WO Voices

In this episode of WO Voices, Dr. Sara Varghai of Nova Optique + Eyecare in Arlington, Virginia, discusses how she finds the right staff fits for her practice, ensuring efficiency and collaboration between her entire team. 

Shira Kresch, OD, MS, FAAO, opened Michigan Contact Lens in Oak Park, Michigan, in the fall of 2023. Hear her explain how she determined there was a need for a contact lens specialty practice, how she discovered her passion for scleral lenses and where she compromised and where she didn't to get this practice off the ground. 

Janelle Davison, OD, of Smyrna, Georgia, uses goal-setting as a tool to help her expand her bandwidth, make an impact, leave a legacy and, in the process, amplify her own voice and that of others. Hear how she combines visionary thinking with practical steps. 

Sally Halim, OD, of Woolwich, New Jersey, is feeling the squeeze between counting on her parents to help get her manage the hectic schedules of her tween children and also worrying about what they can do.  Hear how she's organizing herself and what it means she has to let go of during her years as part of the "sandwich" generation. 

Brenda  Montecalvo, OD, FCOVD, FAAO, FCSO, is an optometrist and vision therapist in Beaver Creek, Ohio. She's the author of Visual Secrets for School Success, and in this podcast, she explains methods she encourages chairside and in vision therapy to help student use all of their visual skills for academic success. 

Dr. Neda Gioia and Dr. Julie Poteet talk about a new certification program to deliver much-wanted nutrition education to patients. The Certified Personalized Nutrition Certification is available at significant savings to members of the Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society.

In this WO Voices podcast, Melissa Barnett, OD, FSAO, FSLS, FBCLA, talks with Leslie O'Dell, OD, FAAO, about the places where their careers have overlapped - particularly in dry eyes. Hear them talk about their work with the Intrepid Eye Society, Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society and more. 

Kaitlyn Duran, OD, is a 2023 graduate of Indiana University School of Optometry, where she mastered time management skills that allowed her to focus on her studies, her competitive running and her husband. She details the apps and strategies she uses to stay organized and how the discipline will help her as she starts her career and pays off student loans. Congratulations, Dr. Duran - and the class of 2023. Can't wait to see what you do! 

In this episode, Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, FOWNS, CFMP, of Shrewsbury, New Jersey,  and the new president of the Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society, talks with Rebecca Treen, an OD candidate with the class of 2026 at SUNY College of Optometry, on how wellness and nutrition resonate with today's students, patients and a growing number of health care providers. 

Kerry Giedd, OD, of Eola Eyes in Orlando, Florida, talks about the opportunities with presbyopes and emerging presbyopes. With more treatment and contact lens options available today, there's more that optometrists can do for their patients. 

Maria Sampalis, OD, is founder of Corporate Optometry on Facebook and practices optometry in Cranston, Rhode Island. She talks with WO about how she began to fill an information gap for corporate-affiliated ODs and where that has taken her, as well as what she has learned from the experience. 

Carissa Dunphy, ABOC , founder of opticiannow.com and a marketing specialist at PECAA, brings her wealth of experience as an optician and a marketer to this podcast. Listen as she describes the important role that opticians can play as often the final touchpoint of a patient's visit. 

Beth Lachance, chief executive officer ofREVA Global Medical, talks about the increasing demand on her company to provide medical and optometric virtual medical assistants to help with front office or back office efforts. If you've wondered whether a virtual medical assistant can benefit your practice efficiency, how much it could cost and how your staff might react, take a listen. 

In this episode, Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA,  and optometrist Ukti Vora, MBA, MOptom, FAAO, talk about how teleoptometry and where it's going. Ukti Vora, host of the podcast Nerdy Optometrist, shares the experiences of doctors who use it highly effectively to see more patients each day - in a way that's convenient for both doctor and provider. 

