News & Stories

JOHNSON AND JOHNSON EXCELLENCE AWARD EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL CONTACT LENSES-PATIENT CARE Connecticut-native Holly Knoechel developed an interest in health care while in grade school. But it wasn’t until her teen years that her future became clear after shadowing a family friend who was a practicing optometrist. “I knew it was the career for me.” […]

May 19, 2021

SUNY OPTOMETRY VISIONARIES 2021: CHANA HAIMOWITZ

OPTELEC LOW VISION AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOW VISION Brooklyn native and dedicated student Chana Haimowitz is a new doctor and a newlywed whose husband hails from Santa Barbara, California. She describes him as someone with a lot of hobbies including being a “serious surfer”! When not in study or the clinic, Hamowitz enjoys […]

May 18, 2021

SUNY OPTOMETRY VISIONARIES 2021: ANGELA WEN

MORTON L. KIMMELMAN MEMORIAL AWARD FOR STUDENT LEADERSHIP IN ORGANIZED OPTOMETRY It was time spent as an undergraduate student in the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) at SUNY Optometry that led Angela Wen to choose her future profession and the school that would make it happen. Fast forward to graduation with a […]

May 18, 2021

SUNY OPTOMETRY VISIONARIES 2021: JEREMY DU

BENJAMIN FREED MEMORIAL AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE SPONSORED BY THE READER’S DIGEST PARTNERS FOR SIGHT FOUNDATION From organizing events and fundraisers as class representative and vice president to coordinating vision screenings as president of ACE (The Health Practitioners’ Society), California-native Jeremy Du placed service to peers, patients and communities in need at the center […]

May 18, 2021

SUNY OPTOMETRY VISIONARIES 2021: STEPHEN DELLOSTRITTO

WILLIAM M. EISENBERG MEMORIAL AWARD (SPONSORED BY ALCON) EXCELLENCE IN OCULAR DISEASE New SUNY Optometry alum Stephen Dellostritto is a believer in pushing beyond your boundaries for personal growth and success. “I love to travel and put myself in uncomfortable situations because I was such a shy, reserved child. I needed to break that.” Starting […]

May 18, 2021

SUNY OPTOMETRY VISIONARIES 2021: XIAO JING XU

ALCON AWARD FOR THE OUTSTANDING CASE REPORT ON THE USE OF AN ALCON PRODUCT Before entering optometry school, Xiao Jing Xu said that she wasn’t aware of the extent to which doctors in the optometric profession can change lives. “Throughout my time at the College, I realized how important vision is and how often […]

May 18, 2021

SUNY OPTOMETRY VISIONARIES 2021: SHUYI (SUZY) CHEN

GP LENS INSTITUTE CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD OUTSTANDING CLINICAL PROFICIENCY IN CONTACT LENSES Family and function paved the road to becoming an optometrist for Suzy Chen. “My mom is an ophthalmologist, so I was exposed to the eye care field at a young age,” she said. “My time working as a tech for a busy dry […]

May 17, 2021

SUNY OPTOMETRY VISIONARIES 2021: CASSIDY MARIE SAUER

CLASS OF 1991 PACE SETTER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRIMARY CARE After exploring many career options in healthcare, Cassidy Sauer decided to follow the path forged by family. She credits her big sister, a SUNY Optometry graduate, for providing direction to her chosen profession. “I knew after shadowing her that optometry was the path […]

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