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THE MAGAZINE OF THE SCHOOL Opto Bears at the Helm Top Ten Iconic Frames New School in León OF AT THE UNIVERSITY 2 Berkeley grads 6 Featuring Dylan, Hepburn 16 Alum leads change in OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY providing leadership at and Harry Potter Mexican 0ptometry six optometry schools education Berkeley

OptometryMagazine

Deep Fakes Pushing the limits of Page 12 FALL 2019

Fall 2019 C

Berkeley Optometry Features Magazine

THE MAGAZINE OF THE SCHOOL 12 Deep Fakes BY ZAC UNGER OF OPTOMETRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Digitally altered photos and videos have already had devas- tating impacts around the globe. Detecting and exposing these fakes may well be essential to our democracy and our FALL 2019 personal safety.

DEAN 16 Alum Leads Change in John Flanagan Mexican Optometry Education EDITOR BY ANN BRODY GUY Eric Craypo Dr. Abraham Bromberg, ’69, is part of a group of professionals working to change the way optometrists are trained in Mexico. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Eric Craypo, Ann Brody GUy, Taylor Tenn, Zac Unger 18 Q&A with Daphne Chan, ’13 DESIGN BY ERIC CRAYPO Cuttriss & Hambleton Dr. Chan, Associate Chief of Optometry at UCSF Medical Center, talks about the benefits of a career in academia, PHOTOGRAPHY favorite Berkeley Optometry memories, and Dolly Parton. Elena Zhukova

Published by Berkeley Optometry, IN VIEW University of California, Berkeley 2 Opto Bears at the Helm! Phone: (510) 643-5968 Berkeley Optometry graduates are providing leadership at top optometry schools Send comments, letters, class notes across North America. submissions, and change of address or 3 Training Grant Champions e-mail to: [email protected] Berkeley Optometry’s Vision Science Graduate Group has received NIH funding Submit Berkeley Optometry gifts online at: through the T-32 Training Grant program for 42 years and counting—an extraor- give.berkeley.edu/optometry dinary achievement that is testament to the success and reputation of the Vision Science program. or mail to: 3 Dean’s Message University of California, Berkeley Gift Services, Berkeley Optometry Fund 6 Top Ten Iconic Frames 1995 University Avenue, Suite 400 We got to thinking about how some of our favorite actors, musicians, politicians and Berkeley, CA 94704-1070 other public figures have brilliantly used spectacles to create a look that is synony- mous with their fame. Here are our top ten. ©2019 Regents of the University of California STUDENTS 8 The Eyes Have It 70 sets of eyes that will soon be focused on providing the best in eye care to their patients. 10 Class of 2023 Our newest class has arrived. Here are some quick stats to help you get to know them. LOOKING BACK Michael Silver, of Optometry and Vision 20 Where Are They Now? Science and Neuroscience, See where our recent alums ended up. in his lab on the Berkeley campus. The brains behind 22 Alumni Notes Dr. Silver are those of Our alumni do amazing things­—in and out of the ! his two sons, Talyn and Gryphon. The artwork was 28 Six Years of Impact made by his wife Jenny as A timeline that features some of our most notable accomplishments. lab-warming gift.

On the cover: Our cover illustration, by Lincoln Agnew, captures the over- whelming onslaught of photos and videos that each of us are bombarded with everyday. D Fall 2019 1 DEAN’S MESSAGE

News from the School of IN VIEW One of the greatest pleasures of Optometry and beyond. being dean is getting to know and OptometryNews Training Grant Champions deeply appreciate our extraordinary alumni. As you will see in our new 42 and counting! That is the number of years that Berkeley Optometry’s magazine, our alumni lead the pro- Vision Science Graduate Group has received NIH funding through the T-32 Training fession, both at home and abroad. Grant program. It is an extraordinary record of continuous funding, and is a No less than six alums are currently testament to the success and reputation of the Vision Science program at Berkeley. leading top optometry schools across The grant­—the largest of the 37 awarded, and the only training grant in optometry— North America, and another— We already knew that Berkeley Optometry alumni is used to support first and second year PhD students as they develop independent Dr. Abraham Bromberg, OD ’69— Berkeley vision research. In 2018, the Vision Science Group received a five year renewal for is part of a team of educators and are exceptional doctors and healthcare providers, $2,693,035—an amount that is 3.4 times bigger than the median, and 50% bigger than healthcare professionals in Mexico working to change the but they are also leading some of the most prestigious the next highest recipient. It’s also more than double what Stanford receives! way optometrists are trained. Even closer to home, young Optometry Reasons for the long record of training grant success? We graduate a lot of PhDs. alums such as Daphne Chan, OD ’13, who is Associate Chief optometry programs in North America. We are so Since 1950, when the Vision Science Group began, 226 students have received of Optometry at UCSF Medical Center, have successfully degrees in Vision Science. We also have success placing our graduates at the highest transitioned from optometry students to professionals that proud that members of our community are making levels of industry and academia. Alumni are represented on the faculty of world-class are having a profound impact on our . Alums at universities—in medical schools, schools of optometry, and a wide range of disciplines So it is the alumni above all else that gives me a sense such an important contribution to the education of spanning psychology, physiology, bioengineering, and . Others hold of optimism about the future of our caring and essential optometrists­—thank you for making Berkeley shine! research positions in institutes and federally sponsored agencies such as the National profession. I wake up every day, sure in the notion that the Helm! Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Institutes of Health optometry will continue to thrive. Why? Because our (NIH). Still others are to be found in the research and development divisions of skills have never been more needed and marketable—the industry, from Samsung and Adobe, to Novartis and Allergan. percentage of medical optometry billing continues to Berkeley Optometry professor Gunilla Haegerstrom- Portnoy says, “the training increase, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning will grant is an absolutely essential component of the Vision Science Graduate program— create extraordinary demands for primary eye care, and our it provides an opportunity for them to rotate through the labs, where they learn new alumni continue to lead, adapt and succeed. experimental techniques, obtain experience in unique research laboratories, and Of course, we must not ignore the many challenges that ultimately to identify a lab in which to conduct dissertation research.” we face. With respect to AI and its role in future diagnosis, we must take responsibility and demand that the applications work in the best interests of our patients, not just a way of inappropriately dispersing patients and increasing the profitability of insurance companies. We need to remain x engaged in emerging technology and its proposed uses. 3.4 Over the last year I have been involved in national and state bigger than the median initiatives on new technologies related to the profession. Joseph A. Bonanno Lewis Reich Karla Zadnic Applications as inevitable as automated diagnosis could Dean, Indiana University President, Southern College of Optometry Dean, College of Optometry, generate many more referrals, but true patient-centric School of Optometry The years42 of Berkeley Degrees: BS 1986, OD 1988 2x what Stanford gets technology will ensure we have ways of guiding and educating Berkeley Degrees: OD 1981, PhD 1987 Appointed: 2016 Berkeley Degrees: BS 1980, OD 1982 continuous our patients to receive the treatment and care they need. Appointed: 2010 Appointed: 2014 funding Most software developers are yet to be so enlightened. Together we can help them. It reminds me of the lessons Current PI: learned by organizations such as the WHO, that for global Dr. Dennis Levi $538,607for each year health initiatives to succeed they need to incorporate cultural awareness to scale their success. One size does not fit all! As we celebrate the accomplishments of our alums, we also need to be cognizant of the need to ensure a pipeline of $2,680,770 future alumni. Next year I will become the President of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), over five years where I intend to continue to work on strategies for getting % more young people to consider eye care as a career. For 50 optometry to continue to thrive we must generate more interest in our profession. I am proud of the campaign bigger than the ASCO has recently launched, Optometry Gives Me Life. next highest Please visit the campaign’s website (https://futureeyedoc. 1YEAR org/), and please use the resources to promote optometry recipient 5 YEARS in your community. Together we can double the size of Stanley Woo Kelly K. Nichols Michael Twa the applicant pool—and importantly—increase diversity. Director, School of Optometry & Vision Dean, University of Alabama at Dean, College of Optometry, We can do this; the very future of private practice, and our Science, Birmingham University of profession, depends on it. As together we look ahead to our special year, 2020, and Berkeley Optometry’s centenary Berkeley Degrees: BS 1992, OD 1994 Berkeley Degrees: BS 1993, OD 1995 Berkeley Degrees: BS 1988, OD 1990 students year in 2023, I am more optimistic than ever about Berkeley Appointed: 2017 Appointed: 2014 Appointed: 2019 supported Optometry, and the future of our beloved profession. 15 ­—John G Flanagan

