"One of the biggest reasons I decided to attend the Chicago College of Optometry was the warm welcome I received from the faculty members."
The following is an interview from when Jonathan was a student in the Chicago College of Optometry at Midwestern University.
Hometown: La Verne, CA
Undergraduate Degree: California State University, Fullerton, B.S in Kinesiology
What inspired you to pursue a healthcare career?
I always had an interest in the medical field, but I never knew which healthcare path I wanted to go with. I started to gain interest in optometry in middle school where I first learned about the anatomy of the eye. I was fascinated by how the eye works and functions. From there, I ran with the idea of optometry and my love for it grew through my high school and undergraduate experiences.
How did your background and history factor into your career choice?
During my undergraduate studies, I was heavily involved with the tEYEtans Pre-Optometry Club at California State University, Fullerton. I also worked at an optometry practice, shadowed optometrists, and volunteered at many non-profit organization events and vision screenings. Through these experiences, my relationship with optometry grew stronger. My brother, who is a Doctor of Chiropractics, my cousin, who graduated from Midwestern University in Osteopathic Medicine, and my other cousin, who was in the inaugural class of the Chicago College of Optometry all pushed me to my utmost potential and encouraged me to continue with my studies. Lastly, the constant support from my family also reassured me that this is the career choice I should be continuing.
Why did you decide to attend Midwestern University?
One of the biggest reasons I decided to attend the Chicago College of Optometry was the warm welcome I received from the faculty members. I also wanted to attend a school that is up-to-date with new research, technology, and methods of patient care. I truly thought in the midst of applying to optometry school that Midwestern University would be the best school to transform me into a great clinician.
What about a Midwestern University education do you want to carry forward in your career?
I would ultimately like to carry forward in my career to never stop learning. There is always new research being released, new alternative treatments and management strategies being announced, and alternative methods of approach I can always learn about through literature, seminars, conferences, etc. What worked 30 years ago to manage a disease, may not be (and probably isn't) the best form of management for that same condition today. My Midwestern University education has strongly emphasized that a good clinician needs to know how to adapt to different environments and how to alter your patient care approach for each individual. There's no better way to do that than to stay up to date on current research and constantly continue my education.