Ray Corbin-Simon, OD, of In Focus Vision Center & Eyecare in Piscataway, New Jersey, is on the Neurolens Advisory Board. Here, she talks about how  contoured prism helps her own symptoms of headache and fatigue and the tools that ODs have available to help patients with these surprisingly common symptoms. 

Kara Ramsey Foster, OD, opened EyeCare for You in Apex, North Carolina, in 2015. A few years later, she was stressed by the feeling like she was working for managed vision companies rather than herself. So she changed to a direct care, fee for service model. Hear her explain how she did it and how she's sharing the idea with other doctors through her directcaredifference.com website and program. 

For the first time in SECO's 100-year history this year, an outgoing female president will hand the gavel to an incoming female president. SECO President Christine Cook, OD, FAAO, and President-elect Michelle Cooper, OD, talk about the changing demographics of the profession, the need for representative leadership and how SECO is revitalizing its live education meeting after the pandemic. SECO will be held March 1-5 in Atlanta. Learn more here. 

Christine Howard, a licensed dispensing optician and optical manager at Eyes on Plainville, in Plainville, Massachusetts, details how this practice has created a superior handoff process. From practice goals on optical metrics, learning from EssilorLuxottica representatives and leaning into brand recommendations in the exam room, Howard shares tips for making the transition from exam lane to the optical smooth and efficient. 

Vision Source members Cheryl Chapman, OD, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Cristina De La Pena, OD, of Houston, Texas, are headed for the annual Vision Source meeting, The Exchange, in April. Dr. Chapman has been going for years, while Dr. De La Pena went for the first time in 2022, shortly after joining Vision Source. Both go to learn and exchange ideas - and here they share tips on how they make the most of the meeting, whether it's an attendee's first time or 30th. 

Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD, is dean of The Ohio State University College of Optometry. In this WO Voices podcast, she talks about the career choices she's made, balancing marriage, motherhood and an impressive legacy of research, writing and inspiring students -- as well as her love for quilting, her creative outlet. Hear her describe her influences and the moments where doors opened and her path forward became suddenly crystal clear. 

Millicent Knight, OD, FAAO, FAARM, FNAP,  Senior Vice President, Customer Development Group at EssilorLuxottica North America, shares her passion for lifelong learning and how EssilorLuxottica is powering ECP education through its Leonardoplatform.  Dr. Knight explains what's on the platform, how it can be used to fit the needs to doctors and staff members where they are, and how she would have loved to have access to this kind of a platform when she was in private practice. 

Acquiring a turnkey independent practice has allowed Whitney Territo, OD, and her husband and co-owner John Manard, OD, to focus on growth and enhancing their business skills. Being part of the Vision Source network and using Vision Source NEXT has supported them at every step, she says. Hear her discussion her evolving goals from acquisition, transition and beyond. 

Today, Jill Saxon, OD, FAAO, is executive director, professional strategy at Bausch + Lomb. But she started her career in the U.S. Navy, leaving after eight years as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserves.  WO asked Dr. Saxon to reflect on the enduring lessons and experiences she gained from being an OD in the military. 
This episode was broadcast around Veteran's Day 2022; WO thanks all ODs who served and serve as a member of the Armed Forces for their service. 

In this podcast, Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, and Pam Lowe, OD, FAAO, note that the oldest millennials have now turned 40. That presents eye care professionals with a huge opportunity with all of these new emerging presbyopes. The doctors talk about the conversation they have with patients and the innovations in options for these patients. 

Alexis Meyer, entering her third year at University of California Berkeley School of Optometry, won the Optometry Divas scholarship in the summer of 2022. The scholarship -- open to women OD students -- requires that applicants develop a detailed plan. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Alexis wants to start her career in corporate optometry - and learned much more about it through this process. That was precisely Dr. Lauretta Justin's idea in creating this CEO of You scholarship. 2023 candidates can apply now at optometrydivas.com.

