Maria is an associate professor of clinical optometry at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the founder and chief of the Myopia Control Clinic - the first of its kind in a teaching clinic, which now serves as a model for optometry schools across the country. 

Originally from Beijing, Maria practiced as an ophthalmologist in China before relocating to the United States in 2000. She obtained her MBA in financial management prior to her OD training at Pacific University, College of Optometry. Maria also completed an MPH with an emphasis in biostatistics and clinical study design, and a PhD in physiological optics at UC Berkeley and shortly afterwards became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. The emphasis of her research and clinical expertise has been on the investigation and utilization of novel contact lens designs and pharmaceuticals in myopia control.

Maria enjoys teaching both in didactic and clinical settings. She has years of experience in teaching basic and clinical pharmacology, ocular disease, epidemiology, as well as comparative studies on the similarity and difference of primary vision care in developed vs. developing countries. Last but not the least, Maria is very enthusiastic about humanitarian services and helped organize as well as served as the attending doctor for multiple VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity) trips to China. 

Maria is also the founder and co-director of Berkeley's Myopia Management Academy.

Sarah grew up in New York, leaped across the country to complete her undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley and never left. She completed her BA in Molecular and Cell Biology (2010), OD (2014), Residency in Pediatrics and Primary Care (2015), and PhD in Vision Science (2019) all at UC Berkeley. She joined the faculty in 2019. Fiat Lux & Go Bears!

Sarah currently serves as the co-director of Berkeley's Myopia Management Academy.

Dr. Celia Gong is an Assistant Clinical Professor and the co-chief of the Myopia Control Clinic. She works closely with students and residents in the specialties of cornea, contact lenses, and myopia management. She also is a sub-investigator of two clinical trials on myopia treatments. Dr. Gong received both her Doctorate of Optometry and Master of Science degrees at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry, and completed a Cornea and Contact Lens residency at UC Berkeley. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society, and President of San Francisco Optometric Society. In her free time, she enjoys a good book, traveling and testing new recipes.