About Raleshia Burke, OD
Undergraduate Education: University of Montevallo; B.S. in Biology with a chemistry minor. Optometry School: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry/1998; Concurrent OD and MS (In Vision Science). Professional Achievements and Associations: Member of the American Optometric Association and Alabama Optometric Association; Past Clinical Examiner, National Board of Examiners in Optometry. The reason I became an optometrist is: I became an Optometrist because I had always wanted to be a doctor but did not know what specialty I wanted to pursue. My interest in Optometry came to fruition after I, along with seven other minority students from various colleges and universities across the state, were chosen to be a part an inaugural eight-week summer program through the University of Alabama School of Medicine. This program termed The Sophomore Enrichment Program took place during the summer of my sophomore year of undergraduate studies and introduced me to Optometry and many other health-related professions. However, the field of Optometry piqued my interest the most. I loved the idea of being able to help people to see well and to have healthy eyes, but also to discover health-related issues through their eyes. The inaugural Junior Enrichment Program the subsequent summer, allowed me to observe in the optometry clinics at the UAB School of Optometry the entire summer, and this experience cemented my desire to pursue a career in primary eye care. My favorite part of helping my patients is: I especially love the satisfaction seen on patients’ faces when they see things for the first time in a way that they have not before, which can impact the quality of their lives. It gives me the satisfaction of knowing that the career path that I chose can be a life-changing experience for many people. I also love when they show excitement and appreciation because they have had an awesome vision and eye health experience. In my spare time, I enjoy: spending time with my husband and two children and teaching them to appreciate and to treasure the simple things in life. I also love shopping, reading, and catching up with extended family and friends.