Dr. Yutaka Maki

Being raised and moving from Japan at a formative age, I have a unique perspective regarding cross-border experience. In addition, I have helped organize and/or lead twelve optometry mission trips to Mexico, Panama, Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Whether playing with resident children, collaborating with local leaders to setup clinics, or sharing meals with the community, I have learned the value of building relationships. In these experiences, I found that people are moved first by intentions and attitude. Though I brought skills, technique, and credentials to the table, at the end of the day, people wanted to see that I was invested in them and their growth. These principles carry into my current work as a professor at Rosenberg School of Optometry. Students across every culture I’ve encountered share these commonalities; what really matters to them is that they matter to me.