As a Nigerian-trained optometrist and PhD student in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Sunkanmi Arogbokun, OD, FAAO, is researching visual function and rehabilitation approaches that could
improve quality of life for people with visual impairments.
Arogbokun earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Benin in Nigeria in 2019 and worked in clinical optometry, including low-vision rehabilitation. Caring for patients whose vision loss affected their daily lives showed him that improving visual acuity does not always translate into greater independence. These experiences inspired him to pursue advanced research training.
“I became interested in understanding how vision affects functional performance, mobility, and safety, and how research could help address these challenges,” Arogbokun said. ”This interest led me to pursue a PhD in Rehabilitation Science at UAB, where I could build on my optometry background and develop the research skills needed to improve rehabilitation outcomes for people with visual impairments.”
From Patient Care to Research
Arogbokun chose UAB for its health professions programs, interdisciplinary research environment and emphasis on translating research into practical improvements. His current work focuses on visual function, including visual scanning and eye-hand coordination, to better understand how people interact with their environments and how rehabilitation tools can support individuals with visual impairments.
He credits Dr. Beth Barstow and his dissertation committee members with strengthening his development as a researcher. His involvement with UAB’s RecTech Center has also provided opportunities to develop research skills, collaborate with other researchers and explore how scientific findings can inform practical solutions.
“One of the most rewarding parts of my experience at UAB has been the opportunity to transform questions that emerged from my clinical practice into research questions that I can investigate systematically,” he said. “It has been particularly meaningful to see how my clinical experiences in Nigeria continue to inform my work at UAB. Together, these experiences have helped me grow both academically and personally while preparing me to contribute meaningfully to research and clinical practice.”
His doctoral studies have broadened his understanding of rehabilitation as a collaborative process involving more than treating a single condition. He has gained a deeper appreciation for how vision interacts with movement, balance, safety and participation in daily life.
Finding community in a new country
Studying in the United States has brought both professional opportunities and personal adjustments. Navigating a new academic, cultural and social environment while living far from home has taught Arogbokun to remain adaptable, seek support and welcome new perspectives.
“I have enjoyed being part of a community where people from different backgrounds come together to learn, work, and contribute to healthcare and research,” he said. “My experience at UAB has broadened my understanding of rehabilitation as a collaborative process that goes beyond treating a single condition or improving one aspect of function.”
Research With a Global Impact
After completing his PhD, Arogbokun hopes to continue developing as a rehabilitation researcher and clinician-scientist. His long-term goal is to bridge research and clinical care, particularly for underserved populations and people with visual impairments in Africa and around the world.
By combining his clinical experience in Nigeria with the research training and interdisciplinary perspective he has gained at UAB, he hopes to help develop accessible, effective rehabilitation approaches that improve independence and quality of life.
“Ultimately, I want my work to make a meaningful difference in people's ability to live independently and participate fully in their communities,” Arogbokun said.