Name: Gabby Cintron
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Where did you do your undergrad education? What was your major, what degree did you earn, and what year did you graduate?
B.S. in Biology at the University of Florida with a minor in Disabilities in Society, class of 2022
Describe the moment when you realized you wanted to become an optometrist.
I realized I wanted to be involved in health care and after some researching, I discovered that optometry offered the perfect mix of being able to make an important impact on my patients’ lives while also having a great work-life balance.
Why did you choose IUSO?
Everyone was so welcoming at Admissions Day, and it felt like it would be a challenging but supportive environment for the next 4 years!
What has been your favorite part or moment of being an optometry student so far?
Volunteering at the Special Olympics over the summer
Why did you get involved in NOSA?
I loved hearing about its mission and all the great work the club gets involved in; for example, the Angel Tree around Christmas time and distributing the Diversity in Ophthalmic Conditions booklet.
Do you plan on staying engaged with NOA when you become a doctor? Why?
Absolutely, I think there is still so much work to be done advocating for our underserved and/or minority patients and in recruiting more minority optometrists.
Who has been your mentor or the person you reach out to the most?
As a lead AI for Clinical Sciences I, I have gotten the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Peabody. He has been a great role model and teacher to me! I also had the opportunity to learn from Dr. Trevino when I got to be in his student mentor group and to moderate a DEI webinar with him as part of NOSA.
What advice (or words of encouragement) would you give a current high-school or undergrad student who is interested in optometry as a possible career?
Shadow as many practice modalities as you can to see the many directions you can take your career in as an optometrist.
When you have free time, what do you like to do?
I like to go on walks, read, and get ice cream with my friends after a long week!
What state do you want to practice in after graduating? What kind of optometry practice or specialty do you want to work in?
Florida, I’m leaning towards private practice or a VA as of now, but open to seeing where I end up!
Leave a Reply