Employee Focus on Zachary A. Coates
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Name: Zachary A. Coates, OD, MS, FAAO
Current Title: Assistant Clinical Professor
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Shadyside, Ohio
Degrees and Institutions Attended: BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, OD, and MS in Vision Science (all from The Ohio State University)
Years of Employment at the College: Five
Q&A
What brought you to the College of Optometry?
I came to the College in 2020 after catching the teaching bug during my third year of optometry school. This was further reinforced through my teaching opportunities during my residency with the Columbus and Chillicothe VAs. I also knew that I needed to be in an environment that would challenge me to grow and stay on top of my game, and I knew the College would be more than a perfect fit for that.
Describe your typical day at work or describe your position/role.
Most days you’ll find me working alongside our third- and fourth-year optometry students delivering patient care throughout our various specialty clinics on campus, as well as our outreach clinics. When not in clinic, you’ll find me working on continuing education lectures, and preparing lecture materials to teach neuroanatomy to our first-year students.
What brings you the most joy in your work?
Honestly, the greatest joy from my work comes from seeing students working on a difficult case then having that “Aha!” moment. The enthusiasm and excitement the students show is definitely infectious!
What advice would you give to a new employee at the college?
My advice, especially to new clinical faculty, would be to keep an open mind and say yes to opportunities. My career at the college has taken surprising turns, but there hasn’t been an opportunity I’ve regretted taking yet!
What do you do for fun outside of work?
During the fall and winter, you’ll often find me in the Horseshoe watching OSU football or going down to Nationwide Arena to watch the Columbus Blue Jackets. Outside of sports, I enjoy walking/hiking in Columbus Metroparks, checking out the various craft breweries in the Columbus area, and traveling to National Parks.
What is your go to Columbus/neighborhood eatery?
Without a doubt, my favorite place to take friends and guests to is Schmidt’s Sausage Haus. There is nothing better than a hearty meal from Schmidt’s!