Kevin Barber, MD, speaks with Cynthia Matossian, MD, and Sara O’Connor, MD, MPH, about strategies to address workforce shortages and training gaps in ophthalmic care. Dr. Matossian outlines the American College of Eye Technicians and its technician training model to expand career awareness and technical competency, and Dr. O’Connor describes ACE Global’s ophthalmic technician program in Honduras and a community health worker curriculum. Dr. Barber reviews distance surgical mentorship, a smartphone-to-microscope telementoring approach that supports ophthalmologists in low-resource settings as they transition to independent cataract surgery. Together, these initiatives illustrate a scalable, team-based pipeline to build capacity and reduce preventable blindness; related perspectives appear in CRST’s June 2025 “Bridging the Gap” issue. 
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Building on their first discussion Neda Shamie, MD, revisits the topic with Tanya Trinh, MBBS, FRANZCO, FWCRS, shifting from recognition to implementation. The conversation covers building inclusive programs (diversifying panels and thoughtfully limiting repeat speakers to create space), engaging male allies and role models, applying blinded selection where feasible, and auditing outcomes.

In this episode, experts in administrative support join Brandon D. Ayres, MD, to discuss their role in facilitating patient treatment for keratoconus. Susan DeGroot, MBA, executive director at Vance Thompson Vision, and Vivian Cole, BA, director of administrative services at Horizon Eye Specialists, explain their approaches to bringing patients into their practices, securing approval for crosslinking treatment, coordinating with referring doctors, and more.

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This special edition of CRST: The Podcast, recorded live at AECOS Europe 2025 in London, features six discussions from Eyetube’s Meeting Coverage. Topics include patient selection and long-term outcomes in presbyopia correction, advances in keratorefractive lenticule extraction, innovation in IOL customization, automated slit lamp imaging integration, solid-state laser technology, adjustable lens use in complex cases, and keratopigmentation techniques.

Neda Shamie, MD, sits down with George O. Waring IV, MD, FACS, for a conversation about his journey from academic medicine to founding the Waring Vision Institute in Charleston, South Carolina. They explore his philosophy toward refractive care, the origin and impact of the term dysfunctional lens syndrome, and how his practice uniquely blends research, surgical innovation, and patient-centered care.

Jai Parekh, MD, MBA, FAAO, chief commercial officer for Nordic Pharma Inc., and Phil Gioia, president of Nordic Pharma Inc., invite Darrell White, MD, to share his real-world experiences with LACRIFILL® Canalicular Gel.

In this episode, Drs. Waring and Chu share clinical insights and real-world experience from the first year of using the Teneo 317 excimer laser for correcting myopia and myopic astigmatism. As the first excimer platform to receive FDA approval in over 15 years, the Teneo 317 introduces modern performance to U.S. practices with its compact design, fast ablation speed, and intuitive user interface. The conversation covers key findings from the FDA clinical trial and early post-market use, including exceptional visual acuity outcomes, improved night vision, and high levels of patient satisfaction.

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 Drs. Neda and Neda sit down with John A. Hovanesian, MD, to unpack how to truly empower cataract patients in today’s practice. They share practical insights on building trust, handling patient fears, and guiding decision-making for premium IOLs and lifestyle vision goals. 

Laura Livesey and Rod Solar unpack the six stages of private ophthalmology practice growth—from launching and gaining visibility to optimizing operations at scale. They explore the key challenges at each stage and the strategies practices can use to progress, offering a clear, practical framework to identify your current stage and plan your next steps.

What does the landscape look like for office-based surgery? And what are on-the-ground experiences telling us about the future of eye care? Join moderator John A. Hovanesian, MD, as he hears from Mark Lobanoff, MD, and
Dagny Zhu, MD, both of whom have extensive experience with office-based surgery. Hear about their insights, their unexpected (pleasant) surprises, and their specific approaches in this special coverage on CRST: The Podcast.