About EyeChat!
EyeChat! is dedicated to providing students with information and insight about unconventional career paths that exist after graduating from optometry school. We invite guest speakers from industry, research, and alternative fields to share their career experiences and technological advances in optometry.
Founded by Dr. Stephanie Tran '20, EyeChat! was created to make visible the different career paths optometrists can take. In the past, we've had many inspiring stories shared with us:
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Dr. Jennifer Tsai, OD, a Manhattan-based optometrist who is well-known for her social media presence as @drjenandjuice, shared her story on working with brands in health, lifestyle, travel, and fashion industry and starting her glasses line Carrot Eyewear and her own private practice Line of Sight.
Dr. Cory Hakanen '14, OD, MBA, a Senior Ophthalmic Product Manager at Zenni Optical who specializes in lens development and product management, shared his journey into the optical industry where he leads a team of ODs and opticians to bridge the gap between the eyewear industry and the modern patient.
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Come enjoy some great company, prizes, and open yourself to some potential networking opportunities!
Apply for Eyechat! Executive Board 2023-2024!
We are excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for our EXECUTIVE BOARD for the 2023-2024 year!
The deadline to submit is March 25th, 2023!
Click HERE for the executive board application form!
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Click HERE for a description of the executive board positions!
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Upcoming Events
Welcome back opto bears!
To RSVP, check your Berkeley emails for our newsletter!
Stay tuned -- we've got more speakers for you!
Dr. Valerie Sheety-Pilon
EyeChat! Second General Meeting 2022-2023
Director of Professional Education
U.S. Vision Care & Dry Eye
Alcon
Dr. Valerie Sheety-Pilon is Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs at VSP Vision where she helps drive strategic initiatives aimed at raising awareness about vision, eye health and its connection to overall wellness, while providing insight into medical advancements that seek to benefit patient care. With more than two decades of experience as a Doctor of Optometry, she has dedicated much of her time to clinical research across numerous ophthalmic subspecialties and has an established history of helping patients through novel therapeutic agents and clinical adoption of transformative technology in the areas of digital health, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
Prior to joining VSP Vision in 2019, Dr. Sheety-Pilon served as Adjunct Clinical Professor at Illinois College of Optometry, held various executive positions within the eye health industry, has extensive experience managing and practicing within an ophthalmology and optometry practice, and was recognized by Vision Monday as one of the Most Influential Women in Optical in 2021.
Wednesday, November 2nd || 6:00 PM PST | Minor Hall 489
RSVP HERE by October 26th!
