Eye Care Leadership Live

Send us Fan Mail Mike talks with Kurt Defenbaugh about why culture is not a slogan or a perks program, but the lived DNA of a clinic that either gets designed on purpose or assigned by default. We walk through a concrete method for defining core values, then use those values to hire better, develop staff, align physicians, and build a team that trusts leadership.  • culture as alignment rather tha...

Send us Fan Mail Hiring shouldn’t feel like a weekly emergency, but in many ophthalmology and optometry clinics it does: outdated job descriptions, endless resumes, interview no-shows, and the temptation to grab the first person who seems “good enough.” I’m trying a new format called Tales From The Trenches, and I’m sharing practical hiring lessons I’m using right now with eye care clients so you...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Dr. Melissa Barnett about how a dry eye and specialty contact lens optometrist becomes an ICF credentialed coach and why that work brings her so much joy. We dig into burnout, clarity, and leadership habits that help eye care teams set real goals and follow through. • burnout, mindfulness, and team communication • the difference between mentoring, consulting, therapy,...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is to announce that Mandy Cansler Consulting and I are launching a free, multi-phase ophthalmology compensation survey so leaders can stop relying on generic healthcare numbers and start benchmarking pay with data that matches real practice roles. We explain why ophthalmology-specific compensation data is so hard to find, what we’re collecting in phase one, and how we...

Send us Fan Mail My guest for this episode is Luke Goetting, a speaker and advisor on leading Generation Z and across generations.  We unpack how digital natives changed the rules of retention and why eye care clinics win when they trade secrecy for transparency, titles for skills, and rigid roles for internal gigs. Luke Goetting shares concrete ways to map growth, invite input, and turn ideas int...

Send us Fan Mail In this show, I tackle the real question behind manager overload: when an eye care clinic needs more leadership coverage to protect retention, productivity, and culture. We share clear warning signs, practical alternatives to hiring, and what to look for when choosing the next leader. • employee feedback as the first red flag when support is missing • why manager availability shap...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Amy Ford of Curo Research to map the real-world path to launching and scaling clinical research inside an eye care clinic. We dig into staff growth, budgeting that actually covers the work, sponsor red flags, and where ophthalmic research is headed. • defining coordinator, data, and regulatory roles as distinct growth paths • physician traits that predict success,...

Send us Fan Mail We explore how a 30‑year optometrist reconnected with purpose, found her voice through vulnerability, and turned a clinic into a culture powered by gratitude and action. The story spans a viral poem, practice reinvestment, children’s books, and the simple habits that keep leaders on fire. • patients as purpose and the post‑COVID awakening • staying in your lane vs stepping into co...

Send us Fan Mail We unpack the paradox of speed in HR and show how to move quickly without breaking culture. From hiring to onboarding to tough calls, we share practical systems that build confidence, reduce risk, and raise performance across eye care teams. • defining values and role-critical skills for hiring • hiring smart instead of hiring slow • avoiding desperation hires and “okay” performer...

Send us Fan Mail We break down how MIPS really works, why the 75‑point threshold matters, and how to stop the year‑end scramble by building a simple plan that fits ophthalmology and medical optometry. Jackie Waterhouse and Ashley Hennis share practical steps on measures, EHRs, staffing, and audits. • what MIPS is and how Medicare ties payment to quality • why rule changes, benchmarks and practice...

Send us Fan Mail Spoke to Dr. Irfan Ali about his journey to creating a large healthcare business and his passion for art, self care, and remaining humble through the struggles of life.  Dr. Ali began his career as a physician in Pakistan and immigrated to the US, where he worked as a researcher and home improvement store janitor, before establishing his medical license and building a huge healthc...

Send us Fan Mail We explore how leaders in eye care can stop playing fixer and start coaching in ways that reduce burnout, build real capability, and improve clinic flow. We share scripts, mindset prompts, and time tactics that make coaching up and coaching inward both doable and effective. • difference between consulting, mentoring and coaching • why curiosity and silence unlock better answers •...

