10/29/2026
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.
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.
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.
Read Sunkanmi’s full story through the link in our bio.