2 Fall 2019 3 IN VIEW OptometryNews > OVERHEARD “I love the sharp of the new slit lamps, the satisfying Total Giving for the past 4 years* clicking sounds of the phoropters, and the Donor Impact FY 2018 $2,357,259 beautifully branded exam chairs. I feel FY 2017 $1,418,564 more confident during Total practice after I observe Giving the demos with the FY 2016 $1,444,453 2019: $3,048,863 new teaching , which is attached FY 2015 $1,103,662 to two large high resolution screens *Including pledge payments that help us see the techniques our doctors Total Endowment Payout: $679,159 | Total Endowment Fiscal Year Close: $19,186,932 are trying to teach us. Observing our instructors perform Your Gifts at Work: the techniques in All About You real time is a valuable optometry donors have given for 20 or teaching tool...” 271 more years First year student Jina Chong on the re-designed pre-clinic, which has optometry donors increased their been almost completely refitted with top-of-the-line equipment, 344 annual giving this year thanks to generous donations from our student assocation and from optometry donors have increased their Scholarships and Berkeley Optometry Research Support Haag-Streit USA. 164 annual giving by 25% or more Fellowsips Sports Vision Clinic The adaptive optics scanning laser $339,383 ophthalmoscope designed $80,000 was given to support the Introducing CIVO! and built by Professor research and discovery Roorda and his lab. The Leadership Circle % Our students now benefit The Center for Innovation in 100 efforts of our world-class system is used to take OD and VS students received from a memorial fund faculty, such as Dr. Maria Liu, pictures and measure Leadership Circle members joined scholarships or fellowships. honoring the life and Vision and Optics who focuses on treatment retinal function in living This includes the inaugral legacy of Dr. Bill Harrison, 164 the Dean to make a difference, fuel and prevention-based eyes on a cellular scale. Alumnus of the Year an acclaimed sports Headed up by Berkeley Optometry research in the fight against innovation, and provide financial support to the Scholarship which was performance specialist and Marty Banks and Austin , and Dr. Suzanne presented to Kalina Grimm, Berkeley alum, known by school this year Fleiszig, whose research Roorda, CIVO’s mission is to promote Class of 2020. Kalina was many to be “The Grandfather aims to find novel treatment the development, use, and dissemina- awarded $8,000 to help of Sports Vision.” new members were welcomed into the and prevention strategies tion of innovative optical, graphics, and display technology for the support her 4th year clinical for contact -related healthy and diseased eye. Welcomes Leadership Circle in recognition of their rotations. 35 infections. CIVO faculty include some of the world's foremost experts in We are delighted to re-introduce Dr. Nancy McNamara as our new generous support fields ranging from researchers who develop optical, graphics, and Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs. Please also display technology to those who find innovative ways to translate welcome Jorge Otero-Millan, who is joining our them into applications for basic and clinical research. CIVO includes Optometry faculty, and Professor Hany Farid, who has joined our faculty from Optometry and Vision Science; Dennis Levi, Christine Vision Science group and who also has appointments with Electrical Wildsoet, Maria Liu, William Tuten, Emily Cooper, and Hany Farid Engineering & Computer Science and the School of Information. Our and Engineering; Ren Ng and Laura Waller. Our new clinic faculty are Drs. Nancy Carteron, Patrick Clark, Operating on a membership model, the Center provides CIVO Joey Hsia and Nguyen Tran. Donors faculty and students the chance to interact with CIVO industry partners, offering new opportunities for applied research as well as Development Associate Goldie Negelev, is our newest DARling, while new faces in the clinic include Nathan Moy, Healthcare Systems Are: opening the doors to post-graduate career options. Funds raised 61% 13% 8% 5% 11% 2% through CIVO are being used to support new students, postdocs, Analyst; Peter Lo, Business Technical Support Analyst; as well as Cory Alumni Friends Students Faculty Corporations, Parents and visiting scholars who work on projects decided by CIVO faculty, Svean and Shirley Guinn, our new Patient Services Supervisors. & Staff Foundations, Other Orgs but that are in the general interest of CIVO industry partners. Welcome to the optometry family everyone­—we are so civo.berkeley.edu happy you are here!

4 Fall 2019 5 Iconic Frames We got to thinking about how some of our favorite actors, musicians, politicians and other public figures have brilliantly used spectacles to Billie Jean King create a look that is synonymous with their fame. There are so many to Too many to list! choose from! Here are our top ten. What are yours? Tennis legend Billie Jean King, who won 39 Grand Top 10 Slam in her career 6(currently tied with Serena!), posted recently on Twitter, “As a child, I was told I could never be #1 in the world because I wore . This fueled my fire to become the best tennis player I could be.” King—founder of the Women’s Tennis Association—is an advocate for gender equality and has long been a pioneer for social justice. Sports Illustrated called her “probably the most influential athlete of her time.”

