Dr. Chaka Norwood is a native of Mound Bayou, MS. She received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Houston. She also holds a 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. Dr. Norwood is a licensed optometrist in Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas. She is also board certified in Mississippi to perform YAG laser capsulotomies.

Dr. Norwood’s externship training includes extensive eye disease diagnosis and treatment at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK and Santa Fe Indian Hospital in Santa Fe, NM.

For the past ten years, Dr. Norwood has been owner and optometrist at Norwood Family Eye Care, LLC. She has also been employed at Well Child, Inc as a school-based optometrist. She is currently the optometrist at Marshall County Correctional Facility. She is also the optometrist for the Bolivar County School Based Clinics which is a multi-disciplinary clinic consisting of nursing, dental and counseling services. To focus more on the need for diabetic eye care and education and to expand her practice, Dr. Norwood opened a private practice in March 2021 in Bartlett, TN.

Dr. Norwood was awarded a Healthy Eyes Healthy Children Grant in 2019 to assist with her efforts in performing eye exams at the Bolivar County School based clinics. Students and staff are seen through the program at no cost even if they are not able to afford the exam and glasses or have no insurance.

Dr. Norwood is a member of the American Optometric Association and the National Optometric Association where she has served on the board as Region III Trustee for six years. As a regional Trustee she was charged to foster relationships with the administration and students at the optometry schools in her region. She is also a member of the Mississippi Optometric Association and serves as a board member of the Mississippi Vision Foundation. She also serves as a Legislative Key Person for MOA. Dr. Norwood received the OD Community Service Award at the Fall 2020 MOA conference.

While at the University of Houston, Dr. Norwood was a member of the American Optometric Student Association, Texas Optometric Student Association, and the National Optometric Student Association where she held the position of President and Secretary and received the National Optometric Student Association Officer of the Year Award and received the 2010 National Optometric Student Association Scholarship Award. While serving as president of NOSA, the UHCO chapter won Chapter of the Year at the NOA convention for the chapter’s community service projects. Dr. Norwood was also a Gold Key Optometric Honor Society member and served on the Graduation Committee.

Dr. Norwood is an active member of Jackson State University Memphis Alumni Chapter and has been a featured alumnus in Jackson State University’s Alumni Publication in April 2020. Dr. Norwood is also an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and participates in numerous community services projects, such as voter registration, food drives and health events. Being a member of Black Eye Care Perspective, she is part of a movement to reach students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to increase the number of Black students matriculating through optometry school.

Dr. Norwood has been selected to speak on several occasions about her background and career path as an optometrist. Dr. Norwood is a yearly speaker at Raleigh Egypt Middle school for career day. She has been a speaker for the EYES on Success Program at SCO for undergraduate students interested in Optometry. Dr. Norwood was also selected as the keynote speaker at the Tech Savvy Conference at Delta State University and has also been an instructor in the learning labs of the conference. The Tech Savvy Conference helps young girls become more exposed to careers in S.T.E.M.

Dr. Norwood participates yearly in the National Optometric Association’s community services events where she performs exams for an underserved community in the host city for the convention. She also performs vision screenings at local health fairs in Memphis and in the MS Delta. She helped to sponsor a back-to-school drive for communities in Memphis and her office was a designated drop off location for school supplies.

Dr. Norwood was a recipient of the PayPal Community Empowerment Grant for Black owned Business and is a certified Women’s Owned Business with the TN Office of Diversity Business Enterprise.

Dr. Norwood has a passion to serve and help where she can; she became an optometrist to help children like herself who could not see well and could not afford glasses or contacts. She is serving the exact community she grew up in the MS Delta and it brings her great joy and pride to know she is helping a student that was once her. She is an encourager of students to be the best they can be in any career path but suggests optometry as a top choice.

When not caring for patients, Dr. Norwood enjoys spending time with close friends and family, exercise, movie nights and traveling.

We had the opportunity of sitting down with Dr. Norwood to discuss her journey into optometry, building a private practice and more:

Can you share with us what inspired you to pursue a career in optometry, especially considering your background in biology and public health?

I was inspired to become an optometrist when I was in high school, and repeated visits to my optometrist prompted him to ask me if I would like to pursue a career as an optometrist. At that time, I had not decided what career I wanted to pursue, and the more I investigated optometry, it seemed like the perfect fit for me because I have poor eyesight, and I would get an opportunity to help others achieve better vision. During my research, I found that optometry schools needed a science background, that’s why I decided to major in Biology at Jackson State University. I only received a master’s in public health because of my deviation from pursuing optometry (another story), but it is a good complement to my optometry degree.

Growing up in Mound Bayou, MS, how did your personal experiences shape your passion for helping children with vision impairments?

As a child, I started to have trouble seeing the board in class. I thought it was as simple as telling my parents that I couldn’t see, and then we would go to the eye doctor to get glasses. That was not the case; we could not afford to go to an optometrist, so it was a while before I got a pair of glasses and could see better. As I started my career, I wanted to be able to help children who were in similar situations. That is why I have worked in school-based programs for most of my career.

Opening a private practice in Bartlett, TN, in 2021 reflects a significant expansion in your journey. What motivated this decision, and how has it impacted your ability to address diabetic eye care and education?

I opened my practice in Bartlett because I knew I had outgrown my corporate setting when I always had to refer my patients for further treatment. Now that I have my practice, I have all the equipment and testing that allows me to monitor and follow my diabetic patients without them having to be referred. I would also like to start a diabetes education program at my office.

How important is community engagement for you, and what role do programs like the Healthy Eyes Healthy Children Grant play in enhancing eye care accessibility?

With a grant from Healthy Eyes Healthy Children, I was able to obtain some of the mobile equipment I needed in order to perform eye exams in my school-based clinics. I am also able to give an eye exam to anyone in need, and they will provide glasses to that person at no cost. This program allows doctors to do charitable work without having to take a significant financial hit.

Your passion for helping children with vision impairments is evident. What keeps you motivated in your daily practice, and are there specific goals you aim to achieve in the near future?

I stay motivated because I love what I do. I would love to expand to more school districts in the MS Delta, which is where I grew up, and have a team of optometrists that are willing to help further the cause.

Given your journey, what advice would you give to aspiring optometrists, especially those who come from similar backgrounds or face challenges in pursuing higher education?

I would tell anyone pursuing a career in optometry to stay focused on your goal no matter your challenges. Research, shadow optometrists, work part-time in an optometry office to determine if this is a career you would love. Try your best to look for scholarships and grants and prepare for some student loan debt.

Connect with Norwood Family Eyecare www.norwoodfamilyeyecare.com