AOP student reps appointed for 2022 academic year

The AOP has appointed student representatives for the 2022–2023 academic year.

AOP student representatives help to shape the services offered by the association to students, sharing the views and experiences of their peers and contributing to student-focused communications.

The student representatives for 2022–2023 include:

• Aston University: Sidhartha Sah
• Aston University: Vlad Andrei Frunza
• University of Bradford: Habeeb Rahman
• Cardiff University: Shivani-Juhi Patel
• City, University of London: Krish Dawoolet
• City, University of London: Mehreen Miah
• The University of Manchester: Bonnie Lam
• The University of Manchester: Chuen Shun So

Laura Josephs, AOP councillor representing undergraduate student optometrists and chair of the AOP student committee, said: “The AOP student representatives will play a vital role in raising awareness of the AOP and its benefits, not only as students, but also as the professionals we will become.”

Describing the need to highlight the undergraduate experience through the student representatives, Josephs said: “It is easy to enter the working world and quickly forget the struggles and uncertainties that come with being a student. That’s why it is so important for the student committee to have a voice, and I am very grateful to be joined by such an enthusiastic bunch of students this year.”

Josephs emphasised the importance of the student representatives engaging with university peers, telling OT: “I truly believe that when it comes to people, you will only get out as much as you put in. To capture engagement we need to be dynamic and we need to encourage a community where people feel free to voice their opinions without fear of judgement or punishment.”

“So whether it is an anonymous forum, a WhatsApp chat or a survey, it’s important that we encourage other students to speak out. It is also important that we feedback to our cohort. There is nothing worse than raising a concern and feeling like you’ve been ignored or forgotten about,” she continued.

AOP student representative for City, University of London, Krish Dawoolet, shared: “I joined because I am extremely passionate about this career and I want to augment my network and experience in optometry.”

“I also hope to build a stronger community of student and experienced optometrists across the board,” Dawoolet said.

The AOP has highlighted that if a university does not currently have a student rep, undergraduate members can apply for the role.