One Step Closer to a Career in Private Practice 

I decided I wanted to become a Doctor of Optometry when I was in middle school. As the daughter of hard-working immigrant parents, I was encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities they didn’t have, and to explore career options early on so I could tailor my education to reach my goals. After countless hours shadowing optometrists, I decided this was the career for me. Now, I am a third-year student at the UC Berkeley Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science.  
 
Dedication to My Community  
I come from a predominantly Armenian community that values volunteering, so giving back and elevating the voices of underrepresented populations have always been integral parts of my life. While in optometry school, I have pursued leadership positions where I can empower my fellow students. I currently serve as the Trustee for The American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) representing all Berkeley Optometry students at the national level, am the OptoPrep Student Representative for my peers as they prepare for the national board exams, and I intern with the Communications Department at our program. I was also chosen as a student interviewer for the Class of 2029 where I work with a faculty member to review applications and be a part of the interview process for prospective students. These positions have been rewarding and have not only encouraged me to pay it forward, but have also allowed me to improve my problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in the optometric field.  
 
The Road to Private Practice 
My goal is to pursue a career in private practice once I graduate. Before starting optometry school, I learned more about the business side of optometry by working as a technician/assistant and eventually as an optometric manager in private practice settings. Through these experiences, I’ve seen that this modality offers work-life balance and the opportunity to cultivate one-on-one relationships with patients I’m looking for. To learn more about the day-to-day of running a private practice, I became involved in the Business Management Immersion Program (BMIP)—a VSP Vision sponsored program which places optometry students in VSP Premier Edge practices to shadow the practice owner for a few days. I was connected with an awesome optometrist in Costa Mesa, and the experience was eye-opening as I gained a better understanding of what running a private practice entails.   
 
2024 Hisaka Memorial Scholarship  
As a BMIP participant, I was able to share my experience shadowing a private practice optometrist and receive this year’s $2,500 Dr. Craig Hisaka Memorial Scholarship. The level of support VSP provides to optometry students—including educational resources, a loan repayment program, and scholarships like this—is so important to our future success. It’s encouraging to know that VSP is there to support us at every stage of our optometric journey. For me, receiving this scholarship has reinforced that I am on the right track to achieve my goal of opening a private practice.  

As I enter my final years of optometry school, I will continue to explore new opportunities to grow my skillset and make meaningful contributions to give back to my peers, patients, and community. As eye see it, success for me is to be able to sleep well at night knowing I've done the best I can for my patients and fulfilled my dream of making the world a better place—one eye exam at a time.