Send us Fan Mail Chad Miller and I explore how small and mid-sized ophthalmology businesses can compete for talent and drive profit by building culture into daily behavior, not posters. We unpack the real cost of turnover, low-cost listening tools, and how to coach struggling managers toward values alignment. • how good bosses, teams, and culture retain talent • the 0.5 to 2x salary cost of turnov...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I make the business case for appreciation in eye care and show how to turn recognition into a daily leadership habit. From a smarter Employee of the Month to one-on-ones that build trust, I map the moves that keep great people and lift patient experience. • why appreciation reduces turnover and costs • designing Employee of the Month for values and fairness • usin...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder how to get more engagement on LinkedIn?  Sheikh Ali is here to debunk the myths of LinkedIn and help you get noticed and grow your presence. We touched on The best times to post on LinkedIn Why LinkedIn can help a doctor or executive The best types of posts on LinkedIn  Sheikh is the founder of SC Medical Media. He can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheikhali0...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like your clinic is working hard but not quite working together? We dig into four leadership books that cut through the noise and give you practical frameworks for trust, culture, feedback, and recognition—tools you can use the same day you hear them. We start with Patrick Lencioni’s The Advantage and its backbone, the Five Dysfunctions model. You’ll hear how trust enabl...

Send us Fan Mail Barbra Dey shared her knowledge to help optometrists and ophthalmologists to optimize the profits and patient experience in their optical department. We talked about - Leadership - The value of optical - How you view optical helps create your results (or lack thereof) - And more! Find Barbra at https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbra-dey/ and at https://deyophthalmicconsulting.com/  ==...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Eye Care Leadership Live, I answer the question "What is HR?"  So many people get a scrunched-up look on their face when I talk about HR. Or, they have a conception about HR that's been informed by really bad experiences dealing with Human Resources leaders or specialists.  In this episode, I talk about what HR can really be in your eye care busin...

Send us Fan Mail We are re-branding the show! With my passion for eye care and serving that industry, I've decided to devote this show's content exclusively to eye care and ophthalmology.  I will continue to bring knowledge and guests related to: Leadership  Hiring Marketing and growth  Operational efficiency  The perspective of the doctor And so much more!  Please follow and share!  ===...

Send us Fan Mail Alethea Bryant and I discussed the unique issues facing therapists of all types: acupunture, massage, behavioral health, occupational/physical therapists and more. Some of what we covered are The importance of empathy  Having systems in place The one thing you must do first to get billing right  And more! Find Alethea here: customerservce@rilluniqueenterprises.com  https://rilluni...

Send us Fan Mail Affirmations have gone mainstream. Healthcare leaders will benefit from a daily reset where you can connect your goals with positive words of encouragement. I hope these affirmations provide some clarity and positivity in your day. Replay them any time. === This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care clinics to hire, retain, and manage better — help...

Send us Fan Mail Eva Minkoff and I discuss some of the biggest mistakes you can make in implementing AI and ways to counteract them. We touched on - The real first question to ask when considering AI - The importance of trust - The rate of implementation - How administrators in healthcare may not have perspective - And more! Eva is the Chief Transformation Officer at Transformental. She can be fou...

Send us Fan Mail Rush Shah, a fractional CFO to healthcare businesses, joined me for a chat about how strategic finance can truly transform your life and your business results. We touched on: Looking forward vs into the past Building dashboards The role of people in financial outcomes  Culture and the impact on profits Creating sanity in your business, and knowing what is merely "vanity"...

Send us Fan Mail Employee compensation is a critical function in clinic leadership. Get it wrong and you'll have turnover, poor employee performance, and unhappy physicians. Get it right and you will unlock productivity and patient satisfaction.  Listen in for my tips to successfully get pay benchmarking right!  === This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care c...

Send us Fan Mail Elise Levine and I chatted about revenue growth, managing claims, and getting paid as an ophthalmology practice.  Elise is the Chief Experience Officer for Eye Med Management Solutions and if you care about revenue in your clinic (like, duh!) then you'll want to give this one a listen!  === This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care clinics to...