Lisa Hornick, OD,  FAAO,  of Rocklin, California, received the Thought Leader Award at a recent Optometry Divas meeting for her proactive approach to dry eye. As a dry eye sufferer herself, she understands the quality of life issues. Lauretta Justin, OD, CEO and Founder of Optometry Divas, notes that as she was looking to add services to her Orlando, Florida, practice,  it quickly became clear that dry eye was the number one complaint patients had. Hear their discussion here. 

When Gabrielle Szwajca-Drewniak, OD, graduated with $153,000 in student debt - with $20,000 of that compounded debt while she was in school. When mortgage brokers told her she couldn't qualify for a mortgage loan without a co-signer, she came up with an aggressive repayment plan. Last year - about two years after graduation, she had zeroed those out and opened Opt Vision Studio in Chicago, along with the first floor of the building. Minimizing student debt allowed her to jump at the opportunities that came her way, she says. Hear how. 

In the second part of this discussion on diversity in optometry, moderator Ruth Shoge, OD, MPH,  FAAO,  Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at University of California Berkeley; Camille Cohen, OD,  a Pearle Vision licensed operator in  Brooklyn, New York; Damaris Raymondi, OD, of New York City, social media influencer and podcaster;  Sathi Maiti, OD, a clinical research fellow at Periman Eye Institute in Seattle, Washington; Monique Mohammed, OD, MS, an ocular disease and primary care optometry resident; and Nia Ebrahim, a student at State University of New York College of Optometry student, talk about the promising signs of change and the steps that still need to be taken to create a more equitable and inclusive environment. 

In this powerful roundtable discussion, five optometrists and one optometry student share their stories of the pressures of being first-generation Americans in optometry school and how and why representation matters. Hear from moderator Ruth Shoge, OD, MPH,  FAAO,  Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at University of California Berkeley; Camille Cohen, OD,  a Pearle Vision licensed operator in  Brooklyn, New York; Damaris Raymondi, OD, of New York City, social media influencer and podcaster;  Sathi Maiti, OD, a clinical research fellow at Periman Eye Institute in Seattle, Washington; Monique Mohammed, OD, MS, who is currently an ocular disease and primary care optometry resident; and Nia Ebrahim, a student at State University of New York College of Optometry student. 

What's in the No Surprises Act and how might it apply to optometry? Viola Kanevsky, OD, of New York, New York, president of the New York State Optometric Association, is hoping for guidance on how this can be implemented fairly in smaller practices.  Listeners can also find more information about the act from the American Optometric Association here. 

Ukti Vora, MBA, M. Optom, FAAO, is director of clinical affairs at Eyecare Live and the host of theNerdy Optometristpodcast. She joinsWO Voices to talk about the advances in telemedicine and what that might mean for optometry. As patients become more tech-savvy, they will expect their practitioners to accommodate more remote and hybrid visits. 

WhenAnn Rhea Miller, OD, opened Visual Eyes in Lima, Ohio, in 2014, she was bringing a former practice back to life and knew she needed practice management guidance to make it successful. “I knew optometry but I didn’t know anything about running a successful business. I wanted to join a community of successful mentors who could share their tips and strategies,” she says. Between Vision Source and support and programs from Elite vendors like Essilor, she continues to build her thriving practice. 

When Wynde Ashman, OD, of Family Vision Care in Muncie, Indiana, was asked to challenge herself to present Varilux progressive lenses to patients by name, she accepted it. The 30-day challenge changed some of her habits. hear how she's presenting this option to earlier-stage presbyopes and what it has done for patient loyalty and sales. 

Hear the panel discussion on how optometrists can help advance access to health care and the profession . This session, moderated by Dr. Dorothy Hitchmoth, joined by Dr. Kristen Brown, Dr. Maria Sampalis and Dr. Breanne McGhee, was recorded at the Women's Leadership Conference, held in conjunction with the American Academy of Optomery in Boston on Nov. 2, 2021. 
Platinum sponsors of the conference were Alcon, Allergan, CooperVision and EssilorLuxottica. Supporting sponsors were RVL Pharmaceuticals, Tarsus and Zeiss. 