Elton John Audrey Hepburn Cutler and Gross, Dolce & Oliver Goldsmith Manhattan Gabbana, Oliver Peoples + others As Holly Golightly in the classic 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 7 Sir Elton John has sold more than 300 Audrey Hepburn’s oversized shades hid her true feelings— million records and has more than fifty and hangovers! They are the signature accessory that came to Top 40 hits, making him one of the exemplify her glamour and elegance. world’s best-selling musicians. Never one to tread cautiously when it comes 2 to fashion, he’s also worn some of Malcolm X Bootsy Collins the most outrageously memorable American Optical Funkentelechy Placebo glasses; featuring rhinestones, fur, and Sirmont Syndrome feathers. In a BBC Radio interview he claimed to own over 200,000 frames! El-Hajj Malik el- Parliament-Funkadelic bassist and Shabazz, better lifelong funkateer Bootsy Collins, best known to the world known for his star glasses, is no stranger 5as Malcolm X, was one of the to . In 2010 he most prominent civil rights launched Funk University (“Funk U”), an leaders of the 20th century. He online-only bass guitar school in which 9 also had an excellent eye for he also serves as curator and lead fashion. Many of us here would professor. In 1997 Collins was inducted use any means necessary to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 3 our hands on these hip specs. Harry Potter Dalai Lama Bartoli Savile Row Warwick “My religion is very Rumor has it that the actor Daniel simple. My religion is Radcliffe doesn’t actually need glasses 10 kindness.” His Holiness the 14th Dalai yet, but when that day comes, he Lama, one of the most beloved and intends to steer clear of the round recognized spiritual leaders in the glasses that made the adorably nerdy world, has spent his life committed to wizard famous. Speaking to MTV News, benefiting humanity. In 1989, the Dalai he said: “It’s gonna be contacts or like Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace triangular glasses or something just to Prize for his nonviolent efforts for the really put some distance.” Ali Wong Barton Perreira Valerie liberation of Tibet and his concern for global environmental problems. The “No! I’m busy making an Anna Wintour 8 origin of his distinctive frames is a eyeball, O.K.?” That’s how the pregnant bit murkey, but our best guess is that Chanel stand-up comedian and actress Ali they are vintage Bartoli frames from Wong described her response to a The Vogue editor-in-chief and glitterati head- the 1960s or 1970s. Bob Dylan of-state Anna Wintour is rarely seen without request from her hubs to pitch in more 4her trademark . One of the most famous with the household chores. Her Ray-Ban Wayfarers people in the world of fashion, Wintour is seen converted red sunnies—and her sassy Bob Dylan put Wayfarers on the map. Yes, sporting her heavy black frames to runway shows delivery—have become her trademark they have been worn by Gary Grant, Andy and other fabulous events. In an interview with 60 and helped launch a burgeoning career Warhol, The Blues Brothers, and Tom Cruise Minutes, she revealed the real reason for wearing that now includes television specials (Ugh), but no one rocks a Wayfarer like Dylan. these iconic frames: “They are seriously useful. and appearances in sitcoms and Pictured here, Dylan is recording his album I can sit in a show and if I am bored out of my movies. Sidebar: Ali is an SF native and mind, nobody will notice … At this point, they spent a summer working at Cal’s Lair of ‘Bringing It All Back Home’ in January 1965. have become, really, armor.” the Golden Bear alumni summer camp! > 1 Fall 2019 7 Introducing the class of 2023! 70 sets of eyes that Send your images to us at [email protected] STUDENTS will soon be focused on providing the best in eye Through Our Eyes care to their patients.

8 Fall 2019 9 A look at the class of 2023: who STUDENTS they are, where they come from QuickFacts and how they got here. Student Profile Class of 2023 18 Out-of-State

Applicants 20-27Age Range 50 California 184 Applications 68 Students matriculated 29 39 Number of Number of 13 108 students students Opto-Camp Interviews who entered who took alumni directly from at least a undergrad year off

Academics Average GPA in Undergraduate Institutions 3.4 Bio, Chem & Physics CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SANTA CRUZ UNIVERSITY - POMONA UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON - CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY - UNIVERSITY PARK LOS ANGELES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - BERKELEY Average GPA UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - ANN ARBOR in undergrad COLBY COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - DAVIS 2.67- 3.5 UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - IRVINE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - LOS ANGELES UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON - SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - MERCED BOTHELL CAMPUS/SEATTLE CAMPUS/ TACOMA CAMPUS Average Score A&M UNIVERSITY - UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - RIVERSIDE 4.0 on the OAT COLLEGE STATION WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 354 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO Overall GPA range TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

10 Fall 2019 11 Deep Fakes Pushing the limits of human visual perception, and what we can do about it

BY ZAC UNGER

“We used to go to libraries. That’s how old I am,” says Dr. Hany Farid, Professor of Vision Science at UC Berkeley’s School of Optometry, as he recounts the old-school way he became one of the world’s foremost experts in the ultra-modern field of digital forensics and image analysis. While waiting in the checkout line he picked up a book—a 500-page insomnia cure called The Federal Rules of Evidence— that was languishing on a return cart. He flipped through randomly, landing on a page entitled “Rules for Introducing Photographs Into Evidence.” Farid was studying photo imag- ery as a postdoc, so his curiosity was piqued. “It was almost a footnote,” he recalls. “And this was in 1997, so film still dominated, though digital cameras were just coming around. But the book said that for the purposes of the federal court system, they were treating a digital photograph and a 35 mm negative as exactly the same. And I thought, huh…I’m not really good at predicting the future, but this is going to be a problem.” With digital photography still in its infancy, Farid’s advisor was less than enthusiastic when Farid suggested that he dig into the question of how photos could be conclusively authenticated. UC Berkeley professor Hany Farid is one of the world’s foremost experts in digital forensics and image analysis.

