Eyespiring

What does it take to make eye care accessible to everyone? In this episode of Eyespiring , host Heather Patrick speaks with Dr. Jacquelyn O’Banion, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Emory University School of Medicine and Chief of Ophthalmology at Grady Memorial Hospital. Drawing on her experience in clinical ophthalmology, public health, and global eye care, Dr. O’Banion explains why protec...

What does it mean to truly live with vision? On this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick welcomes Kerri-Ann Coombs, R.N., O.D., whose journey from registered nurse to optometrist, entrepreneur, author, mother, and philanthropist has been shaped by purpose, faith, and a deeply personal connection to vision loss. Inspired by her father's experience with vision loss, Dr. Coombs developed a passion...

What makes a nonprofit truly successful? According to Kristen Schlatre, it starts with committed leadership, a clear mission, and a willingness to continuously evolve. In this episode of Eyespiring , Heather Patrick welcomes Kristen Schlatre, Assistant Dean for Professional and Corporate Programs and Director of the Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Rice University. Kristen share...

Can love transform the way we lead? Mohammad Anwar believes it can.   In this episode of Eyespiring , Heather Patrick sits down with Mohammad Anwar, President & CEO of Softway, co-founder of Culture+, and bestselling co-author of Love as a Business Strategy and Love as a Change Strategy . Mohammad shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Saudi Arabia and India to building a global tech...

Healthy communities don't happen by accident, they're built through collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to making wellness accessible for everyone. In this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick sits down with Janna Roberson, Executive Director of Urban Harvest, to explore how food access, nonprofit leadership, and community partnerships are transforming lives across Houston. Janna...

Success isn't always about following a perfectly planned path. Sometimes it's about embracing unexpected opportunities, taking calculated risks, and using your talents to make a lasting impact.   In this episode of Eyespiring , Heather Patrick welcomes Jennifer Surgalski, Senior Director of Strategic Project Development for the Dallas Cowboys, Chief of Strategy for the National Medal of Honor Muse...

What does it take to turn groundbreaking science into healthier lives? In this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick welcomes longtime colleague and friend Dr. Radhika Rajgopal Singh, Senior Vice President of Science and Medicine at the American Heart Association. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of healthcare, from prevention and clinical research to artificial intelligence, collabo...

What does leadership look like when it's rooted in service?   In this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick welcomes Melissa Simon, MSW, CFRE, Chief Executive Officer of Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos. Drawing on more than 34 years of experience in social services and nonprofit leadership, Melissa shares lessons learned from working directly with at-risk youth, transitioning into fundraising and...

Celebrating One Year of Eyespiring In this special one-year anniversary episode of Eyespiring , host Heather Patrick, CEO of Prevent Blindness Texas, is joined by Monica Guerrero, VP of Programs and Strategic Relationships, to reflect on the conversations, stories, and lessons that have shaped the first year of the podcast.   Together, they revisit powerful guest moments, explore how eye health co...

In this deeply insightful episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick welcomes executive leader and strategist Elizabeth "Liz" Thompson, a mentor, changemaker, and one of the most influential leaders in Heather’s career journey.   Liz reflects on her path from rural South Dakota to national leadership roles in healthcare and philanthropy, where she helped transform organizations, work alongside U.S. pr...

In this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick welcomes Brooke Campbell, CNP, CVA, Director of Community Outreach and Disaster Recovery at United Way of Greater Houston. Brooke shares her journey into nonprofit leadership, discusses disaster preparedness and recovery, and explores the critical role volunteers play in building resilient communities. The conversation also highlights leadership strat...

In this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick welcomes Kim Schuy Greenberg, a strategic leader with more than 20 years of executive experience across consulting, consumer brands, healthcare, and the optical industry. Kim shares her journey from global corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, offering insights on growth mindset, branding, innovation, and the future of consumer engagement in eye c...

