Dr. Deborah Wang - Member Spotlight

By: Viola Kanevsky

Dr. Deborah Wang, recipient of the NYSOA's Young OD of The Year award, has been nominated by the association for the AOA's Young OD of the Year. Dr. Sarah Gleason had the opportunity so chat with Dr. Wang and share her professional journey with our members.

Can you share a bit about your journey in optometry — what first drew you to the profession?

Growing up in Oregon, I always knew that I wanted to work in healthcare, and optometry was the field that truly stood out to me. I received my first pair of glasses in second grade and continued to visit my optometrist regularly after that. It was one of the few doctor visits I genuinely looked forward to, where I never really felt stressed.

After college, I worked at a small optometry practice in Illinois, where I developed foundational skills in patient communication and care. A year later, I enrolled at SUNY College of Optometry. Upon graduation, I joined an OD/MD practice in Brooklyn. The practice had been open for only a year, and I was their first employed doctor. We grew from seeing nine patients on my first day to nearly forty patients on my busiest days before I left in late 2023.

My decision to leave was deeply personal. My mother, diagnosed with stage 4 endometrial cancer, had made the difficult choice to discontinue treatment due to side-effects and lack of progress. I was fortunate to be able to step away from my job and move home to care for her full-time. In the month leading up to her passing, I began reflecting on the next steps of my career. Exhausted by hospitals, hospice care, and constant patient support, I wondered whether there was another modality I could explore. I reached out to Dr. Quy Nguyen, the Director of Career Development at the time, to share my situation and ask about alternative career paths. He mentioned that he would soon be transitioning to a new role at VSP and encouraged me to apply for his position. The opportunity intrigued me. Even before that, I had been actively involved in organized optometry. As president of OSCONY, I discovered how much I enjoyed leadership, management, and event coordination which was amplified through my work managing the NYSOA’s CE Pass program. I contacted Dr. Guilherme Albieri, Vice President for Student Affairs, interviewed, and was appointed as the Director of Career Development and CSTEP Project Director at SUNY Optometry.

In this role, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with practicing optometrists, alumni, and students. It has allowed me to strengthen my involvement with our local professional associations. I currently serve as co-chair of the Young Advocates Committee (NYC and Long Island Region), Metropolitan Regional Trustee, manage the CE Pass Program for NYSOA, and serve as secretary and a past president for OSCONY. 

What inspired you to go beyond patient care and become involved in leadership or service within optometry?

I have always enjoyed taking on leadership roles, starting in high school and continuing through college and beyond. In college, as President of Circle K, I helped revive the club and hosted community events over a period of two years. I also served as Vice President of the Lions Club and President of the Chinese Culture Optometric Student Association (CCOSA) at SUNY Optometry. Bringing people together and creating a sense of community through shared purpose and collaboration brings me joy. 

A year after graduation from SUNY, I ran for a position on the OSCONY Board of Directors. Initially, I was hesitant, unsure if my limited time in practice would make it difficult to get involved but Dr. Viola Kanevsky encouraged me to run for the President-Elect position. That decision opened the door to countless opportunities to serve and grow within the profession.

Holding these leadership roles has been a true blessing. Being able to connect individuals across all stages of the profession, from undergraduate students exploring optometry to practicing doctors, has been incredibly rewarding and reaffirms how strong and connected our profession truly is.

This award recognizes your commitment to advancing optometry. What initiatives or projects are you most proud of?

I have completed many initiatives and projects, and I am proud of all of them. However, the first thing that comes to mind is managing the CE Pass Program for NYSOA. CE Pass is an incredible resource for both members and non-members, offering a diverse range of speakers and topics each month. It provides attendees with opportunities to expand their knowledge while earning continuing education credits.

One of my favorite parts of this role is discovering emerging speakers and giving them a platform to share their expertise with a wide audience, especially on topics that are new, innovative, or haven’t been discussed in a while. It’s a rewarding experience that fosters growth for both the presenters and the attendees.

If you could give one piece of advice to optometry students or new graduates just starting out, what would it be?

Try to say yes to new opportunities whenever possible (as long as you have the bandwidth for them). You never know which experiences might lead to something amazing down the road.