12 Fall 2019 13 The and cognitive system are not particu- Which brings us to the future of digital forgery: deep Which all sounds great, but “forensically examining a larly good at detecting fakes. And why should they be? A fakes. With a deep fake—technically known as Artificial billion images a day is impossible,” Farid explains. “I can tree is a tree and a tiger is a tiger; there was no selective Intelligence Synthesized Content—the manipulator can sit at my desk for a couple of hours and analyze a video pressure on our prehistoric ancestors to guard against the create a realistic video likeness of a person and then and tell you if it’s real. But it doesn’t work at scale, when natural world launching forgeries at them. “What do you make that facsimile say or do something that the real you’ve got milliseconds to do the analysis.” The problem actually care about, visually?” asks Marty Banks, Professor person never would. A widely-known politician such as is that nearly all pictures are altered—cropped, color-cor- of Optometry and Vision Science at Berkeley Optometry. Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton has thousands of hours rected, red-eye-reduced—so the issue is in pointing out “You want to know where the door is so you can run of publicly available video and audio of how they look whether the alteration is harmless or nefarious. out of it if you need to. And you want to know who I am and speak; using those real images as a database, forgers Moreover, every safeguard enacted by scholars like when you’re sitting next to me. But you don’t care if the build a library of facial movements, speech patterns, and Farid and Banks will immediately be reverse-engineered light is coming from overhead or outside.” Banks gestures hand gestures that can later be forced into service in the and eclipsed by forgers. “I’m going to lose,” Farid says. towards a window and says “the light out there is proba- absence of the original human. “Let’s say I want to create “Because playing defense is always harder than playing bly a thousand times greater than it is in here, but to your a fake where I replace your face with my face,” Farid says. offense.” Well-resourced government hackers in eye it looks maybe twice as strong. And who cares? All “A synthesizer algorithm generates the image and then a and China will always be able to win the digital arms race, you need to know is where the building is so you don’t detector algorithm looks it over in what’s called a Genera- “and so my job,” Farid continues “is to make sure that it’s accidentally run into it. You don’t care where the light tive Adversarial Network.” The detector tells the syn- really a small number of people in the world who can do is coming from or what the shadows are doing. Visual thesizer if it can distinguish the fake image from the real this well. Because when any knucklehead on Reddit can processes have evolved to be very good at what and where images, forcing the synthesizer to create an increasingly do this, then we really have a problem.” and then we just ignore these nuisance variables.” more realistic image “really rapidly, to the tune of tens of In Farid’s opinion, the solution is for the corporate ti- “We don’t go around understanding the physics millions of iterations and then finally the detector is satis- tans of the digital age—Google, Facebook, Apple, etc.—to of light and shadows and reflections and perspective fied and now you have highly realistic fake content.” take up the moral responsibility of becoming good global geometry,” Farid says, echoing Banks. “We get ourselves If your goal is to make a Hollywood blockbuster, citizens. For example, the built-in cameras on cell phones around the world in a safe way, but when it comes to then this technique is a goldmine. (To get an idea of the could use “control capture systems,” in which every analyzing images we have to ask questions like, ‘are the possibilities, just search out Nicolas Cage deep fakes on photo is stamped with a mathematical signature which shadows consistent? Is the geometry consistent? Are the YouTube, and you’ll fall down a rabbit hole dug by the would then be encrypted and uploaded to the blockchain, physics consistent?’” Farid’s research shows that people oddball community trying to put Cage into every movie an immutable distributed ledger against which the photo are pretty terrible at distinguishing the real from the fake. role imaginable. He does a particularly good Indiana “A huge proportion of the human brain is dedicated to Jones and he’s unsettlingly decent as the Julie Andrews visual processing and from an early age we learn about character in Sound of Music.) With a deep fake the manipulator the world through visual imagery,” he says. “Surely when But the negative consequences of deep fakes are we’re presented with a fake image, you’d think people potentially catastrophic. Imagine a presidential candidate can create a realistic video likeness would notice. But no. We add all kinds of inconsistencies digitally “confessing” to treason or a technologically savvy to photos and people just can’t tell.” A forger doesn’t stock market short-seller releasing a video of Jeff Bezos of a person and then make that need to get every detail perfect; he just needs to make his announcing his surprise retirement from Amazon. On a Dr. Farid teaching a course “But the idea kind of sat with me,” says Farid, who, fake grossly good enough to look momentarily convinc- more local scale, non-consensual pornography is already facsimile say or do something that on the Introduction in addition to his work at Berkeley Optometry, has joint ing as it zooms through our social media feeds alongside a reality, a nightmare version of Farid’s harmless prank to Programming and appointments in Electrical Engineering & Computer cat videos and vacation pictures. with his tennis partner, in which an angry boyfriend swaps the real person never would. Computation. Science and the School of Information. “And I had this There are a few different categories of fakes, Farid the face of a woman he knows onto an adult performer’s tennis buddy at the time and he was always beating me, explains, the easiest of which—a misattribution fake— body, then terrorizes her by sending the resulting fake so I hated him.” Using an early version of Photoshop, requires no technical skill whatsoever. “This is where video clip to her parents or her employer. could forever be verified. Facebook could, if they wanted, Farid took an image of his friend and swapped in the face somebody takes a photo of a bombed-out building from Fake news clips have already had devastating impacts only promote material that is verified and authenticated, of a famous tennis pro. “And when I did that manipula- Syria five years ago and captions it that this just happened around the globe. After a real attack by militants in which would encourage people to post trusted content if tion, I realized that it was going to leave behind an artifact in Afghanistan.” Misattribution fakes are widespread and Sri Lanka, faked social media posts incited retaliatory they want their posts to be more visible on their follower’s that I could quantify and measure.” He remembered the have been used to substitute one border crossing for an- violence against innocent people. A faked video on feeds. But would Facebook agree to more accuracy if it vagueness he’d noted in the rules of evidence and realized other, inflate or deflate crowd sizes at protests or political WhatsApp contributed to sectarian violence in India that caused content to become more boring, less clickable, that any photo manipulation would leave a specific statis- rallies, or even convince people that a photo of a natural led to the mob killings of sixty people. And, as Farid less profitable? “The companies all say ‘well, this is a tical signature, a fingerprint that could bring photographic disaster from one part of the world was actually taken points out “whether you like him or not, 80,000 votes really hard problem,’” Farid says. “But you know what? verification into the modern era. thousands of miles away. in three states was the difference between Trump and They’ve solved a lot of hard problems over the years, Fast forward twenty years, and every person on earth Moving up the scale of complexity is the kind of Clinton and we know that millions of people saw fake so don’t tell me this is too hard.” is bombarded by thousands of photo and video images photo alteration easily done on Photoshop: replacing one news from Russia. You don’t think that could have Twenty-plus years ago, when Hany Farid picked up every day. Seeing is believing, as the adage goes, but what person’s face with another, creating a composite of two affected 80,000 votes?” an actual book from an actual shelf, it probably never does that mean when anybody with a laptop can make people standing next to each other when in reality they’ve Detecting and exposing these fakes may well be crossed his mind that something titled Federal Rules of hyper-realistic alterations that are undetectable to the never met. This is great when you want to put Uncle Fred essential to our democracy and our personal safety. “I like Evidence would be anything other than the genuine rules casual internet user scrolling and swiping her way through into the family reunion photo that he was late for, but the idea of a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval” for that govern evidence in federal courts. And why should the day’s news? “Stalin manipulated photographs,” Farid takes a darker turn when used by political opportunists, photos and videos, says Dr. Banks. “You go through the he have been suspicious? But today, says Farid, “over half says. “Hitler did it. Mao did it. There’s power in visual like whoever altered a photo of a young Barack Obama to whole pipeline of how an image was captured, encoded, of the content you see online is either generated by bots imagery. You change images and you change history.” make him appear as a machine-gun toting member of the and processed. If we go through and check for landmarks, or is simply not true.” In a world where everything has With people already shouting “fake news!” about anything Black Panther Party. As far back as 2006, Reuters fired a then we can stamp it authentic if the image obeys certain the potential to be fake, the entire notion of truth and they merely disagree with, the potential for governments photographer after he used Photoshop to enhance smoke rules.” Banks ticks off a list of pitfalls for potential forgers: trustworthiness goes out the window. While long-term (or basement-dwelling provocateurs) to produce compel- effects, making a bombing in Beirut look worse than it light reflecting off of eyes, geometry of shadow casting, solutions may be elusive, there are some immediate steps ling fake images is chilling. Digital forgeries are already in was. More recently, somebody with just a modicum of compression of focal lengths, watermarks left behind each of us can take to protect ourselves from the society’s circulation and will inevitably become more convincing technical skill took a video of House Majority Leader when pixels in a JPEG are rearranged. In theory, inter- forgery-inspired downfall: “Delete Facebook and Twitter and widespread. Fake news won’t just be a rallying cry, Nancy Pelosi, and slowed it down by 75%. The resulting net users could be trained to trust only images that are immediately. It’s good for the world and you’ll also be but a conscious political or criminal technique with clip of her, seemingly drunk and slurring her words, was verified by a reliable source, much the way we’ve come to a lot happier.” And, Farid says, half-jokingly, “stockpile immense power. shared on social media hundreds of thousands of times. look for the organic label on vegetables. food and water.” 14 Fall 2019 15 Given this systemic absence of regular eye-health examina- To prepare for the opening, this spring he took a delegation tions, it’s not surprising that vision problems are the second to observe Berkeley’s clinic. biggest form of disability in Mexico, second only to mobility “We wanted to see how it works—the ratio of students disabilities. That translates to about 2.4 million people to and how many hours they spend with patients,” with low vision or blindness, according to Global Disabil- he said. ity Rights Now—often resulting from treatable conditions Ana María Morán Mora, a licensed optometrist who teaches including cataracts, , and, like in the , in the new León campus, was on the Berkeley visit, along with epidemic-level rates of . Dr. Norma Hernandez, who worked closely with Bromberg to Dr. Abraham Bromberg, ’69, who spent 20 years on the launch the school. The group toured the facilities, visited classes National Polytechnic Institute faculty before going into and patient-care centers, and talked to faculty. They learned private practice in Mexico City, could see that the trend to much more than Mora had expected. forego comprehensive exams contributed to the problem. “The main objective was to see the infrastructure of the clinic. “It’s been shown that people have to be trained to con- But the visit also helped us to understand how they integrate the duct examinations and find eye disease in their patients,” students’ activities into the different patient-care centers,” Mora Bromberg said. “Optometrists know this.” As head of the said. She observed how the faculty distribute their work, and professional group pushing for more rigorous standards, “they explained the structure of consultation and follow-up in Bromberg and his colleagues met with senators and influ- each case,” she said. The group took note of details like evaluating encers to lobby for change and they garnered support from students on clinical procedures. She liked that student practice the World Council of Optometry. After years of resistance went beyond the campus. “The clinic’s satellite centers extend from powerful groups invested in the status quo, the political the experience that students gain on patient care,” she said. climate changed in their favor. In 2015, by unanimous vote, the Health Act was amended to include optometrists. With success came new demand. There are 4,500 licensed optometrists in Mexico, a country of 123 million people—roughly one optometrist for every 27,000 people. “We need to graduate many thousands more to meet the need,” Bromberg said. New school, new clinic To help fill that gap, Dr. Enrique Graue, head of The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico’s Dr. Bromberg (top leading public research university, launched a new optome- center) and Dr. Graue try school in León, an up-and-coming city of 2 million. (top right) meet with León already had a UNAM branch with several professional students at the new Optometry school in schools and is centrally located in the large state of Guanajua- León, Mexico. to. Graue, himself an ophthalmologist, called on his old friend Bromberg to start the school, instructing him to model it after optometry colleges at Bromberg’s American alma maters, UC Berkeley and University of Houston, where he completed a master’s degree. It wasn’t Bromberg’s first time shaping an academic pro- gram. Back at Polytechnic, he and his colleagues expanded the three-year program to four years and established a clinic. That change set Mexico’s training standard long before the rticle 79 of Mexico’s Health official rule change, which, unlike in the U.S., is a four-year Act regulates the training undergraduate program resulting in a “licensed optometrist” Alum Leads Change in . of physicians, dentists, nurses, and other health Deconstructing Berkeley’s Clinic Mora also noticed the students. “I was very impressed by Mexican Optometry professionals. But, until Dean John Flanagan is proud that Berkeley Optometry was a their level of commitment,” she said. It makes sense, she adds, model for the new school and that an alumnus is since in Mexico, students start the program at only 19 years old— recently, it didn’t include optometrists. developing the profession in Mexico. “Dr Bromberg embraces straight out of high school; they can specialize by taking a related A graduate degree later. Education The National Polytechnic Institute of clinical excellence, exemplary patient care, the highest academic standards, and an unflinching desire to make the The new León program is already thriving, with 25 to 30 Mexico, a prominent university, has world a better place,” he said. Today, the new UNAM-León students in each year and recruitment that is on pace to double Berkeley is a model for new school and clinic trained optometrists since 1950. But in the optometry college already has third-year students who, those numbers next year. Ultimately, the school is aiming for this summer, began serving patients in a temporary clinic Berkeley’s standard of about 60 students per cohort. When marketplace, technicians who complete location while a new building is under construction. Getting the new clinic building opens for the next school year, it will BY ANN BRODY GUY only a brief certificate program are the the clinic up and running was paramount, Bromberg said. accommodate up to 300 patients a day. norm, and they are often trained by big “When you’re studying to be a physician you start with Those results make Bromberg’s task almost complete. It’s a year in school and then you practice in a . For work he has performed pro bono, and happily so. “One of my chain stores that prioritize dispensing optometry and dentistry, you have to have a clinic in the dreams was for somebody to come and tell me, ‘Here’s the money. eyeglasses as cost-effectively as possible. school so professors can look at the way you treat patients Make the ideal optometry school in Mexico,’” he said. “And that’s and solve their problems,” he said. what happened.”

