Kamil Hill, OD '19
Where do you currently live?
Southaven, MS
Share your best memory from your time at Southern College of Optometry:
It's a hard choice between Eyeball, Academy trips, and White Coat. I will have to pick the gushy option of all the lifelong connections and friendships I have made. Some of which are like brothers and sisters to me.
What is your greatest professional accomplishment or patient care success story?
A patient came in relatively in shape. Vision was reduced and took a look in his retina, one of the worst cases of diabetic retinopathy I have ever seen. NVD, NVE, TRD you name it. I had a really good heart-to-heart conversation with him about controlling his blood sugar and restarting medication.
Fast - forward 3 months later and the patient comes back in saying he wanted to talk to me. I took him to the back room (honestly not remembering him without the chart and a mask on). He goes and says thank you and starts crying.
He listened and went to get checked the next day. What followed was him getting admitted to the hospital for treatment and doctors saying if he didn't come in sooner he may not have lived long. He cried thanking me and thinking of what could have happened. It wasn't the medical advice I gave but the way it was delivered to him as a person that made him listen. I will never forget that day. It reminded me of why I do this and that I do make a difference.
Why did you choose Southern College of Optometry to pursue your optometric education?
They let me in... hehe. SCO was my first choice due to location and boards scores, but once I visited the campus I knew if I got in then I would not bother applying anywhere else. It just felt right.
Tell us about your plans to participate in the St. Jude Marathon Weekend:
I began training for my first 5k on a whim during my 2nd year at SCO because I heard of all the good St. Jude does for the children.
A few runs (2 evil halfs and a 10k) later and here I am again. This year I may not make a personal best, but y'all better believe I will be huffing and puffing out there with the best of them.