Our Ambassador of the Month is Tyler Hamby! Tyler is a member of the Class of 2019 and we hope you enjoy reading about his experience so far!

Hometown, Undergrad Institution, Undergrad degree

Birmingham, AL          University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Biology

What led you to the field of optometry?

I was drawn to optometry for several reasons. My grandfather was an optometrist who practiced for over 50 years and as a young kid, I was around his office a lot. I always thought what he did seemed neat, but never really gave much thought to being an Optometrist until I entered college. I played baseball at UAB and during my freshman year realized that I was having trouble seeing the ball during practice and games. I went to the optometrist, was prescribed contacts, and my performance improved. It was then that I decided that optometry was what I wanted to do.

What made you choose Ohio State over any other schools you looked at?

I chose Ohio State because of the wonderful academic reputation that it carries. Having such a long history of optometric educational excellence definitely drew me to the school. In addition, after visiting Columbus for the first time, I fell in love with the city and felt like it would be a great place to live while I was in optometry school.

What is something you’ve learned so far this year that really surprised you or you didn’t realize about optometry?

As someone who has never had any major problems with my eyes, I did not realize just how much an optometrist does to treat a patient’s overall health. It has truly amazed me to see how much of an individual’s overall physical condition can be seen through an eye exam.

You are part of the Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program. What does that provide you and what obligations do you have after school?

The Navy provides financial support for me during school and upon graduation, I will serve a minimum of 4 years as an optometrist in the US Navy treating sailors, pilots, and their families. I have always wanted to serve my country and those who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. My older brother is in the Navy, so I have gotten to see first-hand how much sacrifice goes into serving. When I found out that I could combine my two passions of serving my country and optometry, I was immediately attracted to the opportunity.

If an applying student is interested in an Armed Forces Scholarship Program, where should they go to get more information about the programs?

There are opportunities to serve as an optometrist in the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Doing research online is a great way to get preliminary information about the program. After you decide that you want to apply, contacting a medical recruiter will put you on the correct path.      

What piece of advice would you give a prospective student looking to go to optometry school?

I would tell prospective students looking at optometry to spend a lot of time researching different schools, different cities, and different career opportunities within optometry. All of these factors might affect where you apply and ultimately attend optometry school.

We just ran a post earlier this month about moving to Columbus. As an out of state student, how did you find housing here? Do you like living close to campus? What suggestions would you give to someone out of state looking for housing in Columbus?

Moving to Columbus from out of state was definitely a big move for me. I found a place to live by simply looking up apartments online and visiting them on my interview day at Ohio State. I enjoy living close to campus. Being able to walk to and from school every day is very convenient.

When you’re not studying, what do you like to do to unwind and relax? Do you have any favorite Columbus hot spots?

When I am not studying, I like to run.  I have found Columbus to be a great city if you are interested in outdoor activities. I have not been able to completely explore all Columbus has to offer yet, but I really like the arena district with its good food and hockey.

If not for Ohio State…

I would be attending an Optometry school in another city, more than likely in the South.  It has been quite a transition for someone who has lived in the south their entire life to move to Ohio, but I am so thankful that I have.  I am enjoying my experience at Ohio State and have grown to love the city of Columbus.

Our next Ambassador of the Month is Amanda Eilerman! Enjoy hearing her unique story about returning to school two years after completion of her undergraduate degree.

Hometown, Undergrad Institution, Undergrad degree

• Hometown: Minster, Ohio
• Undergrad: Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
• Major: Zoology, Minor: Neuroscience

What piece of advice would you give to an undergraduate looking at going to optometry school?

• There is so much more to optometry than I ever thought when I started this journey. Be willing to explore all aspects of optometry, get involved, and learn as much as you can while you are in school!

What led you to the field of optometry?

• I have always had a fascination with eyes. I began wearing glasses in fifth grade and experienced the classic moment of many nearsighted people. When I left my optometrist’s office with my new glasses for the first time, I could see the leaves on the trees and appreciate detail. Ever since that day, I knew that’s what I wanted to do!

What piece of advice would you have for anyone looking to apply to optometry school?

• Look beyond a school’s appearance. There are many new schools and schools with outstanding looking clinics and classrooms, but new and shiny isn’t everything. You have to look at the success of the school and strength of their academic program.

You’re pursuing a combined OD/MS degree. What is your project about?

• My project focuses on normal changes in foveal pit curvature that occur with age. It is important to understand the changes that normally occur with age so that we can someday better differentiate normal and abnormal.

What did you do professionally before returning to school?

• After graduating from Miami University, I was accepted into Teach For America. I moved to Connecticut where I was a seventh grade science teacher in Bridgeport, Connecticut for two years.

Did you find it difficult to transition back into life as a student?