Fall 2019 17 Q & A WITH DAPHNE CHAN, OD ’13 What originally inspired Q What do you teach ophthalmology colleagues about Q What is your favorite Berkeley Optometry memory? optometry in your role at UCSF? you to come to optometry A If I had to pick one, it would be giving the graduation speech A Aside from direct skills transfer to the ophthalmology interns, along with my classmate, Mimi Phan. We brought up the memory school? I try my best to show my ophthalmology colleagues that optome- of our infamous dance-dare skit from our second year, where A The people! My dad is an optometrist trists, in addition to being experts in correcting refractive errors, are I had distracted a very kind yet confused Dean Levi with some (Dr. Alan Chan, OD ’74), so I originally also well-trained and competent in the treatment and management nonsensical conversation while my classmate Jannie Lee danced Being wanted to do something different—teach- of ocular disease. Fortunately at UCSF, the relationship between hilariously behind him, all on camera. Then Dean Levi got up and ing, , anything except optometry. optometry and ophthalmology is very positive and we are quite dance-dared us while we were at the podium! That was so much However, I was “extremely undeclared” in comfortable co-managing cases such that patients get the best care fun, and shows just how awesome and down-to-earth all our Q undergrad and spent a lot of time attending possible. This attitude is in large part thanks to the stellar examples Berkeley Optometry faculty are. Daphne different clubs and exploring different careers. I finally decided to give that Dr. Bernie Dolan and Dr. Andrew Mick at our sister hospital, Foresight Pre-Optometry Club a chance and learned that optometry is way SFVA, have set, and my optometric colleagues and I recognize that Q What are you most proud of? we must maintain a high standard of care for our patients to continue more than eyeballs and glasses. It’s about connecting with people; spe- A Professionally, it would be the team of bright, ambitious, and to sustain this reputation. Daphne talks about cializing in the visual system yet also having a powerful impact on overall emotionally intelligent optometrists that we have built at UCSF early influences, health and well-being. What is more important than sight? In retrospect, over the years. We have grown to 13 now and are fortunate to have You are already an Academy . What inspired you to favorite Berkeley I realize that the friends I had made in Foresight probably also influenced Q as our tirelessly dedicated Chief of Optometry Dr. Taras Litvin take this accelerated approach? Optometry memories, my decision. Pretty much everyone I have met in this profession since (OD ’09, PhD ’16), who was actually one and Dolly Parton. pre-optometry has been a kind, altruistic, and genuine soul. It’s hard not A Pretty much all of my professors inspired me to of my most influential attendings while to be happy when you are surrounded by good people. obtain my FAAO from the start (especially Dr. Mick I have always been I was at school. I am so lucky to work and Dr. Dolan, former Academy president). I had also amongst friends, who make even the Q Who were your early influences in life? Who inspired you? wanted to achieve this professional goal because UCSF school-spirited, but roughest days laughable! And personally, A My parents for sure. My mom has always been my role model: is considered one of the Top Ten in the US Berkeley Optometry I am proudest of my baby niece, who is smart, funny, and strong yet loving. She raised her children to have and I wanted to have a bit of distinction and do my just over two months old but already a strong work ethic (she is famous for saying that an A+ is not good part to help elevate the division of optometry. It’s been holds a special place “sings” (croons along with you) and can enough!), and now that I am older I understand that this philoso- rewarding because Fellowship is a completely option- in my heart because grab toys by herself! phy is not just about realizing the end result, but rather the sense al thing you do after completing all formal training; of personal pride that one generates by challenging oneself and it is an entirely self-motivated challenge, and once it is where I made my Q You are a Skit Night legend, tell us achieving goals through best efforts. As for my dad, I think I got achieved, feels even better than passing a graded exam, about that experience. because you set your own goal and met it! closest friends, and my sense of humor and people skills from him! I remember him A Aww, I would not be so bold as to call always telling me from an early age that the things we say can also developed the myself a Skit Night “legend,” but… Skit really affect others, and that we should always try to make other Q What inspires you to give back your time, exper- Associate Chief Night!! Our first year, the second years people feel good—not by overindulgent flattery, but rather by tise, and philanthropic support to your alma mater? skills I utilize daily to of Optometry (Class of 2012) had pranked us and told at UCSF Medical building people’s confidence, reassuring them when they are A I have always been school-spirited, but Berkeley earn a living! us that our skits were to be 15 minutes Center, Dr. Chan in doubt of themselves, recognizing everyone as an equal, and Optometry holds a special place in my heart because it is max, and we naively believed them. We works alongside always making everyone feel included. Most importantly, my where I made my closest friends, and also developed the were shocked when their skit took proba- ophthalmology brother is one of my biggest heroes. He was born mentally skills I utilize daily to earn a living! So the answer is both personal and bly an hour! It was also always hard to compete against the Classes specialists to and physically handicapped and constantly reminds me practical. It seems quite logical that I should thank the institution that of 2012 and 2014, both of whom always had excellent concepts and care for diverse of the importance of the intangible: family, health, has helped build my career, and what better way to do that than by robust class participation. We finally won “best individual skit” patients of tolerance, and understanding. And might as well supporting future generations of optometrists. Optometry school is one year with the aforementioned dance-dares, where members of all needs. throw my big sister in there too—generous, not cheap, and luckily Berkeley Optometry has a robust professional the class of 2013 danced without being noticed behind unsuspect- hilarious, and brilliant. student support fund, from which I benefited each year in school. ing faculty members. We got Dr. John Corzine, Dr. A. Lee Scaif, Dr. Now that I have the ability to earn an income, I am happy to support George Lee, Dr. Robert DiMartino, and Dean Dennis Levi, amongst Q Why did you choose a career in aca- my school with time and philanthropy. others. I love that everyone at Berkeley Optometry is a great sport demia? What are some of the unique and can laugh at themselves. Without laughter, what is there? benefits and opportunities? Q What Berkeley Optometry faculty member would you most A I had always loved teaching (my first job want to have dinner with, why would you choose them, and Q What’s something people do not know about you? what’s on the menu? in 8th grade was as a tutor) because of the A Everyone already knows I am a total Harry Potter nerd, but what one-on-one connection you form with your A Oh man, this is a really tough choice! I have admired all my surprises most people and often requires some explanation is that I counterparts. I still clearly remember my optometry professors that I’d want them all at a giant feast to hang absolutely adore Dolly Parton! I personally don’t think she needed first Berkeley Optometry Fall Conference in out and thank them personally one more time. Perhaps I would all the plastic surgery because she’s already naturally beautiful, but college, where the panel of attendings had choose Dr. Gunilla Haegerstrom-Portnoy—she probably does not I respect that she is very open and honest about her image. She is a all exuded so much passion for optometry remember me, but I would choose her because I would love to witty, positive, and smart businesswoman, and despite growing up and for teaching that I had vowed to one day hear any stories about the challenges of being a female optome- poor, she knew she wanted to be a star and worked hard to make it teach optometry as well, and feel so fortunate trist, presumably in an era of a more male-dominated optometric happen. Songwriting seems very difficult but she is prolific at it (she to have the job that I do. Academia is stimulat- world. It would be fascinating to hear how she has balanced clinic wrote the song made famous by Whitney Houston, “I Will Always ing and forces you to stay sharp because young, responsibilities, didactic teaching, and all her administrative duties, Love You”). I notice that in interviews she only says kind things impressionable learners are reliant on your so I can gain some insight on how to “work smarter” myself! As for about others, and when she performs she always gives credit to her knowledge and skill set. After I was appointed what’s on the menu… well I love milkshakes, so we could chat over backup singers and her band. Who wouldn’t love such a successful my role of teaching the UCSF ophthalmology a cookies and cream milkshake! Dr. Kuni Kanai has been one of my yet humble person? My sister gave me a t-shirt for my birthday that interns in 2016, I worked longer hours but actually greatest mentors too. I haven’t caught up with him in a while so I says “What Would Dolly Do?”—a good reminder to us all to be felt renewed and immensely gratified. would also pick him, but he prefers beer! kind and generous to each other!

