist, I will continue to serve communities locally and internationally by delivering high-quality eye care to all.
Nancy McNamara, OD, PhD
Professor and Associate Dean for Academic AffairsIn addition to her duties as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Nancy McNamara is Chief of the Sjögren’s Clinic on the Berkeley campus.The clinic is one of only a few clinics nationwide that offers a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of Sjögren’s, a condition that affects over four million Americans.Once a patient is diagnosed, McNamara and her multi-disciplinary, collaborative staff will prescribe a road map for management shared with the individual’s treatment team.Clinic patients have the opportunity to be evaluated by experts in dry eye, dry mouth, and rheumatology in one visit.
Svetlana Nunez
Doctor of Optometry (OD) StudentClass of 2025
2022 Student Ambassador
Isela Orozco
Doctor of Optometry (OD) StudentClass of 2025
President, American Optometric Student Association
Sunshine Committee
Steve Van Grouw
Doctor of Optometry (OD) StudentClass of 2025
My experience at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science has been very enjoyable. I have taken advantage of being a part of a large public institution by participating in rec sports, attending sporting events, and meeting a wide array of people. Within the program, I have especially enjoyed the pharmacology and pediatric-centered courses. Transitioning into the program's clinical and patient care aspect has been truly rewarding. I was beginning to feel burnt out with the heavy course load within the first two years, but I have been rejuvenated since beginning direct patient care.
I was selected to be a part of the Health Professions Scholarship Program with the U.S. Navy at the end of my first year here at Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science. Along with this comes a commitment to serve in the military upon graduation. I am very excited about this opportunity.
Molly Vang
Doctor of Optometry (OD) StudentClass of 2026
HLUB Clinic also exposed me to the ongoing problems in healthcare. I recognized a low priority of eye care services and a lack of knowledge about ocular diseases, especially within the Asian community. Many patients came into the primary clinic for common concerns but left with a referral to an ophthalmology clinic due to their expired eye prescriptions or untreated glaucoma. In a rapidly evolving healthcare system, it is clear that high-quality eye care should be delivered with compassion and empathy to all patients.
I am privileged to work as a research assistant in Dr. Teresa Puthusssery's Lab, studying glial responses in non-human primate retinas following stem-cell-derived photoreceptor transplantation. My work involves analyzing immunohistochemistry and optical coherence tomography images to investigate the changes in the retina post-lesion and transplantation. This fragment of the research is essential for understanding the factors that may limit the efficacy of stem cell transplantation therapy and, ultimately, restore vision and improve life quality for patients with retinal degeneration. It has been an honor to learn more about vision science and gain research experience from Dr. Puthussery and her team.
My long-term goal is to play a role in resolving existing health disparities for the Hmong population. I have worked first-hand with this vulnerable population and witnessed the ongoing problems they face in healthcare accessibility. I will continue to advocate for my community and other underserved communities.
Charlotte Yiyi Wang, OD
PhD Student, Vision Science2023 “40 Under 40” award
2022 Ezell Fellow
Education Director, Alameda Contra Costa Counties Optometric
Society (ACCCOS)
Christina Wilmer, OD
Associate Dean for Clinical AffairsSheng Yeh, OD
Doctor of Optometry (OD) Class of 2024My journey has evolved from pursuing artistic happiness on screen to a deep commitment to ensuring that others can visually experience the happiness that life offers. Berkeley's optometry program distinguishes itself through its robust curriculum, extensive clinical experiences, specialized clinics, and exposure to a diverse patient population. These factors align seamlessly with my academic and professional goals, making it an ideal choice for my optometric education.
I am applying for the residency program in pediatric optometry at the New England College of Optometry. My passion for working with pediatric patients stems from their refreshing perspectives and the joy of forming strong bonds with my patients and their parents. With my cheerful demeanor, passion for kids, and offer of positive reinforcement, I readily develop rapport and communicate efficiently with pediatric patients. I believe I will be a good pediatric optometrist.