For Catherine “Cate” Hoselton, the doctor’s office was never a fun place to go.
“There is often fear associated with going to the doctor’s—that you won’t be listened to or your needs won’t be met, or the person with years of education is looking down on you,” she says. “I want my patients to feel seen and heard by me.”
A PLACE TO PROVIDE
Needing some extra cash during undergrad, a friend’s parents hired her as a technician in their optometry clinic. That experience was the start of a new journey for Hoselton. “I had my first ever eye exam while working there and found out that I needed glasses—I had never worn them before,” she says. “Wearing glasses stopped my migraines that I had been plagued with for years.”
That experience changed everything for Hoselton. She says she realized the impact that optometrists make on patients’ lives, and it was something she wanted to be a part of. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in chemical biosciences at the University of Oklahoma and kept that technician job all four years of undergrad.
FINDING HER PLACE
Now in her second year at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry (NSUOCO), Hoselton’s interests have expanded to binocular vision, vision therapy and ocular disease. She plans to start off in primary care and see where the road takes her.
Motivation is all around her. She’s inspired by “clips of babies getting their first pair of glasses and seeing their mother’s face clearly for the first time… or a truck driver who struggles to drive at night until they find the right eyewear… or the grandparent who wants to teach their grandkid piano but needs the right script to read the sheet music… there are people all over who struggle to learn due to a visual disorder, and we get to help them,” she says. “Clear vision can change lives.”
A PATIENT-FIRST APPROACH
Hoselton’s goal is to create a welcoming environment for her patients. Her own experiences with dismissive providers have shaped her approach. “I want to be on my patient’s level, hear their concerns and address each one. I want them to leave knowing they got the most comprehensive care possible.”
BUILDING CONFIDENCE
To avoid burnout, Hoselton emphasizes self-care. “Taking time to visit family or go for walks with my beagle Newt can help,” she says. “Taking care of myself first and foremost has been the key. Sometimes just walking away from my books to fold laundry or clean up can be a nice reset.”
Her family—including her new husband Asher, older sister, younger brother and supportive parents—has been a constant source of encouragement. But still, Hoselton wishes she could reassure her younger self. “I remember thinking I could never do something like get through optometry school, that I wasn’t smart or bold enough,” she says. “With hard work and dedication, I can see my dreams come true.”
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
In her free time, Hoselton enjoys spending time with Newt and her cats, Maui and Stewie. She looks forward to completing her second year of optometry school and connecting with others through her time on the board.