Fall 2019 19 LOOKING BACK WhereAreTheyNow

Our recent grads are out in the real world making a big impact. See where they ended up.

kids with strabismus to adults with acquired brain injury. It is Aleksandra Polosukhina, PhD 2013 the most rewarding experience to help a patient improve their Where are you living now? Paris, France visual function; their gratitude is priceless. What are you doing now for work? I currently work at Ad Scientiam, I also serve on the young professionals advisory board for the a startup that develops smartphone applications for medical devices Vision Council. I continue to attend many conferences where I and at-home patient monitoring, as well as for phase II and III clinical often participate in video panels for CovalentCareers and New trials. I work as a Scientific Advisor, where I help design digital tests Grad Optometry, some topics include management that can monitor disease progression in real-time and predict disease and specialties in optometry. Additionally, I continue to write evolution. These tests leverage smartphone sensors and enable clinical articles for ODsonFacebook.com to share what I have patients to independently their motor, cognitive, and visual learned from the unique patients that I encounter every day. functions. We currently focus on Multiple Sclerosis, depression, and a What is the web address for where you work? Odahealth.org variety of other neurological diseases. What bit of advice or wisdom would you have for What is the web address for where you work? AdScientiam.com students just beginning their degree program? Immerse What bit of advice or wisdom would you have for students just yourself in the profession as much as you can during optometry beginning their degree program? I think that the key to a successful Sloan Rajadhyksha, OD 2017 school. Join clubs to figure out which aspect of the profession PhD is not being afraid to ask for help. Research projects require most interests you—practice management, legislative, academic, continuous integration of new technologies and cross-functional Where are you living now? New York City etc. Attend conferences where you will meet like-minded, expertise; thus, no one will expect you to do a PhD alone. Use the time motivated people who will share your passion for eye care and at the beginning of your PhD to learn to ask questions, develop new What are you doing now for work? I work at the Center for encourage you to think differently. Be inquisitive and a proactive skills during your rotations, and begin establishing your professional Advanced Vision Care at ODA Primary Network. learner so you can provide better quality of care. Get excited and personal network. This is a community health care clinic where I specialize in about your future; the people you will meet in this profession and Rehabilitation. My patient base ranges from will truly enrich your lives.

Rebekah Lin, OD 2018 closing at 1pm on Friday, which allows me to be involved with my kids’ Where are you living now? New York City activities. Volleyball season is starting so it's just about to get crazy. What are you doing now for work? I am teaching at the SUNY College of Optometry along Meredith Turner, OD 2016 Private practice is great because I can adjust my schedule to make it to my girls’ games. with some fellow Berkeley alums (Shelby Leach and Franklin Bui from the class of 2017). I work Where are you living now? Redding, CA mainly in primary care precepting third years but have also started a head trauma clinic What is the web address for where you work? What are you doing now for work? I’m the owner of Meredith L. focusing on patients with loss. Meredithturnerod.com Turner O.D., a solo private practice. I interviewed for the purchase What is the web address for where you work? www.sunyopt.edu of the practice from an OD who was retiring while on my final 4th What bit of advice or wisdom would you have for students What bit of advice or wisdom would you have for students just beginning their year rotation at VA Palo Alto. Needless to say it was a stressful time! just beginning their degree program? It's never a good idea to degree program? Your interests will change as you go through school and gain more Then I spent my summer vacation after 4th year trying to get on miss a class, even to study. Get good sleep, be mentally present in experience both in clinic and outside. Keep an open mind and don't be afraid to leave your the insurance panels so that I could start working in September. It every class, and ALWAYS ask questions when you don't under- comfort zone! is a general family practice, with an older demographic (mostly 60 stand. If you think you can figure it out on your own later, you may and over). Mostly annual eye exams, with some glaucoma and AMD be disappointed, plus you will waste time! Also, find a good study management, some co-management, and urgent partner/group. Having another perspective and approach toward a care. I am as busy as I want to be, open Monday through Friday, subject can be very helpful. Best of luck, you can do it!!

