by Satina Richardson
Valencia Wells, OD, class of 2009, is the UAB School of Optometry Alumni Association’s 2022 Young Alumnus of the Year. She sites this honor and receiving the same honor from the Alabama Optometric Association (ALOA) as being highlights of her career thus far.
“It was such an honor to be recognized by my colleagues and fellow alumni as a trailblazer for my service to my profession, my community, and my patients,” she said. “UABSO is the catalyst that transformed me into the optometrist that I am today. Not only did it provide me with a world class, impeccable education, but it also gifted me with two lifetime besties in my class, Dr. Erica Madden and Dr. Kayla Vickers.”
As the owner of Morris Avenue Eyecare in Birmingham, AL, Wells uses her talents to have impact in the Birmingham area and her state. Her efforts and Wells’ commitment to excellence with every opportunity have been widely recognized and yielded leadership opportunities also.
Among her many honors are being named one of Birmingham’s Top Influencers Under 40 alongside Birmingham’s Mayor Randall Woodfin and being named as the Minority Business Award’s 2019 Medical Professional of the Year.
She is the president-elect of the School’s alumni association and secretary of the ALOA board of directors.
“As an ALOA executive board member, I plan to continue to fight to assure that our state expands our scope of practice so that all patients in Birmingham and the entire state of Alabama have increased access to trusted, quality eye care by optometrists,” she said.
Wells said God-sent motivation drives her daily to do what she loves. “For an 8th grade English assignment, I had to write a research paper on a career. I had been wearing glasses since 2nd grade and optometry seemed awesome, so I wrote my paper on optometry. And I must say that the Lord has directed my path since that very day.
I praise God from whom all blessing flow and attribute all of my success to Him! I also want to thank my husband, Willie Wells, III, and entire family for their unconditional love and support. I love my patients and community and work hard to serve them every day.”