Leading With Compassion: Sonia’s Mission to Expand Vision Care at I Care San Antonio
At I Care San Antonio, restoring sight means restoring independence, confidence, and hope. For Clinic Administrator, Sonia Olvera, that mission drives her every day. For nearly four years, she has overseen the vision center’s daily operations, ensuring patients, volunteer doctors, and the ICSA clinic team work seamlessly to deliver life-changing eye care to our neighbors in need.
“As Clinic Administrator, I oversee the clinic’s day-to-day operations to keep everything running smoothly,” Sonia said. “That includes coordinating schedules, supporting staff and volunteers, managing patient flow, and maintaining efficient clinic operations.”
Although much of healthcare administration happens behind the scenes, Sonia says the impact feels deeply personal. She pursued the field because it combined her passion for helping others with her strengths in organization and problem-solving. Working in a nonprofit clinic makes that calling even more meaningful.
“Helping patients access care they may not otherwise receive is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “Seeing the difference quality vision care makes for our patients and their families motivates me every day.”
That impact is especially impactful in vision care, where a single procedure can transform a patient’s quality of life. “What I find most rewarding is helping patients see again,” Sonia said. “Helping people preserve their vision is deeply meaningful to me. It’s incredibly rewarding to build relationships with patients and know that the care we provide can genuinely improve their quality of life and give families peace of mind.”
One patient story has stayed with her throughout her time at the clinic. Sonia personally delivered eye drops to a patient experiencing homelessness and living behind a Subway restaurant. “I assumed she was living in a house or an apartment behind the restaurant,” said Sonia. After reaching her on the phone, Sonia watched her slide her hand along the wall to guide herself out from behind the dumpster, since her vision was so poor. “It was something I will never forget,” she said. After cataract surgery, provided at no cost, the patient regained her vision and has now reconnected with her family. “She’s now living with her daughter again,” Sonia said. “Her story reminds me why we do what we do.”
As demand for affordable eye care grows, Sonia says one of the clinic’s biggest challenges is serving the large number of uninsured and low-income patients who need treatment. “The need in our community is very high,” she explained. “At times, we don’t have enough appointment availability to serve patients as quickly as we would like.”
“We’ve worked hard to improve clinic workflows, patient access, and turnaround times for services like glasses and specialty care,” she said. “Even as demand grows, we remain focused on adapting and finding ways to better serve our community.”
To meet that need, ICSA continues recruiting volunteer doctors and has expanded both medical and surgical eye care services while strengthening partnerships with physicians and community organizations.
Sonia credits much of the clinic’s success to its mission-driven culture. “Everyone shares the same passion for helping others and making a difference in patients’ lives,” she said. She believes strong healthcare leadership starts with compassion, communication, and teamwork. “A great leader creates a positive, collaborative environment while keeping ICSA’s mission at the center of every decision,” Sonia said. “When leaders truly believe in the mission, it helps keep that passion alive throughout the organization.”
One accomplishment she is especially proud of is helping foster a supportive culture for both staff and volunteer physicians. “We want our volunteer doctors to have a great experience when they come to clinic,” she said. “A strong team culture makes it easier to work hard, overcome challenges, and still have fun doing meaningful work together.” Outside the clinic, Sonia enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors, and taking road trips to explore new places and make memories.
As I Care San Antonio continues serving patients across San Antonio and the surrounding area, Sonia hopes the community understands the heart behind ICSA’s work. “We are deeply committed to serving those in need with compassion, dignity, and quality eye care,” she said. “Because of our volunteers, donors, and supporters, we’re able to help patients regain their vision, independence and hope.”