Global Ambassador: Karen G. Carrasquillo

Tell us about yourself:
I am a residency trained optometrist with a specialty in cornea and contact lenses. Prior to my life as an optometrist, I completed a PhD in Chemistry. I am passionate about scleral lenses and the therapeutic use of these, as well as scleral lens designs and technologies. Because of my background, I am equally passionate about education and research. I have practiced at BostonSight (a clinic solely dedicated to complex corneal disease and innovators in scleral lens designs and technology for more than 30 years) for almost 15 years now.

What encouraged/inspired you to join the BCLA?
I am someone who always strives to improve and better myself. Joining the prestigious BCLA and becoming a fellow was a long-awaited bucket list for me. The reach the BCLA has in education and research is extensive, and it was a true honor for me to finally become a fellow in 2019. It is my goal to be able to contribute to the BCLA, not just as an ambassador, but to be able to share my knowledge and expertise in scleral lenses and complex corneal diseases at the bi-annual conference in the form of a lecture(s), BCLA webinars, and with peer-reviewed publications.

What do you hope to achieve by representing the BCLA as a Global Ambassador?
I hope to raise awareness of the association, its offerings, benefits, and contributions with my colleagues around the world. Thanks to social media, global access is one click away. 

Biography: 
Dr. Karen G. Carrasquillo is Vice President of Clinical and Professional Affairs at BostonSight. In addition, she is an adjunct clinical professor at the New England College of Optometry, an adjunct clinical professor at the school of optometry, MCPHS University, Advisory Board member for the Gas Permeable Lens Institute (GPLI), Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO), Fellow of the Educational Society of Scleral Lenses (FSLS), and Fellow of the British Contact Lens Association (FBCLA). She is the founder and Program Chair of FitAcademy, an educational retreat for Cornea and Contact Lens Residents, and is also a planning committee member for the International Congress of Scleral Contacts (ICSC) Meeting and Global Ophthalmic Women (GLOW) meeting.
She is also the author of numerous publications on the therapeutic use of scleral lenses and prosthetic replacement of the eye surface system (PROSE) and is also the author of several patents.
Prior to completing her doctorate degree in Optometry and her residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses, she completed a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico and a postdoctoral fellowship in ophthalmological research from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, in Boston, MA.