Careers in Vision Services Spotlight: Huang Uyen Nguyen, Lambda-Minnesota

Our Do Good Sisterhood represents thousands of members who work every day to put more good into the world through Service for Sight. During Do Good Week, the Delta Gamma Foundation is highlighting members who have integrated the spirit of Service for Sight into their professional careers to bring more awareness to career paths related to Service for Sight. See Huang Uyen’s feature on Delta Gamma’s LinkedIn page.

Hoang Uyen Nguyen, Lambda-Minnesota, COMT (Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist)

Tell us more about what a person in your professional role does. 

I am a Board-certified ophthalmic medical technologist working alongside ophthalmologists who see patients with glaucoma, cataracts and other eye diseases. I am the professional who patients will see before the doctor. My duties include performing eye exams, setting up procedures, and capturing eye photos and scans.

What is the primary mission of your organization? 

I work for a nonprofit organization with a mission of improving health and well-being in partnership with its members, patients and community. It includes clinics and hospitals as well as health insurance.

How did you become interested in this field? 

After graduating and working in media advertising for over a decade, I decided to go back to school to pursue a health-related career. Throughout my life, I’ve been interested in the health sciences. My college years took me on a different route, though, and I worked in the field I majored in. In college, I was part of Delta Gamma, whose philanthropy was Service for Sight, which really sparked my interest in the vision services field.

How did Service for Sight influence your career path? 

Being part of Delta Gamma and volunteering through Service for Sight strongly influenced my career path. I had been interested in working in healthcare growing up, and it was Delta Gamma and Service for Sight that helped me find that path.

How has Delta Gamma stayed relevant in your life and career? 

Even after 28 years of being initiated, I am still involved in Delta Gamma. I serve on our local house corporation and attend events as much as I can. The motto do good is on my mind, and I try to live by the values of the Do Good sisterhood.

What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a career in vision services? 

Do it! It’s rewarding, sometimes challenging, but overall good. Eyes are so important. Vision is so important. There is so much in just the eye. Learn, learn, learn! Be mentored by the best and be surrounded by the best. There are so many specialties within eye, too. Cornea! Retina! Pediatrics! Etc. Etc. Find your niche.