20 Fall 2019 21 LOOKING BACK We’ve tracked down all of your favorite classmates. AlumniNotes Here’s what they’re up to.

just the right to pass on North Berkeley’s 1940 first and female-owned optometry practice to. Nadia 1 | Elaine Chinn Jang, OD ’40, celebrated her 100th Samii, OD ’10, is excited to take on the mission of birthday (Wow!) on October 14, 2018 with family continuing this wonderful practice, newly named and friends in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Jang, who was “Your Two Eyes Optometry.” one of the first women—and one of the first Chinese- American students—enrolled at Berkeley Optometry, practiced in San Francisco and retired at the age of 65. 1976 Page Yarwood, OD ’76, was recently elected for a second term as the president of the COA’s charitable 1944 organization, the California Vision Foundation. This Gordon Duffy, OD ’44, celebrated his 95th birthday year he also retired from his “retirement jobs” as this year. He and his wife Jean have 10 children, the Legislative Director for the ACCCOS, and as the 15 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. President of the Oakland Museum of California’s Council. 1968 3 Elaine Chinn Jang, 1979 2 | Adi Adins, OD ’68, and wife Roberta have moved OD ’40, celebrated her to a retirement community in Walnut Creek, CA, and 100th birthday (Wow!) Greg Boomer, OD ’79, is closing his 75-year old recently traveled to South America. practice in Susanville, CA in 2020. In preparing for on October 14, 2018 his retirement he is “giving away” his practice to the 1 Gary Liberman, OD, ’68, Phd ’75, retired from private with family and friends right OD. Please contact [email protected] practice and is enjoying living in Napa. His career in San Francisco, CA. if you are interested in living where the deer and the included 45 years of mostly part-time practice, and 23 Dr. Jang, who was one antelope play. years teaching and research. of the first women 1980 1972 —and one of the first Chinese-American Caroline Guerrero Cauchi, OD ’80, was invited to Barry Weissman, OD ’72, PhD, ’79, reports he is students—enrolled at speak at Vision Expo East 2019 on “The economics of teaching part time at SCCO, having retired from myopia.” In May she was honored with the UCLA’s Stein Institute faculty in 2012. His new Berkeley Optometry, Outstanding Achievement Award presented by favorite student is his grandson Noah, born in 2018. practiced in San the American Academy of Orthokeratology and Francisco and retired Myopia control, in recognition of contributions to the 5 6 1974 at the age of 65. specialty contact lens industry and the advancement of Orthokeratology and Myopia control. 3 | Stephen Chun, OD ’74, and his wife Doris Sze paddled for the Berkeley-based Dragonmax team at the last two IDBF Dragon Boat Club Crew World 1982 7 Championships held in Adelaide, Australia (2016) 5 | This past June, Curt Simmons, OD ’82, and a and Szeged, (2018). Paddling as a member group of nine Berkeley Optometry students joined of the Dragonmax men’s crew that was entered in the the 8th annual medical mission to Jamaica organized Masters Small Boat Open Division at the 2016 World by AOJAH (the Alliance of Jamaican & American Championships, Stephen won a silver medal and a Humanitarians). Consisting of close to 100 volunteers bronze medal in the 500 meter and 200 meter sprints. from many different health care disciplines, the mission team provided free medical care, surgeries, eye 1975 exams, glasses, and medications to over 2000 people! 4 | This year Lesli Handmacher, OD ’75, proudly 6 | Bob & Rosie Melrose, both OD ’82, want to celebrates her 40th year as a solo private practice introduce everyone to their first grandchild, Cassius doctor! Dr. Lesli is proud to announce that she found “Cash” Melrose born on July 2, 2019.

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22 Fall 2019 23 1983 1990 7 | Nancy Shoji, OD ’83, George Patton, OD ’82, 11 | Phuong Thai from Texas and William “WJ” Leigh Owyang, OD ’83, and Mark Bowman, OD ’83 Hyatt, OD ’90, got married at Lover’s Point in Pacific are now Opto-in-laws! George and Nancy’s daughter, Grove California on February 3, 2019. There was a Ariel Patton (Cal ’13), married Mark and Leigh’s son break in the rain and a rainbow made for a picture Daniel Bowman (Cal ’13) at the Pageo Lavender perfect wedding! Farm in Turlock, California. Contrary to popular speculation, the parents had nothing to do with putting 1992 the newlyweds together. Daniel and Ariel met on the Berkeley campus nearly 30 years after their parents met After 24 years in private practice in Healdsburg, in optometry school. Anthony “Tony” Soria, OD ’92, retired two years ago and now serves the community at Santa Rosa Community Health Center. In July, he will celebrate his 1984 26th wedding anniversary to his college sweetheart, Ed Nuccio, OD ’84, is thrilled to welcome Steven June, a kindergarten with the Santa Rosa Perry, OD ’18, as an associate to Stanislaus Archdiocese. Their eldest son is entering his senior 9 Optometric Center, Inc. in Modesto, CA. Steven year at UC Davis majoring in Economics and Political also practices with Berkeley Optometry alumni at Science. Their younger son is entering his senior year Livermore Optometry Group. at high school with hopes of attending UC Berkeley in engineering. 1986 8 | The Optometric Physicians of Washington named 1994 Paul Jensen, OD ’86, the 2019 Doctor of the Year Michelle Hoff, OD ’94, has been on the Berkeley Hey Alumni! at their OPW Annual Meeting in June, 2019. His wife Optometry faculty since 1990. She is passionate about Kathy and two children are thriving—son Erik is at community service, Berkeley Optometry Alumni Board, Do you have a story to tell? About your career or your 13 10 Harvard Law and daughter Alison is a current AOSA Project Homeless Connect, and the Mindful Eyes life? We’d love to hear from Board Member and will graduate from Berkeley Foundation where she is executive director and you! Send us pics and details. Optometry in 2020. founder. She and husband Chris celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and have three children: Annalisa [email protected] 9 | Celebrated eyewear designer and CFDA member, (Cal graduate and chef in San Diego), Tori (Seattle Please visit our website Blake Kuwahara, OD ’86, was awarded Best Fashion University graduate), and Andrew (current University to see more updates Frame and Best Sunglass Frame honors for his designs, of Colorado, Boulder student). from our alumni! “Larrabee” and “Moore,” respectively, by the LOFT optometry.berkeley.edu/ x The Eyewear Forum (TEF) Magazine at the Spring 1996 alumni-notes 11 LOFT show in New York. As of January of this year, Susy Yu, OD ’96, was appointed to the Board of Directors for the national 1987 board of examiners in optometry (NBEO). Congratulations to Deanna Alexander, OD ’87, named as the AOA Advocate of the Year for her many 1997 years of hard work advocating for optometry on the State Government Relations Committee and currently 12 | Last year Maxwell Cheng, OD ’97, received the chairing the Alliance for Patient Safety. David Lawrence Community Service Award for inspiring others to provide impoverished communities both locally and around the world with high-quality 1989 eye care. He recently took nine Berkeley Optometry 10 | Judy Lee Tom, OD ’89, and Richard Tom, OD students on a medical mission to Jamaica where they ’89 who are classmate-sweethearts from optometry examined over 1700 patients and treated 200 people school, share that their oldest daughter Jessica married with glaucoma. Dr. Cheng gave these 2 patients (see Brendan Henry on October 13, 2018. Her maids of honor photo) from the Andean mountains in Peru their first were her younger sisters, Natalie and Bethany. pair of glasses!

