Diva of the Week – Chaka Norwook, OD
Meet Dr. Chaka Norwood, a dedicated optometrist and community leader from Mound Bayou, MS. As the owner of Norwood Family Eye Care in Bartlett, TN, and the optometrist for Bolivar County School-Based Clinics, Dr. Norwood combines her passion for eye care with a heart for service. With over 12 years of experience, she specializes in dry eye care and is committed to making a difference both in her practice and her community.
| 1. Tell us a little bit about you? | |
| I am a native of Mound Bayou, MS and is the oldest of six children. I got my Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Jackson State University and a Master of Public Health (Health Administration) Degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. For the past 12 years, I have been the owner and optometrist at Norwood Family Eye Care, LLC. I am also the optometrist for the Bolivar County School Based Clinics which is a multi-disciplinary clinic consisting of nursing, dental and counseling services. I participate in various local health and charity events throughout each year and am dedicated to community service. I am married and my husband and I love to travel together and see new places. | |
| 2. What made you decide to become in Optometrist? | |
| I decided to become an optometrist at the suggestion of my childhood optometrist who asked if I have ever thought about optometry as a career. My childhood vision struggles landed me in an optometrist office office especially with losing/breaking glasses and losing contacts when I first started to wear them as a teenager. | |
| 3. What Optometry school did you go to? | |
| Salus University | |
| 4. Where do you currently practice and do you offer any specialty services? | |
| Norwood Family Eye Care, Bartlett, TN – Dry Eye Specialy. | |
| 5. Why did you join Optometry Divas? | |
| I want to connect with like-minded women who embrace our profession and our unique contributions to it. | |
| 6. Name 1 to 3 hurdles you personally faced in your career and how did you overcome them? | |
| I have faced financial hurdles with banks while opening a private practice, I figured out ways to lease equipment in order to ask the banks for less start up cost. This helped gave me a great start. | |
| 7. If you could go back to when you were a student, what advice would you give yourself? | |
| I would say to try and enjoy the process of learning more and not just moving on to the next class. | |
Do you have a product or side business you’d like for us to include in your feature?
I am working on a book on my journey to becoming an optometrist and how my childhood vision issues thrust me into this career path. After the book is finished it will be adapted into a coloring book and I am also working a planner for entrepreneurs who still love to write things down and not use digital planners. All planned to launch in.
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The Diva of the week feature is designed to share the story of our Elite Divas with the world and to promote their brand in the industry. It is shared on all of our platforms including email and our website. It is a great opportunity to promote your success. If you’d like to be featured, click on the button below to complete the questionnaire. If approved, you will be notified via email of the publication date.
