Young Advocate Committee
The New York State Optometric Association is proud to be supporting the American Optometric Association’s national membership growth campaign, “United in Possibilities.” Membership is the foundation and heart of our organizations, and this campaign is designed to reach and engage the newest members of our profession and future generations of leaders. One of the most important aspects of this campaign is peer-to-peer personal outreach. The NYSOA’s Young Advocate Committee, co-chaired by Drs. Marina Su and Alyssa Putman, is facilitating this outreach, and we are thrilled to have an opportunity to engage our young members on such an important initiative.
We invite you to get to know the members of the Young Advocate Committee and help us make connections between these up-and-coming leaders and the young optometrists in your own community. Please check out our Events page to view the Committee's upcoming social events. You can also visit aoa.org/united to learn more about the campaign. We are, truly, United in Possibilities!
NYSOA Young Advocates
Western New York
Name: Carrie Joseph, OD Local Society: Western New York Society of Optometrists (WNYSO) Graduation Year: 2014 School: SUNY College of Optometry City where you work: Warsaw, Batavia, and Perry Favorite place to unwind in NY: Letchworth State Park Hobbies: Yoga, travel, biking. Words to live by: Nothing worth having comes easy. – Theodore Roosevelt Contact: [email protected]
Name: Alyssa Fortuna, OD Local Society: WNYSOA Graduation Year: 2020 School: SUNY College of Optometry City where you work: Buffalo, NY Favorite place to unwind in NY: Beaches and the Buffalo waterfront Hobbies: Walking my dog, working out, spending time with friends Words to live by: One step at a time is all it takes to get you there - Emily Dickinson Contact: [email protected]
Southern Tier
Name: Alyssa Putman, OD Local Society: Southern Tier Graduation Year: 2012 School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University City where you work: Corning Favorite place to unwind in NY: Waneta and Seneca Lakes of the Finger Lakes Hobbies: Exercise, hanging with family and friends, and cooking. Words to live by: Be Kind, Work Hard, Stay Humble, Smile Often, Stay Loyal, Be Honest, Travel When possible, Never Stop Learning, Love Always Contact: [email protected]
Capital District
Name: Gina Ciarmiello, OD Local Society: Eastern Graduation Year: 2014 School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University City where you work: East Greenbush and Delmar Favorite place to unwind in NY: My home in Rotterdam, NY. Hobbies: Hanging out with my family, baking, boating on Lake George. Words to live by: Everything happens for a reason. Contact: [email protected]
Name: Jennifer Tribley–Grill, OD Local Society: Eastern Graduation Year: 2013 School: New England College of Optometry Residency: Ocular Disease at VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System City where you work: Albany Favorite place to unwind in NY: Schroon Lake Hobbies: Cooking, snowmobiling, yoga. Words to live by: Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see. – Mark Twain Contact: [email protected]
Hudson Valley & Westchester
Name: Joseph Boos, OD Local Society: WRPOS Graduation Year: 2015 School: SUNY College of Optometry Residency: Ocular Disease/Primary Eye Care at VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System City where you work: Rye Favorite place to unwind in NY: Kensico Dam Hobbies: Basketball, reading, billiards. Words to live by: The most dangerous phrase is, “We’ve always done it this way.” Contact: [email protected]
Name: Reshma Patel, OD Local Society: WRPOS Graduation Year: 2015 School: SUNY College of Optometry City where you work: West Nyack & Garnerville Favorite place to unwind in NY: South Street Seaport in NYC Hobbies: Traveling, baking, gym/working out. Words to live by: Strive for progress, not perfection! Contact: [email protected]
Name: Victoria McEwan, OD Local Society: Hudson Valley Optometric Society Graduation Year: 2016 School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University Residency: Ocular Disease/Primary Care at VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System City where you work: Hudson, Millbrook, Hopewell Junction Favorite place to unwind in NY: Lower Saranac Lake Hobbies: Spending time with loved ones, traveling, exercising. Words to live by: Live each day like it’s your last. Contact: [email protected]
