After Elizabeth Walsh Czirr, OD, FAAO, graduated from Illinois College of Optometry in 2015, she decided that a residency would help her gain a deeper understanding of primary care and ocular disease.

Bella Sudit, OD, saw that there was an opening for an optometrist in her hometown of Parsippany, New Jersey.

While in optometry school, Praneetha Raveendran, OD, often heard that optometrists are among the primary care “gatekeepers” of the health care system.

When Gail Galantuomini, OD, graduated from Southern California College of Optometry, she took what was considered a fairly traditional path: she returned to her hometown and opened a private practice.

Deanna Paul-Blanc, OD, accepted her first role within National Vision, Inc.’s Doctor of Optometry network at an America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses location because the initial job she took after graduation from Indiana University School of Optometry was not the right fit.

When Priti Patel, OD, was completing her residency after graduating from optometry school, “no way did I think I would switch gears to focus on anything other than direct patient care,” she says.