When he was growing up in Toronto, Yongjiang (John) Chen never thought too much about access to health care. If he had a concern, his parents took him to the doctor – that was it. So it was eye-opening for him when, as an optometry student, he met patients who’d had to drive six or seven hours and stay overnight to access specialized vision care at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science clinic.
Now, five years after his 2020 graduation, Chen has taken on a newly created tenure-track role at his alma mater: assistant clinical professor, community practice.
In addition to continuing to work in the Waterloo Eye Institute optometry clinic as an optometrist and clinical instructor, Chen will be leading projects and research focused on increasing access to eye and vision care for underserved populations, including Indigenous people, people in remote communities, people with special needs, newcomers, people in long-term care and unhoused or precariously housed people.
