Dr. Gloria Chiu: Building a Career in a Hospital-Based Setting

On a recent episode of Ryan Reflects, I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Gloria Chiu, an optometrist, colleague, and friend who has spent her entire career in a unique hospital-based setting. Our conversation explored her journey from a high myope in fourth grade to a respected associate professor of ophthalmology at USC Roski Eye Institute, where she has now practiced for 16 years.

Finding Her Path to Optometry

Unlike many who discover their calling in college, Gloria knew she wanted to be an optometrist in high school. With a prescription that eventually reached -10.00D, she was a frequent visitor to her optometrist’s office. She recalls thinking, “My optometrist seems happy. She helps people daily. I could see myself doing this.” That early experience inspired her to pursue optometry at UC Berkeley, where she earned both her undergraduate and OD degrees.

A key moment came when she was rejected from an undergraduate research program. Instead of walking away, she reapplied the next semester and was accepted. That persistence launched her into research on nystagmus and astigmatism, and taught her a lesson she still shares with students and residents today: rejection is part of the process. “Failure means you tried,” she says. “Learn from it, grow from it, and keep going.”

Falling in Love with Specialty Contact Lenses

Gloria’s passion for specialty contact lenses began during her second year of optometry school. She was struck by the transformative power of a gas permeable lens on patients with keratoconus—patients who couldn’t see well in glasses suddenly regained functional vision. At that time, scleral lenses weren’t part of her training. But during her residency at SCCO, she learned to fit them, further deepening her expertise and fueling a career-long interest.

Her residency director, Dr. Timothy Edrington, played a pivotal role in shaping her career. He not only mentored her in contact lens care but also introduced her to leaders in the field, ultimately connecting her with the opportunity at USC that has defined her career.

Building Optometry Within Ophthalmology

When Gloria started at USC in 2009, she was the first optometrist hired in over a decade. The position came with no established clinic, no fee schedule, no patients, and no guarantee of success. “I literally accepted the first offer they gave me,” she admits, “because I thought—why would they hire me? I had zero experience.”

But she leaned into persistence and relationship-building. She spent time calling patients, writing letters to referring ophthalmologists, and making sure every patient felt cared for. Slowly, she grew her clinic, built trust within the ophthalmology department, and developed a scleral lens service that now thrives.

One of the keys to her success was proactively learning about billing and reimbursement. She met with the billing department quarterly, studied denials, appealed cases, and worked to ensure her services were valued financially as well as clinically. This diligence not only helped sustain her position but also strengthened the role of optometry within USC’s hospital system.

Advocacy and Giving Back

Beyond her clinical work, Gloria has become a national advocate for patients and for optometry. She serves on the board of the Dry Eye Foundation and recently participated in advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, raising awareness about the burden of dry eye disease and the importance of continued NEI funding.

She also invests heavily in mentorship. “I respect students who come up to me at meetings, introduce themselves, and ask for advice,” she says. “That’s what you should be doing—developing relationships, networking, and learning how to demonstrate your value.”

Looking Ahead

After 16 years in the same hospital system, Gloria is still driven to grow. Her next professional goal is promotion to full professor of ophthalmology. She continues to balance a busy clinical load with research, publishing, lecturing, and mentoring.

Reflecting on her journey, she emphasizes the importance of patience, persistence, and demonstrating value: “Track the patients you see, track the revenue you generate, track your impact. Show your worth in numbers and through the lives you change. Opportunities will come if you stay the course.”

Dr. Gloria Chiu's Key Takeaways for Optometrists

• Persistence pays off: Rejection is part of the process. Apply again, try again, and keep moving forward.

• Mentorship matters: Strong mentors and professional networking can open doors you never knew existed.

• Demonstrate your value: Know your numbers. Understand billing, collections, and how your work contributes to the bottom line.

• Say yes early, be selective later: Early in your career, saying yes builds experience and connections. With time, you can choose where to invest your energy.

• Give back: Whether through advocacy, mentoring, or education, contributing to the profession makes the work more meaningful.

Dr. Gloria Chiu’s story is one of resilience, intentional growth, and trailblazing within a hospital-based ophthalmology system. She has built not only a successful career but also a model for how optometrists can thrive in unique and sometimes intimidating settings.

You can connect with Dr. Chiu on Instagram (@gloriachiuod) and on LinkedIn.