Meet the SFOS Board
PRESIDENT
Celia Gong, OD, MS, FAAO, FSLS
Dr. Celia Gong is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and the co-chief of the Myopia Control Clinic. She works closely with optometry students and residents in the specialties of cornea and contact lenses and myopia management. She serves as an investigator for two atropine clinical trials at Berkeley Optometry. Dr. Gong also sees patients as an Associate Optometrist at Winking Bee Optometry, a private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Dr. Gong received both her Doctorate of Optometry and Master of Science degrees at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry, and completed a Cornea and Contact Lens residency at Berkeley Optometry. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society, and a member of the California Optometric Association. Her areas of interests are in specialty contact lenses, myopia management, anterior segment disease, and myopia research. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and testing new recipes.
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Sarah Lopez, OD, FAAO
Dr. Sarah Lopez is originally from Texas, graduated from Texas A&M, and received her optometry degree from UC Berkeley. She completed an ocular disease residency at the Brooklyn VA Hospital in New York City. She has been on the faculty at the UCSF Proctor Foundation since 2015 and works closely with uveitis and cornea specialists both in clinic and in research.
In 2021, Dr. Lopez received the California Optometric Association Young OD of the Year award.
In her free time, she loves backpacking and rollerskating. She also has a pet rabbit named Rutabaga.
TREASURER
Bruce Mebine, OD
Dr. Bruce Mebine grew up in San Francisco in the Sunset District. He received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. He took over his practice from his father, Dr. Loran Mebine, in 1969. L. Bruce Mebine, OD & Associates is located in West Portal, San Francisco.
Dr. Mebine has served as president for the San Francisco Optometric Society, the Bay Area Optometric Council and the California Optometric Association. He is also a past Chair of the Board of Directors for Vision Service Plan.
Dr. Mebine was named Optometrist of the Year in 1991 by the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry and Optometrist of the Year in 1998 by the California Optometric Association.
In his spare time Dr. Mebine enjoys his five grandchildren, fencing, photography, and sailing.
SECRETARY
Daphne Chan, OD, FAAO
Dr. Daphne Chan earned her bachelor's degree in public health at the University of California, Berkeley, and her doctor of optometry degree at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry. She completed a residency in optometry at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City, where she gained expertise in fitting a variety of specialty contact lenses for patients at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. She then joined the clinical faculty at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry, where she worked with third- and fourth-year students on developing clinical skills at various sites, including the Southeast Health Center in San Francisco and the Eastmont Wellness Center in Alameda County.
Dr. Chan joined the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology in 2015. She is associate chief of optometry at UCSF and a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She is also a member of the California Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association, and serves as secretary of the San Francisco Optometric Society. She recently received the 2022 California Optometric Association Young OD of the Year award.
A native of San Francisco, Dr. Chan enjoys trying new foods, watching movies, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She aspires to provide free eye care to people in developing countries.
SPONSORSHIP DIRECTOR
Matthew Barnes, OD
Bio to come
EVENTS DIRECTOR
Elaine Ngo, OD
Dr. Elaine Ngo is a Bay Area native, born and raised in San Francisco. She graduated from University of California, Irvine and received her Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern California College of Optometry.
Dr. Ngo currently practices at Mountain View Optometry in Mountain View, CA. In her free time she enjoys snowboarding, traveling, and exploring new restaurants
YOUNG OD EVENTS DIRECTOR
Kristina Lin, OD
Kristina Lin is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry at UC Berkeley and Optometrist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
Dr. Lin completed her ocular disease & primary care residency at UCSF. She received her Doctor of Optometry and Bachelor’s degrees at the University of California, Berkeley where she also conducted clinical research in scleral lenses and ocular surface disease. She has a passion for education and patient health care advocacy. Her personal mission is to provide the best possible patient care and to inspire generations of eye care providers to do the same.
When she’s not in clinic, Kristina is fine-tuning her tiramisu recipe and learning new board games.
EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Sam Lee, OD, FAAO
Dr. Sam Lee is a California native and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California, San Diego. His desire to experience the East Coast led him to earn his Doctorate in Optometry from the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry. He pursued additional training and completed his residency at UC Berkeley School of Optometry focusing on primary care, specialty contact lenses, and myopia management.
Dr. Lee's interests are fitting specialty contact lenses such as orthokeratology lenses for myopia management and other rigid gas permeable lenses to help restore clear and comfortable vision for patients with irregular corneas and advanced dry eye. His diverse clinical training allows him to provide comprehensive care for all of his patients.
Dr. Lee currently works as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry at UC Berkeley where he helps teach the next generation of optometrists, and is an associate optometrist at Palo Alto Eyes Optometry.
Dr. Lee is a foodie and loves trying new restaurants. He also enjoys running and has completed the New York City Marathon, which was one of the hardest yet most gratifying challenges he has done.
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR - RECRUITMENT
Andy Chen, OD
Bio to come
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR - RETENTION
Ghazel Naseri, OD, MEng, FAAO
After receiving her master’s degree in biomedical engineering at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Naseri completed her OD degree at University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry. She stayed to complete a residency in primary care/contact lenses at Berkeley Optometry. During this time she received advanced training in management of anterior segment disease and specialty contact lens fitting for patients with irregular corneas and ocular surface disease.
She is currently an assistant clinical professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry at UC Berkeley and also practices at L. Bruce Mebine, OD & Associates in West Portal, San Francisco.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, learning about different cultures and languages, and spending time with family and friends.
PHILANTHROPY DIRECTOR
Rebecca Stapornkul, OD
Dr. Rebecca Stapornkul was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from UCLA and Optometry degree from UC Berkeley. She then completed her ocular disease residency at Detroit Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She currently practices at Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Dr. Andrew F. Calman and Associates, an OD/MD practice in San Francisco.
During her free time, she enjoys frequenting wildlife sanctuaries and science museums, venturing outdoors, eating, and volunteering.
COMMUNICATIONS / SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR & PRESIDENT-ELECT
Karen Molina, OD, FAAO
Dr. Karen Molina is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry at the University of California, Berkeley. She teaches in the Myopia Control Clinic and Tang University Health Center, and participates in myopia research with the UC Berkeley Myopia Group. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley and completed her Doctorate of Optometry at State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry. After graduation, she returned to University of California, Berkeley and completed a Primary Care & Contact Lens residency.
Dr. Molina is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Her passion lies in myopia control, managing anterior segment conditions, and fitting specialty contact lenses. When Dr. Molina is not working, she enjoys cooking/baking, going to art museums, figure skating, and eating at new restaurants.