Meet 2023 OV/SA Student Academic Award winner, Anna Reid

The 2023 OV/SA Student Academic Award winner for The University of Melbourne was Anna Reid, who received her award at the Regional Series in Melbourne in June 2024.  These awards are given to students, as selected by their university faculty, who demonstrate both academic excellence and commitment to patient care and professionalism.

We caught up with Anna to find out what led her into a career in optometry, what her plans are for the future and more.

Congratulations on the award, Anna! Where are you currently working in this, your first year as a graduate?

I am currently working as an optometrist part time at the Australian College of Optometry and part time at Melbourne Eyecare Clinic. I plan to commence a PhD on the topic of Diabetic Retinopathy at the end of 2024 and hope to continue working as a clinical optometrist throughout my studies.

Why did you choose to become an optometrist? 

Growing up, I did not know much at all about optometry. However, I did know that I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. As I learned about optometry, I became drawn to the profession, because helping people with their ocular health and vision constitutes what I believe to be a rewarding career.

What excites you most about the future of the optometry profession in general? 

Optometry is an ever-evolving profession with passionate advocates for increasing our scope of practice. Managing a wide range of eye conditions is particularly exciting.

I’m also inspired by the opportunity to access incredible technology to aid the diagnosis and management of various ocular conditions. I am certain that such technology will continue to evolve, allowing us to do more for our patients than ever before.

What was your greatest challenge as an optometry student? 

The first few years of the course were conducted during Covid-19 lockdowns, so online learning presented some challenges. Practical classes were often adapted so they could be delivered online and we had fewer opportunities to interact with peers. Learning to do retinoscopy in masks, with fogged up lenses, was particularly difficult!

Which OV/SA student membership benefit was most useful to you during your studies?

I found OV/SA’s advice regarding finding jobs to be invaluable. It can be difficult to navigate job applications, offers and contracts, especially while still studying, completing placements and working towards final assessments.

Accessing expert advice is important and helpful in transitioning from a university student to a qualified working optometrist.

What aspects of your career are you most looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to the great diversity that optometry offers. Working in outreach settings and with disadvantaged populations will be especially rewarding. During my course, I was fortunate to do a placement in Thailand, where I found providing education and performing vision screenings to be particularly gratifying. I am looking forward to more such opportunities in the future.

I am also excited about exploring a different career pathway through academia when I commence my PhD. I hope that research opportunities will help improve patient outcomes.

What was your reaction when you found out you were The University of Melbourne OV/SA prize winner? 

To be honest I was very surprised! I am extremely honoured and grateful to OV/SA for granting me this prize and to The University of Melbourne staff for nominating me.