The realm of pediatric optometry remains as diverse and dynamic as the very children it serves. With nearly 4 out of 5 school-age children suffering from visual impairment, the urgency to understand, manage, and communicate pediatric optometry's evolution has never been higher.

So, what actually goes on behind the scenes of a pediatric optometrist’s journey? What drives them, and what challenges do they face?

Welcome to The Pediatric Residency Podcast by CooperVision, hosted by Dr. Justin Kwan, Senior Manager at Myopia Management. Today, he sits down with the insightful Dr. Jehann Dagher, a Pediatric Resident at Ohio State University, as they delve deep into the world of pediatric optometry.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Dr. Dagher's personal journey into pediatric optometry, influenced by her childhood experiences.
• The importance of recognizing binocular vision disorders in children with learning or reading disabilities.
• The diverse and innovative treatments available in myopia management.

Dr. Jehann Dagher's passion for optometry stems from her childhood interactions with eye doctors due to her own eye turn condition. As a dedicated Pediatric Resident at Ohio State University, Dr. Dagher brings to the table her valuable experiences, knowledge, and a drive to elevate pediatric optometry. From her role in vision therapy clinics to performing eye exams for infants, Dr. Dagher stands out as an advocate for comprehensive eye care for all ages.

CooperVision recently concluded its 2023 Best Practices Summit in Savannah, Georgia, where three optometry student scholarship winners had the opportunity to participate. In this episode of the ECP Viewpoints podcast, Dr. Jennifer Palombi, Senior Manager of Professional Education and Development at CooperVision, interviews the three student scholarship winners: Emily Benson, Makayla Harr, and Susmitha Narisetty. The students share their top takeaways from the summit and discuss their unexpected learnings and valuable experiences.

The students unanimously agreed that the summit provided valuable insights into marketing and storytelling. They emphasized the importance of effectively marketing oneself in the optometry world, utilizing social media and staying updated on new technologies. The keynote speaker, Matthew Lunn, highlighted the significance of storytelling in pitching oneself to colleagues and patients, making connections, and enhancing patient experiences. The students were pleasantly surprised by the emphasis on personal connections and the willingness of industry professionals to help them succeed.

While the students expected to gain knowledge about optometry practices and industry trends, they were pleasantly surprised by the honest discussions about failures and challenges faced by successful practitioners. This realization reassured them that facing ups and downs in their future practices is normal and provided practical insights on problem-solving. Additionally, they learned about the science of storytelling and how it can capture patients' attention, create a personal touch, and enhance communication with patients and communities.

The students highlighted the importance of making connections during the summit. They appreciated the opportunity to network with practitioners from different practices and schools, expanding their knowledge beyond their immediate circles. They learned from low-vision practitioners, which they were not particularly interested in, but recognized the potential impact on their future patients. The connections made during the summit allowed them to exchange business cards, share experiences, and gain valuable advice for their future careers.

The student scholarship winners expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend the summit and emphasized the honor and privilege it represents. They encouraged fellow students to put themselves out there and seize opportunities for personal and professional growth. They emphasized the significance of connections in the optometry industry, highlighting the small circle and the importance of networking. They urged students to make the most of such experiences, as connections and learnings can contribute to their success as future practitioners.

CooperVision's Best Practices Summit provided the student scholarship winners with valuable insights into marketing, storytelling, and the optometry industry. The students appreciated the emphasis on personal connections and the opportunity to learn from successful practitioners. They encouraged their peers to pursue similar opportunities, recognizing the honor and privilege it entails, and emphasizing the significance of connections in the optometry field. Attending events like the Best Practices Summit can contribute to students' growth and success as they enter the optometry profession.

As the field of optometry becomes increasingly competitive, early-career professionals are seeking guidance on how to navigate their career paths successfully. With the industry witnessing an expansion in roles beyond traditional clinical practice, such as leadership, academia, and industry positions, the necessity to gain diverse skills and build a robust network has never been more essential. Recent studies indicate that networking and mentorship significantly contribute to career advancement in healthcare professions.

So, how can an aspiring optometrist or a young professional build a successful career in this evolving landscape? What skills, experiences, and relationships matter the most?

In this episode of ECP Viewpoints, Host Dr. Tara Vaz delves into the multifaceted sphere of eye care professionals with her esteemed guest, Dr. Quy Nguyen. Together, they unravel the secrets to carving a successful career path in optometry, shedding light on vital elements like skill enhancement, effective networking, and the importance of mentorship.

Drs. Vaz and Nguyen discuss:

• The significance of setting clear career goals, expanding skills, and gaining diverse experiences
• The power of networking and mentorship, both formal and informal, in providing guidance and opening doors in the field
• The importance of communication skills, not just for patient interaction, but for effective leadership

Dr. Nguyen is an accomplished optometrist with a wealth of industry experience. He is a respected leader and educator at the SUNY College of Optometry, where he has implemented a formal mentoring program. Known for his commitment to nurturing the next generation of optometrists, Dr. Nguyen brings invaluable insights into the intricate pathways of optometry careers.

Dr. Chris Wolfe is not only an optometrist but an eyecare evangelist. Wolfe hosts an eye care podcast channel on his EyeCode Media network. He spoke with Dr. Jennifer Palombi about aligning his optometry practice with an independent doctor alliance – in his case, Vision Source, a family of 3,100 locally owned optometric practices.

Wolfe’s father, also an optometrist, joined Vision Source in 2001. When Wolfe took over the family practice, he saw remaining in the alliance as a natural fit for the collective benefits it provides independent practices.