Melissa Bailey, OD, PhD, of The Ohio State University College of Optometry, received the Dr. Gertrude Stanton Innovation Award during the 6th annual Theia Awards of Excellence at the WO Women's Leadership Conference. Dr. Bailey thanks those who have inspired, mentored and stood by her for every new idea she has wanted to explore. 

Sherrol Reynolds, OD, FAAO, was honored with the Dr. D. Elva Cooper Leadership Award at the 6th annual Theia Awards of Excellence, presented during the WO Women's Leadership Conference in Boston on Nov. 2, 2021. Dr. Reynolds, who served two terms as president of the National Optometric Association, speaks here about how the COVID-19 pandemic experience shines a light on the disparities in the health care system. Hear her charge for the profession.

Anna Marie Fernandez, OD, of Staten Island, New York, received the Dr. Mae Booth-Jones Mentoring Award at the Theia Awards of Excellence ceremony during the WO Women's Leadership Conference in Boston on Nov. 2, 2021. Hear Dr. Fernandez tell the powerful story of how her own struggles to become the first college graduate in her family have inspired her to support and mentor the students at SUNY College of Optometry, providing them with guidance that she did not have herself. 

Bita Asghari, OD,  FAAO, was presented with the Young OD Award at the Theia Awards of Excellence ceremony during the WO Women's Leadership Conference on Nov. 2, 2021. Hear Dr. Asghari describe her journey to this point early in her career and the tribute to the women who paved the way for her and other young ODs. 

Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, FOWNS, received the Dr. Gertrude Stanton Innovation Award during the 2021 Theia Awards of Excellence ceremony. Hear her speak about her passion for including nutritional counseling as part of the eye exam experience. 

Carol Alexander, OD, was presented with the Industry Influencer award at the 6th Annual Theia Awards of Excellence at Women In Optometry's Women's Leadership Conference in Boston on Nov. 2, 2021. Hear how she learned to find her intrinsic value and encourages others to find theirs. 

On Nov. 2, 2021,  Lauretta Justin, OD, of Orlando, Florida, was honored at the annual Theia Awards of Excellence. Hear how eight simple words changed her outlook. Dr. Justin received the Dr. Mae Booth Jones Mentoring Award. Hear what she had to say. 

Riya Paranthan, OD, of Optometric Physicians Northwest in Bellingham, Washington, talks about the changes that her practice is growing through after a recent merger and the support she gets from HEA + PECAA to help the independent practice remain competitive and profitable. 

Deborah Weston, OD, of Weston Town Center Optometry in Florida, says that the practice she and her husband own gained patients and increased profitability by adding time to patient visits and implementing an easier way to connect with patients through MARLO, Alcon’s digital contact lens ordering platform.

Lauretta Justin, OD, founder of Optometry Divas, and Valeria Napoles, winner of the first Optometry Divas scholarship competition, talk about how the process of creating a business plan and getting comprehensive feedback on it has helped her more clearly identify her goals for her final two years at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry. With a passion for myopia management services for the Hispanic population, Napoles has thought through her classes and career steps and even the size and layout of a potential future practice. 

Jessica Kozak, senior vice president of ECP sales at Essilor of America, discusses how EssilorLuxottica is leveraging its resources to provide tools and resources and unlock consumer insights that can drive success for independent eyecare professionals. She also shares the journey toward becoming a combined company and how ECPs benefit. 

Birva K. Shah, OD,  says developing a professional network is one of the most important steps an OD can take if she wants to make a career switch like hers. She's now a medical science liaison in ophthalmology at Apellis Pharmaceuticals. She explains the research and preparation she went through to find opportunities in this career option she had not even imagined when she graduated from optometry school. 

Sally Halim, OD, had to close Village Eyecare in Woolwich, NJ,  to all but emergency patients for nearly two months at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen as she shares which protocols and changes made during the pandemic are part of the routine these days. 

