Location: Lebanon

I came from a poor family where education was out of reach—until a scholarship allowed me to study optometry and change my future. I worked tirelessly, day and night, to earn that opportunity, and it lit a fire in me—a fire to give back. I chose public eye health, not just optometry, to ensure those in need get the care they deserve. I will fight endlessly to make eye care a right, not a privilege! During my graduation, the university president, Dr. Hiam Sakr, spoke words that have never left me: 'Lebanon needs men to match its mountains.' Those words became my mission. My purpose was bigger than a career—it was about transforming lives through vision. With that calling, I founded the Vision Care Association to bring public eye health to the forefront. We work to make eye care accessible, build awareness on preventable blindness, advocate for policies that strengthen public health, and support research shaping the future of vision care. This journey has been filled with challenges, but my vision remains clear—where eye care knows no boundaries, and no one is left behind