This is what we want to see more of!
Dr. Valencia Robertson Wells has been elected President of the Alabama Optometric Association, making her the first Black woman to ever lead the more than 120-year-old organization. It’s one thing to say that, but it’s another thing to actually visualize what her historic feat means.
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A native of Demopolis, Alabama, Dr. Wells has long been a force in the field. She’s an award-winning optometrist, a trusted public health advocate, and a mentor to future doctors. Her work has extended far beyond the exam room from pushing for better health policies to providing free community screenings for families who need it most, The Demopolis Times reports.
This isn’t just a personal milestone, it’s a historic correction.
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Black optometrists make up just 2% of the profession nationwide. That kind of underrepresentation doesn’t just happen, it’s the result of long-standing structural barriers in medicine and education. Which makes this moment all the more meaningful.
With this election, Dr. Wells has widened the lens of possibility for the next generation of optometrists. And now that she’s at the helm, the future of eye care in Alabama just got a whole lot clearer.
Congratulations, Dr. Wells. We see you!
Cover photo: Dr. Valencia Robertson Wells Becomes First Black President of the Alabama Optometric Association / Photo Credit: Morris Avenue Eyecare