Daisy Corea sees her future in ophthalmology

Daisy Corea always knew she wanted a secure, stable career in healthcare. The Charlotte native found it in the Ophthalmic Medical Personnel program at Central Piedmont Community College.  

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to do something in medicine,” she says. “I’m very passionate about helping people, but I never knew where to start until I got a receptionist job in ophthalmology. I fell in love with everything I saw the assistants doing.”

Ophthalmology focuses on diagnosing and treating degenerative eye conditions and disorders, including glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and more. 

Daisy’s desire to get to work as soon as possible led her to the three-semester certification program at Central Piedmont. When she receives her diploma in July 2026, she’ll be eligible to sit for the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant exam. It is administered by the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO).

“I really love that everything I'm learning in this program is something that I'll be carrying into my career,” Daisy says.  

She was pleasantly surprised to find that even within her first semester, she was working in a clinic with live patients and putting classroom lessons to use.  

She also had a lot of questions about the administrative side of the program before she started. However, she found the whole experience was remarkably straightforward.

“I didn't have a single question that was left unanswered, and I felt really satisfied with the team that was helping me get started here,” she says.

While Daisy is undeniably driven and focused on her career, she’s also fond of taking advantage of the amenities offered at Central Piedmont’s Central Campus. That includes attending events at the Parr Center or just grabbing lunch and enjoying the scenery.

Daisy is a Merancas Scholar, providing significant support as she attends college and invests in herself.  

“I went through a lot of financial hardships, so deciding to go to school was a big life-changer for me,” she says. “It was something that I wanted to do, but I wasn't sure where to start. I was too afraid of the commitment of having to pay off student loans and student debt. But Central Piedmont really did make it easy for me, and with the security of being able to jump right into the career of my dreams, it's so comforting.”

Daisy is currently interning at Horizon Eye Care. She next plans to begin working full-time at one of the various partner clinics she has rotated through as an intern during her program.  Although she’s unsure where that will be, she’s excited to explore all the avenues ophthalmology has to offer and further expand the skills she first learned at Central Piedmont.

“I feel confident and comfortable with the fact that I’ve secured a career that will last me for life,” she says. “It’s something so interesting, and I'm so excited for the impact that I'm able to make in other people's lives.”