Name: Brandon Harnos, O.D Local Society: Hudson Valley
Graduation Year: 2019 School: SUNY College of Optometry City where you work: New Paltz Favorite place to unwind in NY: Lake Minnewaska Hobbies: Running, playing the trumpet, traveling Words to live by: The road to success is always under construction Contact: [email protected]
New York City
Name: Marina Su, OD, FAAO Local Society: OSCONY, NYSOA Metropolitan Region Trustee, Co–Chair of NYSOA Young Advocate Committee Graduation Year: 2012 School: Southern California College of Optometry Residency: Fromer Eye Centers/SUNY College of Optometry City where you work: Manhattan, Queens and Bronx Favorite place to unwind in NY: The “rock” in Central Park or Pier A in Hoboken, NJ Hobbies: Dancing (Ballet/Jazz/Tap/Hip Hop), travel, DIY activities. Words to live by: Live with intention. – Mary Anne Radmacher Contact: [email protected]
Name: Sagar Dhandia, OD Local Society: OSCONY Graduation Year: 2019 School: SUNY College of Optometry City where you work: New York City Favorite place to unwind in NY: Gantry Plaza State Park Hobbies: Weightlifting, basketball Words to live by: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. – Michael Scott Contact: [email protected]
Name: Sarah Gleason, OD Local Society: OSCONY Graduation Year: 2018 School: SUNY College of Optometry City where you work: New York City Favorite place to unwind in NY: Battery Park Hobbies: Running, snowboarding, traveling Words to live by: Choose to be optimistic, it feels better. – Dalai Lama XIV Contact: [email protected]
Name: Rebecca Aquije, OD Local Society: OSCONY Graduation Year: 2020 School: SUNY College of Optometry City where you work: Queens, Manhattan Favorite place to unwind in NY: Local cafes and parks Hobbies: Drawing, video games, exploring the outdoors with friends Words to live by: This too shall pass. Contact: [email protected]
Name: Grace To, OD Local Society: OSCONY Graduation Year: 2020 School: SUNY College of Optometry City where you work: Queens, Manhattan Favorite place to unwind in NY: Local cafes and parks Hobbies: Salsa dancing, enjoying a good book outdoors, hiking with my pup Words to live by: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step - LZ Contact: [email protected]
Name: Emily Topi, OD Local Society: OSCONY Graduation Year: 2015 School: University of Missouri-St. Louis City where you work: NY Favorite place to unwind in NY: Devocion coffee in Williamsburg and Central Park Hobbies: being outside with family, watching baseball, piano Contact: [email protected]
Long Island
Name: Corinne Blum, OD Local Society: Suffolk Graduation Year: 2014 School: SUNY College of Optometry Residency: SUNY Primary Eye Care City where you work: Babylon and Valley Stream Favorite place to unwind in NY: Hiking at any of the beautiful state parks. Hobbies: Anything outdoors (hiking, biking, running), baking and cooking, board games with friends. Words to live by: Choose Happiness Contact: [email protected]
Name: Alison Schmidt, OD Local Society: Suffolk/Nassau Graduation Year: 2015 School: SUNY College of Optometry City where you work: Commack and Greenvale Favorite place to unwind in NY: The beach in Montauk. Hobbies: Hiking, paddle boarding, traveling. Words to live by: You’re not going to master the rest of your life in one day. Just relax. Master the day. Then just keep doing that every single day. Contact: [email protected]
Name: Timothy Yuan Local Society: OSCONY/Nassau Graduation Year: 2022 School: SUNY Optometry City where you work: Flushing, NY Favorite place to unwind in NY: The Piers Hobbies: Singing/Piano and Fitness Words to live by: "Live life to the fullest, make a difference along the way"
Contact: [email protected]
Rochester
Name: Katelyn E. Vilasi Local Society: Rochester Optometric Society Graduation Year: 2017 School: New England College of Optometry City where you work: Rochester, NY Favorite place to unwind in NY: At home with my west highland white terrier Hobbies: Spending time with friends, making wreaths, watching movies Words to live by: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller Contact: Email: [email protected] Ph: 585-360-6858 |