“I feel privileged to be involved with programmes that make a real difference to patient care”

My interest in eyes goes back to early childhood.

My first school photograph, at the age of three, shows me wearing glasses, and I remember having cycloplegic drops instilled regularly. Despite the momentary sting, I always enjoyed the experience as I got to wear my father’s sunglasses afterwards.

I naturally gravitated towards scientific disciplines in school, and having skimmed through the large stack of prospectuses in the library at the age of 18 I began to consider a career in healthcare.  

Having worn glasses every day for 13 years, I was most familiar with optometry compared to the other disciplines. I decided to explore the profession further via work experience with my family optometrist. I have always been indebted to John Fulgoni and his daughter, Francesca, who were both a huge inspiration to me in those early years.

I decided I would give optometry a go, so off I went to study at Cardiff University.

During my time as a student, I also worked as an optical assistant and honed my communication skills as a barman at Ebbw Vale Rugby Club. One highlight over this period occurred during my placement in eye casualty at the University Hospital of Wales, where I was able to assess a patient who had a penetrating, fishhook-related, eye injury.

I enjoyed university so much that I stayed to do my pre-registration training at the on-site eye clinic in the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences.

I have since been informed I got the place over other, more academically inclined, candidates, because I offered to get the staff a cup of tea and a biscuit when questioned about what I thought makes a successful team tick.

As good as my university experience had been, it was truly during my pre-registration period that I began to appreciate the profession.

My supervisor, Ceri Goodman, was inspirational and gave me a great foundation for my career.

After I qualified, I moved to the North West of England and worked for various multiples.

Over the years I met some talented practitioners who have become wonderful friends. It was at this time I developed an urge to teach. It wasn’t entirely altruistic at first, as I would reinforce my own clinical knowledge by hosting weekly themed sessions for the optical assistants, one of whom is now a qualified optometrist himself.

I had always had a desire to return to Cardiff, and when I saw a PhD advertised there in 2014, I thought: why not?

I finished my role in Liverpool and headed back to Wales to study under the supervision of Professor Tom Margrain and Dr Alison Binns. My research involved conducting a randomised controlled trial to investigate the impact of light therapy on age-related macular degeneration. During this period, I was lucky enough to work alongside some inspirational eye specialists and the amazing team at Bristol Eye Hospital’s Clinical Research Unit.

Throughout my PhD, I was given the opportunity to teach the first year BSc Optometry students.

I loved it. My experiences at that time have underpinned my career in academia since. After my PhD finished, I worked part-time as a locum optometrist and postgraduate teacher for the Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC).

I also joined the South East Wales Regional Optical Committee as vice-chair, and was elected as a College of Optometrists Counsellor for Wales. These roles got me interested in a facet of optometry I had not previously known. I also had a short stint as co-founder of a cosmetic contact lens company for the TV and film industry.

The balance between work in primary care and education slowly shifted to academia.

However, I have always valued retaining a day in clinic, whether that be as a community optometrist or within a secondary care setting. As a firm believer of ‘practise what you preach,’ I have studied many postgraduate courses myself, including those in glaucoma, independent prescribing, medical retina, low vision and medical teaching.

I have always valued retaining a day in clinic, whether that be as a community optometrist or within a secondary care setting

Over the years I progressed to senior lecturer, and have also been the director of postgraduate taught programmes.

Having oversight of the delivery and direction of postgraduate provision at the school gave me the opportunity to develop both as an educator and leader. The role was often challenging, but it was wonderfully rewarding too, and I got to lead an amazing team.

The students motivate me to ensure that the training we offer moves with developments in practice and technology.

Even though education is only one piece of what happens in the optometry profession, I feel privileged to be involved with programmes that make a real difference to patient care, job satisfaction and career development.

I welcome advancement, such as the General Optical Council’s updated education and training requirements, which I view as an excellent opportunity for the profession to evolve. Most of all, I am proud to be an optometrist, and of all my peers that I have seen successfully further their knowledge and skillset through postgraduate study.