In this inspiring and deeply personal episode, Heather Patrick sits down with Dr. Layla Lohmann to explore what it means to live, and thrive, with a chronic condition. From childhood diagnosis to becoming a national patient advocate, Dr. Lohmann shares how she turned fear, frustration, and isolation into empowerment, connection, and purpose. This conversation highlights the importance of using you...

In this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick welcomes Dr. Jennifer Deakins, a leader in optometry, education, and legislative advocacy. Dr. Deakins shares her journey into eye care, the mentors who shaped her career, and the passion that drives her work serving underserved communities.   The conversation explores women’s eye health, access to care, advocacy in healthcare policy, and the evolving...

In this episode, Heather welcomes Ryane Jackson, Vice President of Community Health Network at Memorial Hermann Health System, to discuss the evolution of leadership, the power of asking “why,” and the future of community health. From her early start in journalism to becoming a nationally recognized healthcare leader, Ryane reflects on the importance of curiosity, empathy and strategic restraint i...

In this episode of Eyespiring , host Heather Patrick welcomes Christine Gustafson, Founder, CEO, and Executive Director of the TED Community Organization, for a powerful conversation about patient advocacy, agency, and the life-changing impact of community. Christine shares how her personal journey with thyroid eye disease (TED), marked by isolation and unanswered questions, led her to become an “...

In this episode of Eyespiring , Heather Patrick sits down with Dr. Carla Mack, Head, Global and US Professional Education and Development at Alcon, to explore how new eye care products are developed, how patient and provider voices influence innovation, and what emerging technologies, like AI and digital tools, mean for the future of eye health.   Dr. Mack also shares a powerful personal story abo...

As the year comes to a close, Eyespiring takes a moment to reflect on the people, partnerships, and purpose driving Prevent Blindness Texas forward. In this episode, CEO Heather Patrick and VP of Programs & Community Outreach Monica Guerrero look back on a year of growth, impact, and transformation, while sharing what excites them most about the future of vision health. Topics Covered Prevent...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Eyespiring , Heather Patrick speaks with Melissa Somers, District Nurse for Venus ISD, about her journey from pediatric home health and labor & delivery to school nursing. Nurse Somers shares how vision screenings and partnerships with Prevent Blindness Texas have transformed the lives of students, highlights the unique challenges of school nursing, and emph...

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Kathleen Murphy joins Heather Patrick to explore how vision care and public health come together to create healthier, more equitable communities. Dr. Murphy reflects on her journey from social work to global nursing, including her years in the Peace Corps working on public health initiatives in Senegal. She shares how those experiences taught her to see the beau...

In this inspiring episode of the Eyespiring Podcast, Heather Patrick sits down with Dr. Adam Martinez, Director of the Integrative Health and Well-Being Coaching Program at the University of Houston. Dr. Martinez shares how coaching can help people align their values, goals, and behaviors to create lasting change not just in their health, but in every area of life.   Together, they explore the con...

In this episode of Eyespiring , Heather Patrick sits down with Leslie Nwankwo, a registered nurse, health educator, and passionate patient advocate living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Leslie shares her personal journey navigating life with progressive vision loss, the challenges she faced along the way, and how she discovered her voice as an advocate for herself and the blind and visually impai...

In this episode of Eyespiring , Heather Patrick welcomes Dr. Janet Garza, optometrist, board member of Prevent Blindness Texas, and national advocate for vision health. Together, they explore the urgent and inspiring work of protecting sight and preventing blindness. Dr. Garza brings forward real stories from her practice, including patients whose outcomes might have been different with earlier ca...

In this powerful conversation, Heather Patrick talks with Carol Enneking, author of The Rebalancing Act , about her personal journey through keratoconus, multiple cornea transplants, a breast cancer diagnosis, and what it means to live a balanced life. Carol shares lessons in self-advocacy, the surprising ways medications can affect vision, and why prioritizing health is essential for long-term we...

A dialogue between Heather Patrick President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Texas and Jeff Todd President and CEO of Prevent Blindness. Listen in as Heather Patrick sits down to talk with Jeff Todd about their role as CEO’s, the challenges and rewards of being in the space and trends across eye health.