CRST: The Podcast

Carrie Jacobs, COE, CPSS, OCS, and Scott LaBorwit, MD, explore innovative practice management strategies for premium cataract surgery. In this episode, Carrie shares insights on how operational excellence can be seamlessly integrated with patient care to create an efficient, patient-centered practice, while Dr. LaBorwit shares his experience streamlining consultations through a dedicated cataract-only clinic and leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and outcomes. 

Neda Nikpoor, MD, and Neda Shamie, MD, sit down with Kendall E. Donaldson, MD, MS, to explore the evolving landscape of academic ophthalmology. Dr. Donaldson shares her unique career journey—from her time as a resident and fellow at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute to her current leadership role in expanding academic satellite practices.

Neda Nikpoor, MD, and Neda Shamie, MD, are joined by Karl G. Stonecipher, MD, to explore strategies for improving the patient experience in refractive surgery. Dr. Stonecipher shares insights on addressing patient anxieties, building trust through personalized consultations, and creating a welcoming clinical environment. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding each patient’s unique concerns, using body language and open-ended questions to guide conversations, and fostering a supportive team culture.

In the next installment of Best Practices in Keratoconus Management, Brandon Ayres, MD, invites Eva Kim, MD, to share tips and tricks for optimizing one’s practice for keratoconus treatment scheduling. Dr. Kim highlights important considerations for documenting disease progression to improve efficiencies in treatment and practice workflow.

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In this episode of CRST: The Podcast, William F. Wiley, MD, joins John F. Doane, MD, FACS, and Michael D. Greenwood, MD, to tackle some of the most persistent myths in refractive surgery. From misconceptions about LASIK and astigmatism correction to patient expectations and the role of pupil size, the conversation sheds light on how far the field has come and where challenges remain. 

In this episode of Neda Squared, Neda Nikpoor, MD, and Neda Shamie, MD, are joined by Tanya Trinh, MBBS, FRANZCO, FWCRS, an expert on unconscious gender bias, to explore how bias impacts the medical profession. Together, they discuss the subtle yet pervasive ways bias manifests—from disparities in surgical caseloads to the challenges of imposter syndrome—and how these issues shape surgeons’ careers. 

Kendall E. Donaldson, MD, MS, is joined by Marjan Farid, MD, and George O. Waring IV, MD, FACS, to explore the transformative potential of adjustability in IOL technology. The conversation focuses on strategies for patient selection, managing expectations in post-refractive cases, and achieving precise outcomes in complex scenarios with adjustable lenses. Beyond current applications, the discussion expands to future innovations, such as refractive index shaping and modular IOLs, which are poised to reshape cataract and refractive surgery. To explore these topics further, check out the August issue of CRST: https://crstoday.com/articles/aug-2024/the-future-of-iols-embracing-adjustability?single=true.

In this episode of Neda Squared, hosts Neda Nikpoor, MD, and Neda Shamie, MD, delve into the complexities of hyperopic refractive surgery, exploring solutions for patients over 40 years of age with presbyopia and strategies for managing the more challenging younger hyperopes. They share insights into patient selection, education, and the importance of setting realistic expectations. 

In this new podcast series examining hot topics and clinical pearls for managing keratoconus, Brandon Ayres, MD, invites Priya Mathews, MD, MPH, to discuss how she fits crosslinking into her practice. Dr. Mathews explains how she appointed a member of her team to the “quarterback” position of organizing and managing the many moving parts of scheduling these patients. She also invites her keratoconus quarterback, Mikelle Williams, to share her approach to building relationships with patients.

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In this follow-up to their initial discussion on integrating refractive surgery into practice and attracting patients, Neda Nikpoor, MD, and Neda Shamie, MD, now focus on optimizing the patient experience through a knowledgeable and enthusiastic team. They discuss how a positive patient journey—from the initial phone call to postoperative follow-up—can enhance trust and satisfaction, making refractive surgery more accessible and appealing. They also explore the benefits of expanding offerings beyond LASIK, sharing insights on identifying ideal candidates for each procedure and ensuring optimal outcomes with advanced diagnostic tools such as tomography and epithelial mapping.