OPTOmist: Founder & Purpose

Hey everyone, 

My name is Ben Murphy, and I'm currently a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on the pre-optometry track.

I'm majoring in the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, alongside minors in neuroscience and biology, since I'm fascinated by how the fields of healthcare and media intersect. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, working out, and keeping up with all things UNC sports. (Go Heels!)

As an aspiring eye doctor, I'm always seeking to learn more about the eyes and eye care; however, I've found it surprisingly difficult to come across both simple and synthesized sources of ocular information. Additionally, I get asked countless times by family, friends, and classmates questions like "Optometry? Does that have to do with the eyes?" or "Optometrists? Do they go to medical school... Do they perform surgeries?" Although I don't mind answering these questions, they've brought to my attention the lack of common knowledge surrounding optometry and the entire eye care community. 

So, with all of this in mind, I was inspired to create OPTOmist: an easily accessible and consolidated online learning platform that seeks to provide simple, positive answers to everything optometry and eye care-related. Through OPTOmist, I plan on enthusiastically supplying both basic ocular facts and informative eye care stories for everyone, as well as progressively documenting my own journey to and through optometry school in hopes of helping future pre-optometry students. 

If you've continued reading this far, first, thank you! And second, I hope you'll consider returning to the home menu to further explore the intricacies of your eyes and optometry! Also, if you have any questions or suggestions for OPTOmist, please reach out, as I've included links to my email and LinkedIn profile on this page.

Lastly, below I've added answers to a few common questions about myself and why I've chosen to pursue optometry as a future profession:

Q: Where are you from?

A: I was born and raised in Raleigh, NC, so I'm a proud North Carolinian through and through.

Q: What was your favorite subject in school growing up?

A: It's close between history and anatomy, but I'd give the slight edge to anatomy since I love learning about the structure of the human body and the mechanics that power it. 

Q: Why optometry?

A: I've always wanted my future career to revolve around helping others. Initially, though, I enjoyed going to the eye doctor only because I got to try on the fancy sunglasses that my favorite MLB players wore. But, as I've grown up and begun to look past the new display sunglasses, I've realized how optometrists not only get the daily opportunity to positively impact their patients' health and quality of life, but also the privilege to encourage and get to know many of them on a personal level. 

Q: When did you know you wanted to be an optometrist?

A: After being blessed with the opportunity to shadow multiple optometrists over the summer in both high school and now college, as each shadowing experience has only strengthened my love and appreciation for the profession.

Q: What is your biggest career goal?

A: To befriend and provide high-quality eye care to as many future patients as possible while also maintaining a sustainable work-life balance suitable for raising a family.