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24 Fall 2019 25 13 | Dan Harvitt, PhD ’97, OD ’00, was the student- 2007 elected Faculty Speaker for the 2019 Graduation. His epic speech will likely not be forgotten for some time. 16 | Athena Brasfield, OD ’07, is President and CEO of Coachella Valley Optometry. Her dedication Ursula Moonsamy, OD ’97, and family published to helping the undeserved recently earned her a a book called “The 17th Suitcase: Vignettes from a spot in Palm Springs Life’s “40 Under 40” list of the South African Family,” about the journey of a family most exceptional leaders in the Coachella Valley. navigating the system of Apartheid in , in a Athena opened Coachella Valley Optometry in religiously diverse community, amidst racial tension 2016, and has grown it to a seven-doctor practice, and economic struggle. It is available on Amazon. including fellow Opto-Bears Richard Phan, OD ’18 and Michelle Zaw, OD ’19. 1998 Athena Brasfield, OD ’07, is President 17 | Trevor Fogg, OD ’07, and Chris Sween, OD ’06, played with PGA pro Cameron Tringale in the 2019 14 | The Orinda Optometry Group of Kristine Eng, and CEO of Coachella OD ’98, Weylin Eng, OD ’66, and Kelly Shintani, Golf for Kids Pro-Am Tournament to support the Valley Optometry. Her Boys & Girls Club of Monterey County. OD ’00, just completed a remodel of their office! 14 The Eng family also received an Oakland legacy dedication to helping award in May! the undeserved 2009 recently earned her a Alex Baker, OD ’09, opened a new practice, Baker 1999 spot in Palm Springs Optometry, in Davis CA in June 2019 with lots of Tanya Gill, OD ’99, was one of 10 individuals honored Life’s “40 Under support from his wife, Cara. His daughters, Cate and in the inaugural #GameChangers issue 40” list of the most Violet, have been very enthusiastic about scrubbing the toilets in the office. of Eyecare Business magazine in December 2018. exceptional leaders The list includes, “independent female optometrists 15 and who are breaking down barriers, ushering in the Coachella 2013 2 in positive change, and shaking things Valley. Athena opened up in the industry for good.” Coachella Valley After serving in the United States Air Force in Colorado, Megan (Lee) Laine, OD ’13, moved to Optometry in 2016, Seattle, Washington and helped open a small 2001 and has grown it to a optometry office in Redmond, Washington. She will 15 | Melissa Barnett, OD ’01, educates with seven-doctor practice, start a Master’s program in Clinical Informatics and iTravel CE, a destination continuation education including fellow Opto- Patient Centered Technologies through the University of Washington in Fall 2019. company. Shown here with husband Todd Erikson Bears Richard Phan, OD, ’01 at an elephant sanctuary in Chang Mai, 17 16 Thailand on a recent excursion. OD ’18 and Michelle 2017 Zaw, OD ’19 18 | Stephen Lundquist, OD ’17, and his wife Christyn 2003 welcomed baby boy Leo, and moved back to Salt Lake Nasir Khan, OD ’03, was elected President of the City to build a practice from scratch. The practice is Alberta College of Optometrists (ACO) in October called Vis, and is set to open Fall 2019. If you’re ever in 2018 and has been on the ACO council since 2013. Utah, stop by 8th and 8th to check it out! Along with Dr. Hensel, he is the co-chair of a new organization for creating specialties in Optometry 2019 in , called the Royal Canadian College of Optometry (RCCO). 19 | Kristi Choy, OD ’19, and a group of 2019 graduates traveled to Bali after their graduation this spring!

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26 Fall 2019 27 LOOKING BACK Six Years of Impact 2017 2019 Marty Banks elected to the National 4th year internship with Stanford Academy of Sciences In the hub bub of our busy Ophthalmology begins lives, it’s easy to forget the New check-in kiosks improve patient incredible success we have 2015 Dr. Suzanne Fleiszig’s lab received a experience achieved over the last six patent for a newly identified type of anti- Austin Roorda’s lab receives $3.2 million Pre-Clinic equipped with new slit lamps, years. This little timeline microbial peptide that kills pathogens that Audacious Goals grant from the NIH chairs, stands, stools, AV upgrades, and a features some of our notable cause infections demo lane via partnership with Haag-Streit accomplishments. We’re Meredith Morgan Eye Center hits milestone of Professors Teresa Puthussery and proud of these successes, 70,000 patient visits Rowland Taylor join faculty UCOSA donates phoropters to pre-clinic and vow to build on them —with our community’s New magazine launches; wins campus My Optometry Internship Abroad (MyOpIA) Inaugural Alumni Student of the unwavering support—over award Research Exchange Program is piloted Year awarded the next five years. Bravo everyone on a job well done! Opto-Camp celebrates its 10th year Gronert and Flanagan labs discover potential Gift aid to students reaches $1.6 million; new treatment for glaucoma all students receive annual scholarships The School of Optometry places 3rd among totaling at least $19,000 over the four years all schools and departments in UC Berkeley’s New optometry center opens in West of the program annual online fundraising event, The Big Give. Oakland Community Clinic The school also won the campus prize for most Flannery lab develops gene therapy student contributors! Student Innovation Award launched to restore sight to blind mice

2014 2016 2018 John Flanagan appointed Dean of the Berkeley Optometry wins NOA School of Launch of The Berkeley Outpatient Clinic in School of Optometry for a five-year term the Year award collaboration with UCSF and John Muir Renovation of the ground floor of Sports Vision Clinic opens to the public Dr. Emily Cooper and Dr. Will Tuten join faculty Old Minor Hall begins Levi lab explores virtual reality devices to 98.4% student pass rate on national board exam The low vision residency is re-named the open new frontier in stereo vision recovery Ian L. Bailey Low Vision Residency Berkeley Optometry accredits over 22,000 hours of in honor of Dr. Bailey’s 38 years of Launch of the Private Practice Immersion continuing education distinguished service as a , Program researcher and clinician Opening of the Dr. Pamela P. Fong Learning Berkeley Optometry launches new and Commons and Interactive Classroom Online appointments implemented improved website for the Tang Eye Center Ten new assistant clinical professors join faculty

Renovation and modernization of Vision Science Training Grant extended for an clinic seminar rooms in contact lens clinic additional five years for over $2M­—not only the largest of and teaching module C the 37 awarded, but the only training grant in optometry

28 Fall 2019 29 Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY PAID SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY University of California 302 Minor Hall #2020 Berkeley, California 94720-2020 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Optometry

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