• Transitioning back to life as a student wasn’t too difficult. I have always been a bit of a nerd and loved learning. I think I actually became a better student when I returned to school because I had to re-develop my study habits, which were more effective.

What organizations are you involved with? What do you do for the organization?

• While at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, I have been involved in the following organizations:
  • Student Chapter of the American Academy of Optometry (SAAO): Member and President
  • The Ohio State University College of Optometry Student Council: Secretary and Vice President
  • Class of 2016 Secretary
  • American Optometric Student Assocation (AOSA) Member
  • Optometry Student Ambassadors Member
  • T-35 Summer Research Program
  • Pelotonia Rider and Team Captain of The Rolling Eyes

As students we are all busy and loaded down with schoolwork, but I believe it is important to get involved in activities outside of the classroom. I have learned a lot about optometry through my involvement!

We’d like to introduce you to our November Ambassador of the Month, Blake Kvidt! We hope you enjoy reading about his journey through optometry!

Hometown, undergraduate institution, degree, and fun facts about yourself

I’m from Grand Forks, ND and no we don’t still drive covered wagons there. I graduated from The University of North Dakota with a degree in Psychology after taking some time off in the middle of college to figure out what I really wanted to do. I got married to my beautiful wife Emily in 2014, and we are expecting our first child in 2016!

What led you to the field of optometry?

I definitely took a round about way to optometry. I started thinking about it in grade school because I was at the optometrist all the time and my optometrist treated my whole family. My mom stressed the importance of seeing the eye doctor even if there wasn’t a vision problem. My oldest brother has no correction and she still took him every year. I moved away from the idea of optometry in high school because I didn’t think I could handle the extra school. During college, I had around 5 different majors, and nothing seemed to fit. After taking some time off from college, I went back and ended up being around people interested in the field. I also got to know a family at my church and then realized the husband was an OD. Taking these things as a sign, I started to shadow optometrists. It was a good thing to do, but I still wasn’t sure about optometry until I decided to contact my optometrist and ask for a job to get a better idea of the field. The timing was perfect, as someone had just quit and they needed a replacement, so I was hired. After that, there wasn’t a day I didn’t want to come to work. I saw so many different cases, since the practice was pretty varied with six ODs. There was primary care, contacts, disease (I saw lots of glaucoma, cataracts, a herpes keratitis dendrite that looked like a Christmas tree) lots of foreign body removals, and vision therapy. It was after all of that that I decided this was where I was supposed to be.

What led you to choosing Ohio State for optometry school?

I only applied to two schools and got interviews for both of them. I honestly did not think I would come to Ohio State because to me it is huge; the city and the university. I thought I would end up in the smaller city and smaller university, but it all came down to the interview itself. During the other school’s interview, there was just something that wasn’t quite right to me. It was not smooth and I felt like the questions that were asked could have all been answered by reading my essays. When I interviewed at OSU, it felt like I was having a conversation about the profession and everyone there wanted to have the same conversation as well. It didn’t feel like an interview, and they treated me as an adult and not just a student looking to get into school. It may seem like a small thing, but that was very important to me. After that I pretty much knew I wanted to come to Ohio State.

Do you have a specialization in mind for your future career as an optometrist?

I definitely want to specialize in vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation. One experience before coming to school I had was seeing a 50 year old woman break into tears after her last vision therapy evaluation because she was so happy she could finally do her work without getting headaches and nausea, which she had dealt with for her entire life. Seeing the type of impact the doctors and therapist made on her life was something I knew I wanted to be a part of. I also urrently work as a vision therapist while attending school, and work mostly with kids. It is probably one of the most fun jobs I have ever had. I have to be creative and always on my toes and be willing to adapt when something isn’t working. I really enjoy that aspect.

Do you find it difficult to work at a practice during optometry school? Is there a difference between trying to work during first year as opposed to second year?

I didn’t work my first year, but work now in my second year. I don’t know how I would have handled first year since it was such a shock with the workload changing from what I was used to in undergrad. I don’t know if the workload is much different now, but I am more accustom to it. I honestly like working during school, because for me it’s a break from school and it shows me what I’m working toward in a very real way. I have also learned so much as a vision therapist from the doctors and therapists taking time to teach me. I would recommend others work in a practice as well, if not during the school year then over the summer break between first and second year. There are many benefits to it.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

What is this spare time you speak of? Haha, I do love to cook. It is something I do to relax. Learning new recipes and experimenting with new dishes, spices and flavors is fun to me. I am active in my Catholic faith as well. Going to church and spending time with some families my wife and I have gotten to know has been wonderful. I even got to learn how to make beer with one of the families, which was a pretty cool experience. I enjoy reading and of course Doctor Who!

