Dr. Valencia Robertson Wells has achieved a historic milestone as the first Black President of the Alabama Optometric Association in its 120-year history. A native of Demopolis, Alabama, Dr. Wells has made great strides in her profession.
In July this year, it was reported that she had been named Alabama’s Young Optometrist of the Year, Birmingham’s Top Influencer Under 40, and Minority Business Award’s Medical Professional of the Year.
Dr. Wells told the Demopolis Times at the time, “To God be the Glory for everything He is doing in my life.”
The awards recognized her extensive community involvement and exceptional service to the optometry profession. Dr. Wells’s contributions include serving as a legislative key person and team lead, where she acts as a liaison between legislators and the Alabama Optometric Association to ensure patient needs are met in all legislation.
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She is the founder of Morris Avenue EyeCare, located at 2229 Morris Avenue on the historic cobblestone street in downtown Birmingham.
Dr. Wells actively champions public health optometric issues. She wrote the article, “July is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month” for the Childcare Resources monthly publication and made appearances on “Talk of Alabama” and “Good Day Alabama,” where she promoted Children’s Eye Health Month, Diabetic Eye Disease Month, and Glaucoma Awareness Month.
Dr. Wells, a prominent figure in Birmingham, shares the honor of being one of the city’s Top Influencers under 40 with the current mayor. This is thanks to her impressive achievements that extend far beyond her professional field of optometry. Dr. Wells is committed to the youth of Birmingham, evident through her participation as a highly sought-after keynote speaker at school career days, where she shares her insights and experiences to guide students toward future endeavors
She also lends her expertise as a judge for science fairs, and organizes and leads dynamic, interactive optometry workshops, specifically tailored to encourage and empower young girls to explore and pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
She was recognized as the Minority Business Award’s Medical Professional of the Year for her exceptional patient care and commitment to community service. Her service includes providing annual vision screenings at local churches, community health fairs, and nursing homes.
Dr. Wells, the valedictorian of her 2000 class at Amelia L. Johnson High School in Thomaston, graduated from the University of Alabama in 2004 and earned her doctorate in optometry in 2009.
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A dedicated woman of faith, Dr. Wells grew up in the Lovely Baptist Church and the Christian Chapel Baptist Church. She is currently an active member of Pleasant Grove Baptist, where her father-in-law, Rev. Dr. Willie Wells Jr., serves as pastor.
The daughter of the late Roland Robertson and Annie D. B. Robertson of Gallion, her success stands as a testament to how hard work and dedication can lead to achievement, even for those raised and educated in rural communities.
Dr. Wells, who is married to Willie Wells III, a graphic arts designer and owner of ESCAPE GFX, comes from a family with a strong legacy of dynamic Delta Sigma Theta Women committed to community service.
In addition to her professional life and community work, Wells is an avid runner, training for and participating in marathons.
Her recent feat is so important because Black optometrists make up only 2% of the profession nationwide largely due to the barriers Blacks face in medicine following historical discrimination and systemic racism.
