News & Stories

NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 21, 2020) —McKenzie Symons grew up in upstate New York thinking she was going to be a professional ballerina until many optometrists in her life convinced her otherwise. While shadowing before optometry school, she observed Dr. Robert Fox, who primarily does vision therapy. At that time, she had no idea of […]

May 21, 2020

SUNY Optometry VISIONARIES 2020: Mariya (Maria) Klyuzner, Class of 2020

NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 21, 2020) —Born in Russia and raised in Brooklyn, Maria Klyuzner’s interest in optometry began with some eye-focusing issues experienced during her sophomore year of college. Her visit to the optometrist provided more than help for her vision problem, it peaked her passion for the profession. “The doctor was a SUNY […]

May 21, 2020

SUNY Optometry VISIONARIES 2020: David M. Spengler, Class of 2020

NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 21, 2020) —People and experiences can shape who we are and what we aspire to be and do in life. For David Spengler, it was helping in his grandfather’s business of making gravestones. “He taught me the value of hard work. He was the hardest working man I’ve known.” And admiring […]

May 20, 2020

SUNY Optometry VISIONARIES 2020: Samuel Louis Stack, Class of 2020

NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 20, 2020) —The timeless idiom, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” is clearly the case for Samuel Stack whose parents are eye doctors and proud alum of SUNY College of Optometry. In keeping with optometric family tradition, he also plans to marry fellow graduate and award recipient, Laura Karle. […]

May 20, 2020

SUNY Optometry VISIONARIES 2020: Gabrielle Aminova, Class of 2020

NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 20, 2020) —Before taking the plunge to become an eye doctor, Colorado native Gabrielle Aminova decided to test the waters of the profession by working as an optometric technician. “It inspired and fostered my love for optometry, there is always so much to learn and so much for patients to gain,” she said. […]

May 20, 2020

SUNY Optometry VISIONARIES 2020: Simrit Virk, Class of 2020

NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 20, 2020) —As a high school student, Simrit Virk had aspirations to be an English teacher after volunteering during school trips to India. She desired to impart her love and knowledge of literature and writing. It was during the visits that Virk would connect with her extended family and interact with her […]

May 20, 2020

SUNY Optometry VISIONARIES 2020: Alicia Jones, Class of 2020

NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 20, 2020) —It was an iconic 1969 novel that first introduced Alicia Jones to the profession of optometry. It was her desire to make a difference in patients’ lives, coupled with hard work and perseverance that led her to an OD degree from SUNY Optometry and this year’s Columbia Class of […]

May 20, 2020

SUNY Optometry VISIONARIES 2020: Alyssa Fortuna, Class of 2020

NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 20, 2020) —When she’s not caring for patients, Alyssa Fortuna enjoys exercising, baking and planning her next mission trip. She was lucky enough to provide eye care on a mission trip to Panama and looks forward to helping those in need as a new clinician. Recipient of the College of Optometrists […]

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