What advice would you give to a prospective student looking into the field of optometry?

I would definitely recommend working in the field. I don’t think there is a better way to get a feel for it and to know if you will enjoy it. After working in the field, you are able to look and ask yourself, “do I enjoy what I’m doing?”, “do I want to come to work every day?” It’s not going to be a great day at work every day, but for me the positive experiences far outweigh the difficult patients and even on my worst day I woke up the next day wanting to go to work.

If not for Ohio State…

I would not have known the intensity and energy of Dr. Earley when lecturing on immune cells blowing things up.

It took a little longer than we expected, but I’m happy to present our very first Optometry Ambassador of the month! We’re really excited about this opportunity to highlight some students at the College of Optometry and we hope you enjoy the insights and different perspectives each of them will provide throughout the year.

Wes Tuten, Class of 2017

Hometown, Undergraduate Institution and degree

Beverly, OH       Ohio State University, Class of 2013, Evolution and Ecology

What led you to the field of optometry?

This is a bit of a multifaceted answer. First, both of my mother’s brothers were born with a version of Retinitis Pigmentosa, which rendered them blind at a very young age. Growing up around them, I learned what a gift my sight was, but also that those without that gift could still lead independent, meaningful lives with the help of caring optometrists and low vision devices. I also thought that those devices were fun to play with as a kid.

Second, my brother, who is eight years older than I am, wanted to be an optometrist. Classic younger brother wanting to imitate older brother. I’m sure his inspiration also comes from being raised in a family with multiple visually impaired relatives. Our career paths have since diverged, with him graduating from OSUCO in 2009 and heading to UC Cal Berkeley, where he earned his PhD in Vision Science this past summer.

Last, the connection I made with my hometown optometrist was a strong one from a young age. I played soccer (goalie) with his son when we were kids and I have a distinct memory of sitting in his exam chair, dilated, and him saying, “I have to make sure my goalie can see well.” That small talk was enough to make a lasting impression on me. Working for that same doctor during my summers in undergrad helped to cement my underlying passion for optometry.

Low vision and vision impairment is a big reason you chose optometry. Do you plan to focus in low vision after graduation?

It’s hard to say. We haven’t had any instruction in that field yet. We have our Low Vision Rehabilitation and Gerontology class with Dr. Flom spring semester of third year, followed by a rotation through the Low Vision Clinic sometime during fourth year. If I find that I enjoy it, I absolutely plan to make it a unique part of my practice upon graduation.

What is a specific experience you don’t think you would have if not for Ohio State?

I attended OSU for undergrad and at the beginning of every autumn term they have an involvement fair on the main oval. I ended up walking by Shawn Curtner, who was standing in front of an OSUCO booth, and we ended up talking. My brother had just graduated that past May and he remembered my last name. He offered to interview me for a job at the college through my work-study program. He ended up placing me as a student office assistant in the Binocular Vision, Pediatrics, and Low Vision Clinics. After two and a half years of getting to know the faculty and staff that make those clinics run smoothly, I switched to being Dr. Walline’s student research assistant. After hours of data entry and graph making for him and one of his OD/MS students, my name was on a paper that was presented at Academy during my Opt 1 year. If not for Ohio State, and that long and winding path, that probably never would have happened, since I’ve found I don’t have much of an interest in doing research.

What organizations are you involved with? What do you do for the organization(s)?

The organization I spend most of my time involved with is Epsilon Psi Epsilon, the College of Optometry associated fraternity. I currently serve as the president of the fraternity. My duties include hosting tailgates for each and every home game, presiding over meetings during the semester, and making sure that everyone has a great social outlet for the stresses that come along with being an optometry student. We also raise money for our Vision Care Fund, where fraternity members see patients that otherwise wouldn’t be about to afford an eye exam and glasses. We are expanding it to include the other clinics in the school aside from just being used for Primary Vision Care. I also live in the fraternity house and served as House Manager last year.

What was one of the most important factors for you in choosing a school?

For me it was all about proximity to family. My sister had just had her first baby the summer before my senior year of undergrad and the rest of my family lived within a two hour radius of Columbus. It is a wonderful coincidence that we all just happened to live around the best optometry school in the nation.

What piece of advice would you give to an undergraduate looking at going to optometry school?

The best advice I can give would be to work for an optometrist as a technician and get your feet wet in the optometric world. Whether it’s for your hometown doctor during breaks or around your university during the school year, it really will help cement whether or not optometry is for you.

And finally, when you’re not studying, what do you like to do to unwind and relax?

I’m a huge nerd, so when I’m not studying I like to read comics, binge watch shows on Netflix, play videos games, and play the drums in The Band Keratopathy, a band consisting of five members of the class of 2017.