William Lee Thibodeaux, O.D., graduated from the UAB School of Optometry (UABSO) in 2015, completing his professional education in primary eye care and clinical optometry. After graduation, he completed an optometric residency specializing in Geriatric Optometry and Low Vision at the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
He now serves as the Chief of Optometry at the Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, New Mexico, where he contributes to accessible and collaborative eye care within a federal healthcare system. A native of Decatur, Alabama, considers his greatest accomplishment outside the profession to be fatherhood, taking pride in raising his two children, Jerome and Emory, with his wife, Dr. Alicia Thibodeaux.
Q: Why did you choose a career in Optometry?
A: I had a tremendous optometrist and mentor growing up, Dr. Dale Potter. He allowed me to shadow him when I developed an interest in attending optometry school. I really liked the idea of helping people with my career and I was really intrigued with all the technology that was used in the field of eye care. It has been exciting to see technology continue to improve and further integrate into eye care during my career, confirming I made an excellent choice.
Q: Where do you hope to see your optometric career in 5 years?
A: I hope to see myself continuing to assist and aid in the professional and personal growth of young people and training optometrists during the next 5 years and throughout the duration of my career.
Q:Which optometric issues concern you the most?
A: I would like to see optometry more centrally involved in the systemic health plans of patients. Ocular history and conditions can be so critical to the care of patients with a variety of conditions, and patient outcomes can be improved by improved integration into the health care system.
Q: What were your most memorable moments at UABSO?
A: There are too many things to mention. Going through day-to-day life with my classmates and the people at UABSO was amazing. The relationships formed during my time at UABSO are truly special.
Q: Who were your mentors at the School of Optometry? Why?
A: This is a tough question, as I feel that I learned valuable lessons from all my professors at UABSO. By highlighting a few professors, I will not mention some individuals that have made a monumental impact. However, I will mention a few professors that come to mind:
Dr. Elizabeth Steele and Dr. Caroline Pate had an enormous impact on my career, not only with teaching me my clinical skills, but by observing the attention to detail they put into administering the education of a complex course. All of this was accomplished with professionalism and a sincere desire to see each student succeed.
Dr. Janene Sims is another professor that comes to mind. Observing her compassion, clinical knowledge, and versatility were beneficial to my education. I learned so much from her both clinically and professionally during Community Eye Care.
Dr. Marsha Snow was my low vision professor and then my supervisor during my residency at Birmingham VAMC. Her encouragement to complete the residency at the Birmingham VAMC changed the trajectory of my career and the professional experience I gained from seeing her leadership during that year was invaluable.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give current UABSO students?
A: Do not be afraid of failure. In fact, embrace it, especially when you have a caring faculty available to assist you and help you learn from your mistakes. I am a risk-averse person, and I did not do the best job of having this attitude as a student. However, the ability to try new things, adapt to changes, and learn from all experiences has been critical in my professional development. In most cases, there is no such thing as “failure,” as the lessons learned from mistakes are valuable and will fuel successes.
Q: What is something that few people know about you?
A: I decided to attend optometry school due to a dream I had one night. This is the only decision in my life I have ever made due to a dream and will likely be the last. I am an extremely logical and analytical person and do not make many decisions based on feelings. However, this was an exception. The calling to optometry was strong.
Q: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
A: The ability to control time because we do not have enough of it. Take advantage of every moment and savor the good times.
Q: If you were not an optometrist, what would you be?
A: I would be working my way up the ladder to become a business executive in some compacity. That was my career plan before changing direction midway through my undergraduate studies.