Home News Congratulations, Class of 2019

Congratulations, Class of 2019

Special tip of the mortarboard to the top GPA earners at each of the schools

In this annual report, Women In Optometry recognizes the top graduates at each of the U.S. schools and college of optometry. Congratulations to these graduates and all who are now starting their careers in optometry!

                           Dr. Hoyle, Dr. Beaver, Dr. Steckenrider & Dr. Chan

Arizona College of Optometry, Midwestern University: Brittany Hoyle, OD, of Hinton, Alberta, will enter an ocular disease residency at Empire Eye and Laser in Bakersfield California with Vin Dang, OD.

Illinois College of Optometry: Rees Beaver, OD, of Sioux Center, Iowa, plans to fulfill his dream of joining his dad’s group practice in his hometown.

Indiana University School of Optometry: Jennifer Lauren Steckenrider, OD, of Peru, Indiana, will start her career at a private practice in Blacksburg, Virginia, where she will practice general optometry with a focus on specialty contact lenses.

Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry: Jennifer Chan, OD, of Edmonton, Alberta, hopes to open a private practice in her hometown and pursue research studies with a focus in ocular disease.

                           Dr. Kosch, Dr. Hales, Dr. Aikens & Dr. Houcheimi

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University School of Optometry: Kristin Kosch, OD, of Mahwah, New Jersey, will pursue a residency position in ocular disease and primary care at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System—Newington campus. Rebecca Jane Hales, OD, of Noblesville, Indiana, will complete a residency specializing in primary care in Indiana.

Michigan College of Optometry, Ferris State University: Kristina Louise Aikens, OD, of Fargo, North Dakota, plans to move back to North Dakota and join a practice.

New England College of Optometry: Hamdee Houcheimi, OD, of Edmonton, Alberta, is saving to purchase a practice near his hometown.

                      Dr. A. Clark, Dr. Zacharopoulos, Dr. Chakuroff & Dr. Yokoyama

Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry: Adam Clark, OD, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, will practice at Makar Eyecare in Anchorage, Alaska.

Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry: Andreas Zacharopoulos, OD, of Dunedin, Florida, will complete an ocular disease residency at the Orlando VA.

Ohio State University College of Optometry: Carolyn Chakuroff, OD, MS, of Merrimack, New Hampshire, will complete a low vision/ocular disease residency at the Kansas City VA next year.

Pacific University College of Optometry: Nicole Yokoyama, OD, of Honolulu, Hawaii, plans to travel with family and return to Hawaii to provide care to her community that first sparked her interest in optometry.

                                  Dr. Rivera, Dr. Barnes, Dr. Forrest & Dr. Luo

Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word: Larisa Rivera, OD, of Penitas, Texas, plans to assist a primary eye care/low vision residency program at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.

Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry: (Traditional program) Susan K. Barnes, OD, of Towson, Maryland, plans to work in a private practice in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Accelerated program) Jack Forrest, OD, of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, will join his father in his group private practice in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University: Catherine Luo, OD, of Cupertino, California, will practice in southern California. Jessica Lin Sun, OD, of Rowland Heights, California, will complete a cornea and contact lens residency program at the Southern California College of Optometry.

                                  Dr. Sun, Dr. Krenk, Dr. Chado & Dr. Dorgeloh

Southern College of Optometry: Larissa Krenk, OD, of Seward Nebraska, will do a primary care residency at Indianapolis Eye Care Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brian Chado, OD, of Frederick, Maryland, will complete his residency training in ocular disease at the Baltimore VA Medical Center.

State University of New York College of Optometry (SUNY): Kyra Dorgeloh, OD, of Apex, North Carolina, will stay at SUNY for her residency in ocular disease.

                                       Dr. J. Clark, Dr. Choi, Dr. Tran & Dr. Leff

University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry: Javeya Williams Clark, OD, of Monroeville, Alabama, will take time off to spend time with her new baby and plans to practice in the metro Atlanta area.

University of California, Berkeley, School of Optometry: Mina Choi, OD, of Clarksburg, Maryland, will complete a residency at the Portland VA.

University of Houston College of Optometry: Victoria Tran, OD, of Dallas, Texas, plans to work as an associate at a private practice in her hometown.

University of Missouri, St. Louis, College of Optometry: Valerie Leff, OD, of Sioux City, Iowa, has accepted a position at Malbar Vision in Omaha, Nebraska. Shannon E. Renner, OD, of Overland Park, Kansas, will complete a residency in ocular disease and low vision rehabilitation at the Kansas City VA Medical Center.

                               Dr. Renner, Dr. Fortier, Dr. Leung & Dr. Dalley

University of Montreal School of Optometry: Alexandra Fortier, OD, of Quebec City, Quebec, is moving to Gatineau to work in an OD-owned private practice, Optoplus.

University of Waterloo School of Optometry: Jocelyn Leung, OD, of Toronto, Ontario, will be practicing full-scope optometry at See & Be Seen Eyecare in the Liberty Village district within Toronto.

Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Optometry: Joshua Clark Dalley, OD, of Inkom, Idaho, plans to work in Southern California, with a goal of practice ownership within several years.

The two newest North American colleges of optometry did not yet hold a commencement ceremony. University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Optometry will graduate its first class in 2020, and Midwestern University Chicago College of Optometry will graduate its first class in 2021.

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