Jessica Marshall, OD, of Holmdel, New Jersey, wanted to get the discussion of age-related macular degeneration out of the exam room and into everyday conversation. So she created "Macula Mondays," a food-themed community event. The program has evolved from an in-office catered offering to renting out a commercial kitchen to educate patients and their friends about the importance of nutrition. Listen to her descriptions of the genesis and success of Macula Mondays.

Lauretta Justin, OD,  of Orlando, Florida, is using her CEO of You program and Optometry Divas support network to create a unique scholarship experience for third-year optometry students. Sure, there's a financial benefit, but each applicant will receive a customized response and feedback to the business plan submitted with the application. Deadline: Aug. 6. Read more here. 

Natasha Balani, OD, and Sathi Maiti, OD, both came to Periman  Eye Institute in Seattle, Washington, to pursue a clinical research fellowship created by Laura Periman, MD, in ocular surface disease and dry eye. The fellowship has allowed both to delve more deeply into dry eyes and ocular disease, as well as the impact of makeup, and finetune the presentations to their patients about ocular health. Hear how their career paths merged in this opportunity. 

Jay Yoon, OD, of Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology in New York, NY, has seen patients—often women or marginalized people—whose symptoms and complaints are not taken seriously because of some bias on the part of a provider. She discusses some examples and the lessons learned for optometry and for anyone who may have to advocate for a patient—or themselves. 

In this episode, Janelle Davison, OD, shares the methodical process that she and her husband and business co-owner Jimmie Davison, went through before he made the jump out of corporate America to join her in the office full-time earlier this year. In planning for the move, the couple downsized, created a template for replicating their new practice model, added services, recommitted to supporting diversity in the Atlanta eye care market and launched Paradeyem Software, their cloud-based optical retail software program. She talks about the positive impact on her practice, family dynamics and their marriage.

In this episode, the Instagram influencers behind Dr. Eye Beauty (@dreyebeauty)—Jessica Duran, OD, and Lilia Flores, OD—share how their interest in cosmetics and the eyes have helped spark lively discussions and product reviews by patients and practitioners alike. 

Neda Gioia, OD, FOWNS, CNS, says that functional nutrition is a key element of her Shrewsbury, New Jersey, practice - Integrative Vision. Dr. Gioia says that discussing health, nutrition and lifestyle have expanded her scope of practice to a higher level than she has had in the past. Her goal is to optimize the overall health of every single one of her patients, as well as take care of their ocular needs. 

Kim Reed, OD, talks about the role that optometrists could and should have in advancing clinical research. She also discusses her career path from academia into industry, where she is now senior medical director, clinical sciences, ophthalmology at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , where she is leading clinical trials in wet AMD and diabetic edema.

In this episode, Sherianne James, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Customer Engagement at Essilor of America, discusses how Essilor uses insights into consumer habits to help raise awareness about the benefits of premium progressive lens technology and drive patient traffic into eye care professionals' practices. 

In this episode, Louise Sclafani, OD, FAAO, of Chicago, and Pam Lowe, OD, FAAO, of Niles, Illinois, talk about why they took the training to become certified to administer COVID-19 vaccines. In addition to doing their part in the fight against COVID-19, they say that it brings optometry further into the primary care inner circle when ODs show that they are ready, willing and able to participate at this level. 

Janette Pepper, OD, coordinator for student diversity and inclusion at Southern College of Optometry (SCO), and Mary Hoang, OD, also on the SCO faculty, discuss the education, programs and resources that people can use to understand racial bias and what actions can be taken to create a more inclusive environment for all. 

Jennifer Stewart, OD, a partner at Norwalk Eye Care in Norwalk, Connecticut, and founder of Performance 2020, says that sports eyewear is an overlooked opportunity in many optometric practices. Sports eyewear isn't just for serious competitive athletes but for every patient who steps out on a field, court or track for sports or play. Here's a new, great resource: sportsvision.pro/athlete/protectpreventplay

In this episode, Lilan Le, OD,  director, optometry operations at HEYWEAR, explains how this new model—which just opened its first optical walk-in studio in New York City—provides an eye exam and finished single-vision eyewear or sunwear in 30 minutes. Hear how they do it.  You can visit heywear.com to see their own line of frames. 

