United Kingdom

Catharine Chisholm

Optometrist and Director of Global Education and Training, Topcon Healthcare - PhD MCOptom FBCLA

United Kingdom

Biography

When Dr Catharine Chisholm looked for a career path, she initially thought of medicine, but was put off applying by the prospect of so little sleep. After spending time with her optometrist, she selected Optometry and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Manchester in the UK. After only a few years of working in practice, she started to teach at Anglia Ruskin University, and soon she realised she needed a PhD to progress further as an academic. Catharine completed her PhD in Visual Psychophysics at City University, London, under John Barbur, Professor of Optics & Visual Science. Her research covered a broad range including the assessment of visual quality, the evidence base for occupational vision standards and driving, laser refractive surgery and contact lenses. After her PhD, Catharine first took up a lectureship at the City University and later at the University of Bradford.

In 2015, Catharine left the academic world to join Topcon – firstly as UK Clinical Affairs Manager and then as the Head of Topcon Healthcare University. Here, she manages a team of clinical and educational experts spread across the world, creating high-quality education for doctors, optometrists, and their staff, accessible through Topcon Healthcare University and Topcon events. The team is also responsible for training Topcon staff in the use and clinical aspects of devices and software. She loves the variety of her job and meeting and working with many great people from across the world.

Outside her work, Catharine’s passions are plenty. She sings in a choir, plays piano and oboe, likes to hike in the mountains, and has recently been introduced to wild swimming. She was born in North West England but spent much of her childhood moving between different parts of the UK and South Africa. Now, she lives on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, surrounded by beautiful countryside.

Search through Catharine’s research publications

For Viewpoint, Cathrine has contributed to the guide How to optimise glaucoma detection in everyday practice.

Biography

When Dr Catharine Chisholm looked for a career path, she initially thought of medicine, but was put off applying by the prospect of so little sleep. After spending time with her optometrist, she selected Optometry and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Manchester in the UK. After only a few years of working in practice, she started to teach at Anglia Ruskin University, and soon she realised she needed a PhD to progress further as an academic. Catharine completed her PhD in Visual Psychophysics at City University, London, under John Barbur, Professor of Optics & Visual Science. Her research covered a broad range including the assessment of visual quality, the evidence base for occupational vision standards and driving, laser refractive surgery and contact lenses. After her PhD, Catharine first took up a lectureship at the City University and later at the University of Bradford.

In 2015, Catharine left the academic world to join Topcon – firstly as UK Clinical Affairs Manager and then as the Head of Topcon Healthcare University. Here, she manages a team of clinical and educational experts spread across the world, creating high-quality education for doctors, optometrists, and their staff, accessible through Topcon Healthcare University and Topcon events. The team is also responsible for training Topcon staff in the use and clinical aspects of devices and software. She loves the variety of her job and meeting and working with many great people from across the world.

Outside her work, Catharine’s passions are plenty. She sings in a choir, plays piano and oboe, likes to hike in the mountains, and has recently been introduced to wild swimming. She was born in North West England but spent much of her childhood moving between different parts of the UK and South Africa. Now, she lives on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, surrounded by beautiful countryside.

Search through Catharine’s research publications

For Viewpoint, Cathrine has contributed to the guide How to optimise glaucoma detection in everyday practice.