New York, NY — SUNY College of Optometry will celebrate the accomplishments of three outstanding alumni at the annual President’s Brunch & Alumni Awards this month with Dr. Tamara Petrosyan ’09, R’10 leading the honors as the College’s 2025 Alumna of the Year. Joining Dr. Petrosyan as honorees are David Tai, ’18, recognized as Alumni Mentor of the Year, and Dr. Amy Lam, ’15, R’16, named the Alumni Rising Star. The College will also recognize their first 50th Anniversary Class from 1975.
“This year’s honorees exemplify the values of service, innovation, and leadership that define our College and our profession,” said Dr. David Troilo, President of the College. “Drs. Petrosyan, Tai, and Lam are making extraordinary contributions to their patients, their communities, and the profession of optometry. We are proud to celebrate their achievements.”
“Each of these alumni demonstrates how SUNY Optometry graduates continue to shape the future of vision care,” said Mary Botelho, President of the Alumni Association. “They are role models for our community and an inspiration for the next generation of optometrists.”
Alumni from across the country will come together to celebrate with former classmates and honor distinguished colleagues in a tradition of leadership, service, and advocacy that has been the hallmark of SUNY College of Optometry for more than 50 years. The President’s Brunch & Alumni Awards will take place on campus at SUNY Optometry on Sunday, September 28, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as part of Alumni Weekend programming.
Honorees Include:
Alumna of the Year: Dr. Tamara Petrosyan
Dr. Tamara Petrosyan is an associate clinical professor at SUNY Optometry and NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York, where she has worked across departments including Primary Care, Contact Lens, Ocular Disease, Pediatrics, Vision Therapy, and Head Trauma. An international lecturer and author of multiple articles, book chapters, and vision therapy workbooks, she has been a leader in advancing pediatric vision care worldwide.
Through her work with the Armenian Eyecare Project, Dr. Petrosyan has helped deliver free comprehensive pediatric eye exams and glasses to more than 60,000 children. She developed a school vision screening protocol adopted by the Armenian Ministry of Health, which in 2025 was incorporated into the national screening program for all schoolchildren in Armenia.
Dr. Petrosyan has mentored colleagues pursuing fellowship in Optometric Visual Development and Rehabilitation (OVDRA), serves on the board of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF), and has been recognized with both Young Optometrist of the Year and Optometrist of the Year awards from the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians.
Alumni Mentor of the Year: Dr. David Tai, ’18
Born in Taiwan and raised in Hong Kong, Dr. David Tai studied medicine in China before graduating from SUNY Optometry in 2018. Today he provides care in multiple clinics across Queens, where he is known for compassionate patient education in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Taiwanese.
Dr. Tai is the founder of Myopia Charity, Vision Light Eye Care, and NYGoddesses and currently serves as President of the Taiwanese Jr. Chamber of Commerce NY. He also holds leadership roles with Young ODs of America and OSCONY, among others. In recognition of his lifelong commitment to service, he was honored with the United States President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Alumni Rising Star: Dr. Amy Lam, ’15, R’16
Dr. Amy Lam graduated from SUNY Optometry in 2015 with Beta Sigma Kappa honors and completed her residency in Low Vision/Rehabilitation/Primary Care at the Northport VA Medical Center in 2016. She is currently Director of Low Vision Services at the Institute of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at University Hospital, the teaching hospital for Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
Dr. Lam divides her time between low vision care and non-surgical ophthalmology for underserved populations, while also teaching ophthalmology residents and medical students both clinically and didactically. She has forged partnerships with community nonprofits serving the visually impaired, presented at state and national meetings, and is an active board member of the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians (NJSOP).
About SUNY Optometry
Founded in 1971 and located in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry is a leader in education, research, and patient care, offering the Doctor of Optometry degree as well as MS and PhD degrees in vision science. The College conducts a robust program of basic, translational, and clinical research and has 65 affiliated clinical training sites as well as an on-site clinic, the University Eye Center. SUNY Optometry is regionally accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; its four-year professional degree program and residency programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association. To learn more about SUNY Optometry, visit www.sunyopt.edu.