Brianna Rhue, OD, FAAO, of Tamarac, Florida, and Jennifer Tabiza, OD, Los Angeles, California, created drcontactlens.com as a way to keep the doctor/patient relationship intact—all the way through contact lens orders. By creating a platform to simplify the contact lens ordering process for practices and patients alike, ODs are seeing increased engagement and profitability. 

Ruth Y. Shoge, OD, MPH, serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee at Salus University as well as the Diversity and Cultural Competency Committee for the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. She is passionate about educating current and future optometrists about cultural competency and humility and the importance for this kind of education in the curriculum.

Hear how the adaption of scleral lenses in Italy parallels that of the U.S. experience in this unique conversation between Daddi Fadel, DOptom, FSLS, FBCLA, FAAO, and Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA. Hear their plans for an in-person Global Ophthalmic Women  (GLOW) conference in Spain as a way to empower and encourage women in societies throughout the world. Want to be added to the GLOW Facebook page? Request permission from the administrators here. 

When Hardeep Kataria, OD, FAAO, joined an ophthalmology practice, she became the first OD and the first woman eye care professional. To help make sure her voice was heard, she learned and gained confidence with negotiating skills she didn't know she had. 

In this episode of The Empowered ODseries, sponsored by Allergan, Mary Anne Murphy, OD, of Broomfield, Colorado, says that despite the uncertainties of 2020, she took the opportunity to tackle those priorities that are usually pushed to the background. These included revisiting and enhancing the practice culture, maximizing the technology in place and reconnecting with patients and family, all of which she expects will persevere beyond COVID-19.

In this episode of The Empowered ODseries, sponsored by Allergan, Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, of Edmond, Oklahoma, explains how she became more intentional in her communication with patients. Working with a dialogue coach, Dr. McGee became more aware of the intended and unintended consequences of her conversations and how effective communication helps her build areas of practice, such as with her presbyopic patients. 

In this episode of The Empowered ODseries, sponsored by Allergan, Neena James, OD, of Huntsville, Alabama, explains how cultivating an empowered staff allows doctors to do more. Hear how she learned to let go of some of the oversight of her associates and staff of 12 while steering the practice in the direction she wants to go. 

Kirsty Bortoft, a UK-based mindset coach and meditation teacher, offers a four-step plan to deal with stress head on. Prolonged stress has physical consequences, but these steps highlight the awareness of stress and how to "feel, deal and dump" the worst of it. Bortoft is the author of a new book, Break Free From Pain. 

Leslie O'Dell, OD, FAAO, is the first regional clinical director for Medical Optometry America and is working to open the organization's first location in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania. She talks about the opportunity that optometrists have to step in as the demand for medical eye care services grows. 

Maggie Craddock is the author of Lifeboat: Navigating Unexpected Career Change and Disruption. She joins WO Voices in this second podcast to discuss her workbook-type approach to career disruption and uncertainty. 

Angela Abraham, OD, is the newly appointed Diversity and Inclusion Liaison at New England College of Optometry. Hear as she talks about the school's commitment to increasing the diversity of its student body and how other stakeholders in the optometric profession can do more—and why they should. 

Hannah Cho, OD, of Irvine, California, started her independent practice about eight years ago. In the next six or so months, she plans to open seven more. Hear how and why she developed this model. For more info on the virtual grand opening, go to facebook.com/FLOEoptometry.

Elise Brisco, OD, FAAO, CCH, FCOVD, of Hollywood Vision Center in Los Angeles, California, details the way she combines the latest technology along with nutritional and lifestyle counseling to help patients tame their dry eyes to look and feel their best. This episode is sponsored by MedOp, maker of MaxiTears Pro. 

