Dr. Shora Ansari earned a BS and MS in pharmacological chemistry from UC San Diego.  She worked for several years in the pharmaceutical research industry, where she focused her research efforts in oncology and immunology prior to attending optometry school. Dr. Ansari graduated from the Southern California College of Optometry as the Valedictorian of her class.  After graduation, Dr. Ansari spent for over a decade seeing patients in private practice and co-management settings, where she specialized in specialty contact lens fittings for patients with irregular corneas. She currently serves as an assistant professor at SCCO at MBKU with didactic, laboratory, and clinical teaching responsibilities. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and a proud member of the American Optometric Association and the California Optometric Association. She also serves on the Board of the Orange County Optometric Society.

Dr. Romina Escalante was born and raised in Southern California in the city of Oxnard. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology at California State University, Monterey Bay. She decided to travel back to Southern California to be closer to family and to complete her optometric degree at Western University of Health Sciences.

Dr. Escalante is a first generation college graduate of immigrant parents. She is passionate about helping first generation students excel professionally as well as serve the Spanish speaking population of Orange County. Dr. Escalante has volunteered in free vision screenings for the community and has traveled to Guatemala for optometric mission trips. Her interests outside of optometry include hiking with her husband and dog, listening to podcasts and learning to speak optometric Korean.

Dr. Christine Yoo graduated with honors from Southern California College of Optometry, where she was extensively involved in student government and organizations. After graduation, she completed a residency in Pediatrics/Primary Care at UC Berkeley School of Optometry, seeing patients in myopia control and special visual assessments. Dr. Yoo loves working with kids to help them see clearly and comfortably in school. In her free time, she enjoys cooking plant-based recipes, completing DIY projects, and spending time with friends and family.

Millie Liu, OD graduated from University of California, San Diego and then went on to receive her doctorate of optometry from Western University of Health Sciences. Dr. Liu is currently in a private practice setting at Orange County Retina Medical Group and is a clinical preceptor for optometric students. In addition, she enjoys providing free eye care to those in need on mission trips and volunteer work.
Dr. Liu is very excited to be more involved in this wonderful optometric society. She grew up in Maryland but has not gone back since arriving in California. In her free time, she enjoys Muay Thai, running, shopping, eating and playing with her dog.

Caroline Quan, O.D. is a graduate of the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University, where she was actively involved as the Local Optometric Society Liaison. She received her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. She is currently doing a residency in Primary Care/Ocular Disease at the Veteran Affairs West Los Angeles Healthcare Center. She is also very passionate about art and is always in search of ways to incorporate this with her love for optometry and helping people to be able to see and appreciate the beauty of the world around them!

Belinda Kuo, OD is a Southern California native. She received her Doctor of Optometry from the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University after completing her B.A. at the University of Southern California. Dr. Kuo completed her post-doctorate residency in Pediatric Optometry and Vision Therapy/Neuro-Optometry at the Center for Vision Development Optometry in Pasadena.
She is certified in the use of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents to treat and manage ocular disease including glaucoma. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a member of the American Optometric Association, California Optometric Association, and the Orange County Optometric Society.
Dr. Kuo is passionate about helping children achieve their full potential through comprehensive vision examinations and vision development.

Maggie Jan O.D., is a graduate of the Southern California School of Optometry (SCCO) and Columbia University Engineering. Dr. Jan has specialized training in low vision from the VA Long Beach. Treatment of veterans included low vision, specialty contact lenses, and management of Traumatic Brain Injury. Historically involved in optometry governance and legislation, Dr. Jan has been involved in student government at SCCO and served previously as the student and later as OCOS delegation to COA House of Delegates.

Dr. Alex Elson is an Orange County native, growing up in Mission Viejo before completing his undergraduate education at Chico State in Northern California. He then returned to attend Southern California College of Optometry, where he earned his degree as a Doctor of Optometry. Dr. Elson’s favorite part of optometry is fitting specialty lenses. He owns a private practice in Tustin and lives a few miles away in Orange with his wife and his dog. Dr. Elson captained the men’s lacrosse team in college and continues to play for Newport Beach Lacrosse Club. He and his wife are Ducks season ticket holders (Lets Go Ducks), but outside of that, they enjoy hiking, camping, and generally exploring nature.

Dr. Alex Elson

Dr. Rachel Niskanen is a San Diego native who has always had an interest in science. Her undergraduate studies were completed at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. She later received her Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern California College of Optometry in Orange County, CA where she has developed a passion for medical optometry and ocular disease. Dr. Niskanen and her husband enjoy spending time outdoors hiking and cooking.

Lilly Zarif, OD is an Orange County native. She graduated from CSUF with a B.A. in Business Finance and continued forward to Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University, where she received her Doctorate in Optometry. In her free time, Dr. Zarif enjoys trying out new restaurants with her husband. 

Dr. Thanh Mai loves being an optometrist and is happy to contribute anyway he can to the great OCOS. He is a proud UCLA Bruin and graduated summa cum laude from the Southern California College of Optometry.

His favorite part of optometry is working with pediatric patients and showing them that the eye doctor is best doc on the planet – no drills or needles kids! Currently, he owns a private practice in Costa Mesa with an emphasis in vision therapy. When he isn’t working, you can find him hacking away at golf courses as a newbie, playing soccer in a coed league, or spending time with his beautiful wife Jennie and son Jackson.

Steve Wang OD

Dr. Rachelle Lin received her Doctor of Optometry and Masters in Vision Science degrees from the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University (MBKU). She completed her residency at VA Long Beach in low vision, traumatic brain injury, and primary
care.

Dr. Lin is currently an assistant professor at MBKU, where she serves in the Low Vision Rehabilitation and Acquired Brain Injury departments at the University Eye Center. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a member of the American Optometric
Association and the California Optometric Association, where she also serves on the Coordinating Council of the Low Vision Rehabilitation Section.