Irene Ctori
My name is Irene Ctori, I live in London and am a Lecturer in the Department of Optometry & Visual Science at City.
What are your stand out memories of studying at City?
I started at City in 1991 when the Optometry course was taught in the Dame Alice Owen building. I only visited the main building for the Students’ Union and my maths class. I was quite academically focused and so I kept my head down but my best memory was during my third year. Third-year optometry students are given the opportunity to work with real patients and I remember thinking ‘Oh my goodness! I’m really doing this!’
I didn’t have a computer so throughout my course I hand wrote everything, including my dissertation. It was around 10,000 words. Someone then typed it up for me. And nothing was available online at the time, so we had to look at lots of books and buy them too.
Where has the knowledge you gained at City taken you in your life and career?
From City to optometric practice on the high street, to specialist hospital practice, to an MSc, a PhD and then right back to City where I began!
After graduating I practiced until 2008, including working at Vision Express, then at Whipps Cross University Hospital.
In 2008 I picked up where I left off. I started my MSc and was really enjoying my time at City but I wanted to be involved in the teaching, so I became a clinical tutor for third-year students. That led to becoming more involved with teaching first and second years – all whilst juggling being a mum and still working at the hospital. After graduating again I knew I wanted to teach and research full time. After being awarded a scholarship from City I did my PhD and became a full-time lecturer last year.
