Samantha Wong is a fourth year optometry student at the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO). She was born in Toronto, Ontario and raised in Markham, Ontario. Samantha completed her Honours Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto, double majoring in Human Biology (Health & Disease) and Cell & Molecular Biology. Samantha’s optometric journey started as an optometric technician and optician assistant at a private practice in downtown Toronto. She also became a volunteer vision mate with CNIB to assist blind or partially sighted individuals.
Samantha is actively involved in the student community at ICO. She has held an executive board position with the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association chapter at ICO since her first year of studies and was eventually elected as President in her third year of studies. Samantha also serves as the Vice President of the Gold Key Optometric Society and a Lunch & Learn Coordinator for the Cornea and Contact Lens Society at ICO. She is also an active member in the Private Practice Club and Canadian Association of Optometry Students at ICO. Additionally, Samantha is a translator for the Illinois Eye Institute, conducting and translating examinations in Cantonese and French.
Outside of ICO, Samantha has been active in various optometric events. Samantha is currently a student fellow for the American Optometric Association. She also attended Optometry’s Meet in Washington DC where she rallied alongside her colleagues to advocate for optometry on Capitol Hill.
Since starting optometry school, Samantha has developed a passion in ocular disease and contact lenses. She aspires to pursue these optometric specialities further after graduation. Samantha was fortunate to rotate though Omni Eye Services in New Jersey and the Southern Nevada Healthcare System VA in Las Vegas where she was able to gain experience as a clinician in an OD/OMD comanagement and hospital setting. She is currently rotating through Pine Cone Vision Center, a private practice located in Minnesota. Outside of optometry, Samantha enjoys trying new restaurants, travelling, figure skating, and snowboarding.