Dr. Riya Paranthan New Salus University Alumni Association President 

Dr. Riya Paranthan New Salus University Alumni Association President 

From a young age, Riya Paranthan, OD ‘14, was fascinated by the sciences, particularly with the intricate workings of the human body. So, it was noticeable to her when she was in fifth grade, her vision started to decline and she found herself less attentive at school.  

“At that time, there was a lot of stigma around wearing eyeglasses, especially being from an Indian family, where they put so much emphasis on aesthetics. It was almost considered to be a handicap of sorts,” said Dr. Paranthan. 

But seeing an optometrist for the first time, and being fitted for her first set of eyeglasses, changed her life overnight.

“I think it was transformative. My whole world, in a sense, came into focus,” said Dr. Paranthan. “This personal experience ignited a passion within me to achieve the same clarity and understanding of vision and hopefully transform other children’s lives.” 

And, she can trace her career path, which includes being the current president of the Salus University Alumni Association by maintaining that passion for helping people. 

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