Maggie Craddock is the author of Lifeboat: Navigating Unexpected Career Change and Disruption. She joins WO Voices to discuss the emotional connection we have with money and how that affects our decisions and our lives. 

Michele Andrews, OD, Senior Director of North America Professional & Academic Affairs at CooperVision, discusses how clinicians can—and why they should—talk about the progression of myopia with parents. The Brilliant Futures™ Myopia Management Program provides guidance on ways to include these conversations.

Indications for Use: MiSight® 1 day (omafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses for daily wear are indicated for the correction of myopic ametropia and for slowing the progression of myopia in children with non-diseased eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 to -4.00 diopters (spherical equivalent) with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. The lens is to be discarded after each removal.

Linda Chous, OD, owner of the whimsically named The Glasses Menagerie in Minneapolis, Minnesota, encourages ODs to be on the lookout for a possible spike in nonorganic vision loss. She explains how NOVL is different from malingering and how to counsel patients and their parents. 

In January 2020, Stephanie Woo, OD, FAAO, FSLS, opened the Contact Lens Institute of Nevada in Las Vegas, a clinic dedicated entirely to custom contact lenses. Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, shares Dr. Woo's passion for fitting scleral lens patients. Enjoy listening to these two past presidents of the Scleral Lens Education Society talk. 

Jennifer Stewart, OD, of Norwalk Eye Care and Performance 20/20 has been using this time to catch up on webinars and education, spend time with family and plan for how the practice where she's a partner and the sports vision training center she co-founded can be ready to see patients in a safe way. A note stuck on her computer reminds her that crisis creates innovation—and she's looking for innovations to help get these businesses back on track as quickly as possible. 

Bridgitte Shen Lee, OD, FBCLA, FAAO, and her practice partner reopened Vision Optique in Houston, Texas, with safety protocols in place to help protect doctors, staff and patients. Dr. Shen Lee was a guest on WO Voices as she was planning the reopening. 

Kelechi Mezu-Nnabue, OD, MS, MPH, DrPH, worries about the patients she serves in her Pikeville, Maryland, practice, as well as those who would normally be served by her family foundation in Baltimore and in Nigeria.

From keeping patients with ocular infections out of emergency rooms and urgent care clinics to providing counseling on ocular and systemic health issues, the critical role that optometrists play in the health care becomes even more apparent during the COVID-19 crisis. How can ODs embrace advances in technology to do even more for patients? Dorothy Hitchmoth, OD, brings her vast experience in patient advocacy, health care administration and more to WO Voices. 

Cheryl Murphy, OD, of Long Island, New York, details some of the steps that the doctors and staff members are taking to do what they can to flatten the curve, protect themselves and protect patients. Note that guidance on COVID-19 is being updated continually and locally, so this is Dr. Murphy sharing her experience; to learn the latest about COVID-19, please visit aoa.org/coronavirus, your state or regional optometric associations, the CDC and/or your local public health agencies. 

Monica Johnsonbaugh, OD, of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, worked in a variety of settings before opening her own practice, Focus 313 Eye Care. The revenue from that location, a corporate location and some speaking engagements were enough to support her, her husband/business manager and provide enough to accelerate loan payments. Hear how she did it. 

Susan Resnick, OD, FAAO, and Viola Kanevsky, OD, both have busy private practices in New York City. Both are almost exclusively cash-pay practices. These two doctors talk about how and why it works for them, as well as what to consider if weighing such a move for yourself. They'll be hosting a webinar on this topic on ODWire on March 11. 

Debby Feinberg, OD, FAAO, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is one of the leading voices in the field of neurovisual optometry. She has trained 27 eye care practitioners in her method of providing fast help to patients who suffer from congenital or acquired issues with balance, dizziness, nausea and anxiety due to visual issues. Dr. Feinberg is a 2018 Women In Optometry Theia Award winner for innovation. Take me back to the Specialty Services cover story package.

