Dr.
Osuagwu Uchechukwu Levi is a Nigerian born optometrist by
training and hail from Amakohia in Ihitte Uboma LGA of Imo State in Eastern
Nigeria.
Dr. Levi is married to Osuagwu
Uchechukwu Jacinta and they are blessed with three children.
Dr. Levi completed his
primary education at 67 Infantry Battalion Primary School, Aba, Abia State, and
his secondary education at Army Day Secondary School Bori-Camp Port Harcourt,
River State.
Dr. Levi completed his
undergraduate Doctor of Optometry degree from 1993-2000 and has practiced in
various private and public hospitals in Nigeria and overseas.
In 2006, he left for
Saudi Arabia to gain foreign work experience and later got into academia when
clinical practice alone could no longer provide him what he looked for in a
career.
Dr. Levi has supervised
many undergraduates and postgraduate students and was a lead research person
for the Corneal Research Chair at King Saud University, Riyadh, (KSU), where he
developed several collaborative projects involving practicing Optometrist,
Cardiologist, and public health research persons.
At KSU, Levi was also
part of the first committee that developed the new OD program curriculum and
was heavily involved in the first accreditation process. Levi continues to
pursue excellence in research. He obtained his M.sc at Aston University,
Birmingham in 2014, where he graduated with a distinction and later completed
his Ph.D. in Optometry and Vision sciences from the Institute of Biomedical Innovation,
Queensland; the University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
Dr. Levi's current
interest as a Research Fellow at Western Sydney University is focused on
diabetes and integrated care under Prof. David Simmons.
He has coordinated
various projects in Diabetes including International Projects in New Zealand
and Tonga. The team at Western Sydney University is looking for ways to detect,
prevent and manage different types of diabetes through peer support programs and an integrated model of care.
Dr. Levi has held
several leadership positions including re-instituting the election process as
the Transition Committee Chairman of the Nigerian Optometric Students’
Association, ABSU, First Vice President, East for the National Association of
Optometric Students’ (NOSA); Member of the IHBI Postgraduate Research Student
Committee
INTERVIEWER:_
Dr. Levi, please tell us more about your Student Life: How did you develop your
interest in Optometry?
DR.
LEVI:_ I had initially set my career to studying medicine
but later got into Optometry after one year in Botany. My interest in Optometry grew as I progressed
into the third year. I began to see opportunities to excel particularly in
academia as there were no enough lecturers at that time. Since I was passionate
about caring for people, the optometry profession felt like a safe place to
leave a lasting footprint.
INTERVIEWER:_ Which Optometry school did you attend?
DR. LEVI:_ I attended Abia State University, Uturu
INTERVIEWER:_ When did you graduate?
DR. LEVI:_I graduated in the year 2000
INTERVIEWER:_ What attracted you to that optometry school?
DR. LEVI:_ The institution was the only accredited
school of Optometry in the East at that time.
INTERVIEWER:_ What does the program entail/process (how
many years, clinical, student life)?
DR.
LEVI:_ Optometry degree in Nigeria is actually an eight(8)
years program consisting of six(6) years of full-time study, one year of
supervised clinical training (internship) at a private or public hospital and
another year of National Youth Service Corps Program (NYSC, voluntary)
INTERVIEWER:_
Describe your best moment in optometry school.
DR.
LEVI:_
I had several good moments but the one that stands out was my appointment as
the Transition Committee Chairman of NOSA at a time when the student body was
experiencing a leadership crisis. The trust bestowed on me by the school
leadership and the support from the Optometry students was a humbling
experience for me. We went on to institute a democratically elected leadership
one year after.
INTERVIEWER:_
Where do you see improvement in the school system in optometry?
DR.
LEVI:_
The Optometry school in Nigeria has come along way from B.Sc to the O.D program
which gave us a full formulary license, something many countries are unable to
have. There is a need to continuously re-evaluate the O.D training program to
align with the new technological globe. Optometry training needs to be uniform
across training institutions.
INTERVIEWER:_
How was finding a job/Internship after optometry school? Did you feel prepared?
DR.
LEVI:_ While
finding a place for an internship was difficult at first, job after the internship was
available as private clinics. I felt very prepared prior to my internship
program because I was fortunate to serve as the Assistant Clinician President
at the ABSU clinic, which helped me to instill extra confidence in me. Also,
our early exposure to out-patient clinic consultation from the 4th year and the supervised internship program was very helpful at preparing us for
unsupervised practice.
INTERVIEWER:_Tell us about your Achievement(s) in the
Health care sector and in the Optometry profession
DR.
LEVI:_I
have over 14 years of clinical practice experience, and spent the most part of my career in research and academia.
I have worked in
various collaborative research projects across diverse fields published more
than 45 peer review articles despite just completing my Ph.D. in 2017.
I have co-supervised
many undergraduate and postgraduate students, and assisted in developing
optometry program curriculum at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
I have presented at
various local and international conferences and served as a Contact Lens educator for Johnson & Johnson in Saudi Arabia.
AWARDS
ü Deputy
Vice-Chancellors Award for Excellence in Research (December 2019)
ü Lions
Community Award Boondall, QLD (September 2019)
ü Ingham
Diabetes Research Grant (promoting self-care for diabetes management and
prevention) by Ingham Institute NSW, Australia (July 2018).
ü Higher
Degree Research Grant (Tuition Waiver/stipend), by Faculty of Health and School
of Optometry and Vision Sciences, QUT, Australia (February 2014 – July 2017).
ü International
Travel Grant by Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology (September,
2016)
INTERVIEWER:_ Do you have any plans/Ideas for the Optometry
Profession here in Nigeria?
DR.
LEVI:_ Optometry keeps changing and the scope of practice
still expanding. One way of keeping up to date with practice is being involved
in research and good use of the evidence-based practice.
I have plans to engage
Nigerian Optometry graduates and practicing Optometrists in research as a way
to increase knowledge and engage with the wider society of researchers.
Currently, we have
initiated the coming together of foreign-trained Optometry and Public Health
Researchers from Nigeria, who have an interest in promoting Research in Nigeria
and Africa.
This group will provide
the needed opportunity for training and development in research for HCPs in
Nigeria. The group will seek funds, grants, and design international research
projects to fill identified gaps in various health-related fields
.
I have recently
initiated a collaborative research group of Optometry and Public Health
practitioners from across the globe, all of whom are from Nigeria.
The aim is
to bring quality research from Africa, and together we can encourage new
graduates to take up research projects and training.
I find that study opens up
peoples mind, makes them think critically and see the potentials ahead of the
optometry practice. I encourage the institutions to support quality research
and students to thin beyond just practicing as a way to succeed.
INTERVIEWER:_ What is your advice to young optometrists in
and outside Nigeria?
DR. LEVI:_ I find that international experience is
useful at the early stage of practice, but when seeking such opportunities,
make inquiries, have an exit plan, and continue developing yourself so that
when the right opportunity comes, you will be better placed to grab it.
Information is power, so find a senior optometrist who can serve as a mentor
even while you are practicing.
I
hope that young and practicing optometrists will draw inspiration and motivation from your
life story to see beyond clinical practice as a way to foster Optometry growth
in Nigeria and personal development.
You can get in touch with Dr. Levi below
LinkedIn Profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/uchechukwu-levi-osuagwu-b368421a/
Diabetes Research Works
https://www.westernsyndney.edu.au/domtru/projects/prevention/wollondilly_diabetes_programme
https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1556390/Diabetes_Monograph.pdf
E-mail:
Dr. Levi's Research Profile:
