1:30min
When Roman Serebrianik graduated in 2003, he thought he had a clear idea of what his optometry career would look like.
‘Like many graduates, I assumed I’d spend my entire career in the consulting room,’ he said. ‘I didn’t really know what other options were out there for optometrists, apart from perhaps research or academia.’
What he didn’t realise at the time was that his optometry training had set him up for more than clinical care. It also taught him how to think critically, work closely with other health professionals and understand how healthcare systems work – all skills that would serve him well far beyond the consulting room.
Over the past two decades, Roman has built a career that spans clinical care, education, policy and advocacy. He has a Master of Public Health and has held various leadership roles at the Australian College of Optometry (ACO) and Vision 2020 Australia.
Today, he works as the National Manager, Public Affairs and Media at Stroke Foundation – a national charity that partners with the community, healthcare professionals, researchers and government to improve stroke awareness, prevention, treatment and recovery.
‘It’s my first role strictly outside the eye care space, but it’s exciting,’ Roman said. ‘I get to work with persons with lived experience of stroke and other dedicated health professionals.’
While his current work goes beyond optometry, Roman points out that eye care still has a vital role to play in stroke outcomes.
‘One in three survivors of stroke experience eye problems post stroke, for example visual field loss, eye movement disorders or dry eye. There are lots of opportunities for optometrists to contribute more to stroke awareness, prevention and rehabilitation.’
Roman believes that optometry provided him with a strong foundation for analytical thinking and person-centred care – skills that have shaped his approach to every role he’s held.
‘Our work as optometrists encourages us to be empathetic, practice in an evidence-based way, develop the ability to connect with patients and colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds and interact with all levels of the health system,’ he said.
‘This gives us good insight into not only how things should work, but also how they work in practice. I have found that these skills are quite transferrable outside of the consulting room.’
Broadening your horizons
Roman is passionate about encouraging early career optometrists to explore the full potential of their training, whether that’s within traditional clinical pathways or further afield.
‘Always say yes,’ he said. ‘You never know where that will take you. If there are particular organisations you are considering working for, contact them to see if there are opportunities for internship or volunteering.’
He also encourages those considering a shift to embrace opportunities for further study, and to stay open-minded about how their skills can be applied.
‘Don’t be discouraged if you have to do further study – embrace it. The breadth of potential opportunities to apply your optometry clinical skills, or analytical skills, in fields outside of optometry is quite broad.’
Ultimately, it’s not about stepping away from optometry, but about recognising how your degree can be a foundation for exploring other interests and career pathways in health.
‘There’s no one path,’ Roman says. ‘The most important thing is to find a meaningful organisation or role that aligns with your personal values and interests, and the kind of impact you want to have.’
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