Melanie Weiss, OD, in the second part of a two-part podcast, describes how she found help in treatment and in a supportive community, including optometrists who helped her keep her practice afloat after news of her opioid addiction became publicly known. Now back at work, she dedicates 20 percent of her time to talking about addiction and recovery and has launched Vision of Hope at myvisionmyhope.com. Asking for help doesn't make you weak, she says. It makes you strong. Listen to part 1.

Melanie Weiss, OD, of Watertown, South Dakota, had it all: a loving husband, three beautiful daughters, a successful optometry practice. Her opioid addiction put it all at risk. In part 1 of this 2-part series, Dr. Weiss describes how three surgeries in three years contributed to a hellish dependency. The day she was arrested became the turning point in getting her life back in order. Listen to part 2.

Emily Bjore, OD, of Eagen, Minnesota, and her husband had accumulated nearly $400K in student loan debt. Hear how they decided to scrap the 30-year-repayment plan and accelerate the payment—and stuck with it, even after a serious illness. 

You don't have to look far to find an opportunity to flex your leadership muscle, says Michele Andrews, OD. "Start where you are." Dr. Andrews says opportunities to see leadership in action are everywhere—as are opportunities to encourage others to explore their potential. 

Nadia Virani, OD, of Dallas, Texas, expected to go into pediatric optometry when she was presented with a great opportunity to join an OMD practice. Enthralled with new technologies, she thought it would be a great experience to learn about surgical options and IOLs. Now five years later, she has also gained new perspectives on the OMD/OD relationship and how great co-management can help all eye care professionals thrive. 

As Jennifer Stewart, OD, reaches the milestone of a decade in practice ownership, she reflects on how a leap of faith became the best move in transitioning from an associate to a partner early on in her career. Dr. Stewart also shares how Performance 20/20, her sports vision training business, connects her passion for sports with her love of optometry and has allowed her the unique opportunity to collaborate with many training professionals and athletes from novice to nationally recognized.

Having a clinical protocol in place can make the journey of clinical decision-making and consistency so much clearer. Whitney Hauser, OD, now director of clinical affairs at Keplr Vision, talks about the ways that developing and using a clinical protocol for dry eye and other ocular conditions can help. 

Julie Steinhauer, OD, FCOVD, of Vision For Life in Glen Carbon, Illinois, has been offering developmental vision care exclusively now for more than seven years. Her practice draws patients from throughout Illinois and around the world as she is one of relatively few providers who use syntonic phototherapy along with traditional in-office vision therapy. Hear how it works. 

Angela Fisher Aprahamianof National Recalls in Los Angeles, California, says that optometric practices can have effective recall strategies for reactivating patients—but only if the task is specifically part of someone's work day or work week. She describes the process her employees use—and how those could be adapted for in-house use. 

Sally Halim, OD, of Village Eyecare in Woolwich Township, New Jersey, trains for a half dozen or so triathlons or half Ironman races a year. The training has taught her time management skills, focus and a willingness to challenge herself, along with other lessons that she's brought to bear in her private practice. 

Even when she was an optometry school student, Millicent Knight, OD, FAAO, FAARM, began to advocate for the profession and patients. In her new role as Senior Vice President, Customer Development Group, and a member of the leadership team at Essilor, she can do so from an even larger platform. 

Opening a practice involves making so many important and expensive decisions—where, what it looks like, who it serves, what products to carry and what technology investments to make. Meg Richardson, OD, of Twenty Twenty Family Vision Center in Racine, Wisconsin, found help and support from PECAA and its relationship with RevolutionEHR. 

Nicole Trabuc, OD, and her husband, Kyle Wainwright, OD, have two practices in Manhattan, Kansas—one which Dr. Wainwright took on inside a Walmart and a private practice the couple opened recently. They made some unconventional choices, such as paying down their combined $200,000 in student loan debt in just more than three years, not taking any vision insurance, and opening a gym as a side business. So far, it's working well for them.