Meet the SFOS Board
PRESIDENT
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.
IMMEDIATE-PAST 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.
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.
TREASURER-ELECT
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.
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
Dr. Matt Barnes is a dedicated optometrist, currently serving as the Sponsorship Director on the board of the San Francisco Optometric Society. Born and raised in sunny San Diego, Dr. Barnes's passion for understanding the intricacies of vision led him to pursue a comprehensive education in the field. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology from UC Davis, followed by both a Doctor of Optometry degree and a Masters in Vision Science from the New England College of Optometry, where his research focused on myopia control.
Dr. Barnes practices full-scope optometric care and has extensive experience in a variety of specializations, including refractive surgery evaluation and co-management, myopia control, and the treatment of eye diseases. He is committed to providing personalized and comprehensive eye care, staying at the forefront of optometric research and practice to ensure the highest standards of patient care.
An active member of the California Optometric Association, Dr. Barnes is passionate about advancing the field of optometry. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys hiking, gardening, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. You can often find him on a trail with his wife and dog on the weekends.
YOUNG OD EVENTS DIRECTOR
Kristina Lin, OD
Dr. Kristina Lin is an optometrist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she practices in the Neuro-Ophthalmology Clinic and serves as a clinical educator for optometry residents and students, ophthalmology residents, and medical students. She previously held the position of Assistant Clinical Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Lin completed her residency in ocular disease and primary care at UCSF. She earned both her Doctor of Optometry and Bachelor’s degrees from UC Berkeley. Dr. Lin 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.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Lin is learning new board games and exploring new restaurants.
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
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.
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
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
Samantha Chan, OD
Dr. Samantha Chan is an optometrist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She previously completed her Ocular Disease and Primary Care residency training at UCSF, and earned her Doctor of Optometry and Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Chan is a highly skilled and compassionate optometrist who not only provides comprehensive eye care but also manages complex ocular conditions. Her clinical interests include anterior segment disorders, dry eye disease, specialty contact lens fitting, and glaucoma. She aspires to bridge her interests in clinical research and teaching, and has contributed to several publications and lectures on topics including binocular vision and optic neuropathies.
Dr. Chan is a board director of the San Francisco Optometric Society, and volunteers as an executive officer of a local non-profit organization to provide free eye exams and glasses to the underserved both locally and abroad.
In her free time, Dr. Chan enjoys traveling, exploring new brunch spots around the city, and playing sports including golf, volleyball, and softball.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Zita Alamparambil, OD
Dr. Zita Alamparambil is a Bay Area native and optometrist providing comprehensive eye care in private practice settings throughout San Francisco. She is known for her patient-centered approach and clinical excellence, with a strong commitment to delivering personalized, evidence-based care.
Dr. Alamparambil earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the UC Berkeley School of Optometry. Her clinical training included rotations at VA Puget Sound, Bay Area Community Health, and West Oakland Community Health, where she gained extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of ocular disease and caring for underserved populations.
Her clinical interests include myopia control and dry eye management, with an emphasis on staying current with the latest advancements in treatment and technology. In addition to her clinical work, she volunteers with local nonprofit organizations such as Lighthouse for the Blind and community food banks.
Outside of optometry, Dr. Alamparambil enjoys exploring new restaurants, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.