WO Voices

In this episode of The Empowered OD series, 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 o...

In this episode of The Empowered OD series, 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 pr...

In this episode of The Empowered OD series, 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 f...

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...

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 pati...

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 stat...

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 innova...

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...

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 p...

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.