Meet Dr. Chan Diep

Dr. Diep still remembers the first time she saw an optic nerve through a microscope while she was a student at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry. It was at that moment that she first discovered the beauty of the human eye.

She didn’t always know that she would be an optometrist. She was born and grew up in Ho Chi Minh City. At the age of 12, she immigrated with her family to San Diego. She studied hard so that she could attend University of California, San Diego. Dr. Diep had a penchant for science and math as a student. She graduated with a degree in Animal Physiology and Neuroscience. She then worked at Profil, a leading clinical research organization for diabetes and obesity. While working there, Dr. Diep learned that diabetes can damage the eyes over time and cause vision loss, even blindness. As she gained more knowledge of how vision and health are interrelated, she decided to study optometry.

After graduating from Berkeley, Dr. Diep moved to New York City to support her younger sister through law school. During her time there, she gained invaluable experience and deep knowledge of ocular diseases while working alongside an outstanding general ophthalmologist and a glaucoma specialist. Dr. Diep believes that quality care requires a holistic approach that begins with listening to the patients and taking the time to educate them on their conditions. After seven fun years of living and working in Manhattan, Dr. Diep moved back home because of her fondness of southern California and love for her family.

Looking back, Dr. Diep considers herself lucky to grow up in America, attend college, and succeed in her optometry career. Now, it’s a great privilege to be able to start her own practice and serve her local community. Outside of work, you may run into Dr. Diep on hiking trails, or biking on the strand with her family.

Fun fact: Leaf is the meaning of Dr. Diep’s last name in Chinese, 葉.