ECP Viewpoints recognizes that optometrists have more options than ever in terms of how they practice. And we’re exploring those options with practitioners who work in those different settings every day. In this first episode of the series, Dr. Jennifer Palombi spoke with Dr. Michael Shaheen from Hills and Dales Vision Care about his path to independent private practice.

For Shaheen, eye care is in the blood; it’s a family thing. His uncle is an optometrist with fifty years of experience. Through a school career shadowing project in the sixth grade with his uncle, Shaheen knew something about optometry he wanted to pursue. “I thought it was so neat. I sat in the back office with him, saw what he did, and what I remembered the most is he mentioned every single person is like a puzzle, and I’ve always had the knack of wanting to fix little things here and there. And since that day, I got interested in it, and it was at the top of my list, and I never swayed from it.”

Shaheen pursued his dreams of becoming an optometrist, but when it came time to set up practice, he didn’t need to look any further than his Canton, Ohio roots. He went to work at his uncle’s practice and continues his work through Hills and Dales Vision Care.

Being in a private practice environment provides many benefits. “We’re 100% independent,” Shaheen said. And that gives his practice freedom. “You can practice any way you want. You can specialize in sports vision; you can do general optometry; you could be a ped’s specialist; you could be a geriatrics specialist; you could add whatever equipment you want. There are always little aspects of the profession that you could open to and start, whether it’s dry eye treatment, more advanced dry eye treatment, therapies, OTC scans…you can get as medical as you want, non-medical as you want. The choices are the beauty of private practice for us.”

Did the pandemic kick off a trend in new contact lens wearers? Perhaps all the mask-wearing and fogged-up glasses played a role. ECP Viewpoints host, Dr. Jennifer Palombi, invited Dr. Jennifer Stewart from OD Perspectives to discuss this uptick in new wearers and how clariti® 1 day contacts make a good fit for patients new to contact lens wear.

“The interest has been really high on contact lenses, and it’s been a great time for new wearers because I think Clariti is such a great choice for these first-time and new wearers,” Stewart said. “It’s my workhorse lens. It’s the lens I reach for time and time again. My scribes in my office don’t even wait; they know when a patient starts discussing contact lenses, and they’re a new wearer, they’re already out of the room grabbing those lenses because they are my go-to choice.”

Most contact lens prescriptions at Dr. Stewart’s office are daily disposables. And while some of her patients still choose bi-weekly or monthly lenses, the conversation is switching more and more to daily lenses. “I think that now they put a higher priority on health, hygiene, cleanliness, and disposability than before so that conversation about price is not as much of an issue as it had been in the past,” Stewart said.

Stewart said the price point of Clariti makes it an affordable option to switch over from monthly and two-week lenses to a single use. “It’s not as much of a jump as some of the premium lens products out there.”

For those with environmental concerns over daily disposable lenses, Clariti 1 day is the first net plastic neutral contact lens in the U.S. Stewart said she loves when people bring these concerns up because it provides an opportunity to let them know about this news. “These contacts are less wasteful, which sounds crazy, but they are less wasteful than the lenses you’re actually wearing.” When considering all of the plastic that goes into solution bottles and storage cases that people go through in a year with monthly and two-week lenses, the cost comparisons and environmental savings mean single-use lenses can be a viable daily option.

When students graduate from optometry school, they are prepared to be clinicians and take care of patients. However, it doesn’t take long for graduates to realize they are much more than doctors. Running an optometry practice requires doctors to be a jack of all trades and many quickly realize they simply don’t have the skill set to run a business—not to mention the knowledge needed to overcome common challenges of practice management. Dr. Jennifer Palombi, Senior Manager of Professional Education and Development at CooperVision® and ECP Viewpoints podcast host, sat down with Dr. Matthew Greene, Owner of Urban Optics, and Dr. Breann Forliti, Owner and CEO at Blaine Eye Clinic, to discuss the importance of long-term planning to a practice’s success.

Dr. Jennifer Palombi speaks with Alice Hsueh about the new net plastic neutrality initiative started by CooperVision back in 2021. The program partnered with Plastic Bank in 171 unique coastal cities to clean up plastic waste and helps the environment by directly impacting people taking part through its plastic collection in exchange for food, water, and education. The program started in 2021 with Clarity One Day contact lenses and expanded to the CooperVision My Day product line this year.

The net plastic neutrality program collects and reprocesses plastic material into the global market. In the first year, the program collected an equivalent of 22 million plastic water bottles. To put it into perspective, Hseuh explained, if the bottles were stacked on top of each other, “it would be 13 times taller than the Empire State Building.”

After adding the My Day family of products and expanding the partnership with Plastic Bank, CooperVision has set the goal of collecting the equivalent of 55 million plastic bottles this year, which is more than double the impact made in 2021.

Hsueh expressed that the practitioner and offices can benefit from aligning with CooperVision’s net neutrality plastic products and initiative. A majority of US consumers report that sustainability is a significant factor in maintaining loyal patients. When practices align themselves with the values of their market, it creates an emotional connection. Emotional connections lead to word-of-mouth referrals. Doctors can gain a competitive edge in their market with this differentiator. Furthermore, 8/10 surveyed that wear contact lenses would be more interested in wearing them if the lens was net plastic neutral.

CooperVision is committed to sustainable practices. Plastic is vital to the hygienic delivery and sterile production of contact lenses. Both facilities that manufacture One Day and My Day products focus on four pillars of sustainability which include water, energy, recycling, and the individuals involved in manufacturing. The facilities aim to conserve water and recycle plastic use in production.