Name: Tiffany Chen 2023 Student Visionary Spotlight

Class Year: 2023

What is your specialty or area of focus (if applicable)?
Ocular Disease

List the award(s) / scholarship(s) you have received
Chancellor’s Academic Excellence and Leadership Award

What does receiving this award or scholarship mean to you?
Receiving this award is an incredible honor as it represents the culmination of my experiences at SUNY Optometry. It is a humbling honor to know that the actions I've taken throughout my time at SUNY have touched my community and beyond. I am extremely grateful for the mentorship, guidance and inspiration that I have received from my peers and advisors over the past years.

What drew you to the field of optometry?
I am drawn by the conversations we have with patients to individualize treatment plans and include them in the conversation about their vision and ocular health. I am grateful to be a part of a profession that allows me to make connections and provide continuity of care for people every day.

What are your plans following graduation?
I will be pursuing an ocular disease residency at University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.

What was your most transformative experience during optometry school?
The white coat ceremony! It was so inspiring to be with my classmates as we took the next step to start seeing patients and applying our knowledge in the clinical setting.

What advice would you give incoming or prospective optometry students?
My advice would be to challenge (but be kind) to yourself! This is the best time to push your knowledge and clinical skills because the more you practice, the more comfortable you are. However, show yourself some grace. It's a tough 4 years but you will get through it!