Four Eyes is sharing an all-new Case Reflection episode where Dr. Bilkhu and Dr. Kar discuss a patient encounter that led to firing the patient from the practice. This is an important conversation that new graduates and young ODs can learn from, especially when working as an associate doctor within a corporate or private practice setting.

The conversation dives into what could lead the doctor and staff to become uncomfortable with a patient, how a decision to break up with the patient comes to be, and what steps should be taken to ensure the procedure is handled appropriately and professionally.

It’s rare to have these conversations openly with other Optometrists, so be sure to listen to the entire episode and take notes!

The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect

Check out these resources mentioned in today’s episode: American Optometric Association - Ethics Forum; CPSO - Ending the Physician-Patient Relationship

In this hour-long episode, the Four Eyes hosts dive deep into a conversation with Dr. Davinder Sidhu, an Optometrist practicing in British Columbia, regarding business metrics that apply to business owners and associate doctors.

This is a very rare topic of discussion for young Optometrists, as business training is not taught in most Optometry schools. Dr. Sidhu shares very detailed information about the numbers we should be paying attention to in a practice, and how we can use those numbers to increase profits as well as patient satisfaction. The best part about this episode is that Dr. Sidhu’s advice applies not just to business owners, but also young associate Optometrists who are wanting to grow and become more involved within their practice location. 

You will not find the depth of this information anywhere else in the Optometry world, so be sure to listen to the entire episode and take down notes!

The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect

Learn more about Dr. Davinder Sidhu

Check out these resources mentioned in today’s episode: Review of Optometric Business; ODs on Finance; Eyecare Business Magazine; Optometric Management; The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber; Key Performance Indicators by Bernard Marr; Measure School on Youtube

Amrit and Deepon sit down with Dr. Alexa Hecht, a new grad Optometrist from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry, to talk about her journey into practicing. Alexa shares the ups and downs of working in multiple practice locations six days a week, and how this work-life “imbalance” took a toll on her mental health and her attitude towards each location. Her story is very similar to many new grad Optometrists struggling to find their “perfect” practice setting while trying to balance student loan debt, networking, and managing stress. The end of the conversation ties in all of Dr. Hecht’s lessons which she kindly shares for other Optometrists who are going through the same situation. 

The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect

Learn more about Dr. Alexa Hecht on TikTok and Instagram

Dr. Dan Friederich joins the Four Eyes podcast to share how he elevates the patient experience by offering high-quality ophthalmic products that aren’t available through mass distribution, and how that unique patient experience then leads to better Google reviews for the practice.

This is a great conversation that emphasizes the importance of setting expectations in the quality of care we provide to patients, encouraging staff members to believe in those expectations, and achieving a great reputation within the community by getting patients to share their experiences on Google.

The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect

Learn more about Dr. Dan Friederich and Eyeganics

Deepon and Amrit catch up on their week. Amrit shares her personal experience on the hiring process for her new private practice.

The Four Eyes hosts then sit down with a fellow colleague from the Illinois College of Optometry, Dr. Manveen Bedi. Dr. Bedi is residency-trained in specialty contact lenses, and has successfully opened a new private practice where she offers specialty contact lens services to the communities within the Greater Toronto Area.

The hosts chat with Dr. Bedi about her motivation to complete a residency program, what it was like to open a practice as a young OD, and how other new graduates can dive into offering specialty lens services early into their careers.

The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect

Learn more about Dr. Manveen Bedi and her practice

Check out these resources mentioned in today’s episode:

Four Eyes Episode 30. How to Add Scleral Lenses to Your Practice; GP Lens Institute; Scleral Lens Education Society; Modern Optometry;  Eyes on Eyecare

Dr. Ying Zhao, a Canadian Optometrist practicing at Avenue Eyecare in British Columbia, joins the Four Eyes hosts to discuss myopia control from the perspective of a young OD. Dr. Zhao answers questions on parent education, shares her treatment options for pediatric and adult onset myopia, and comments on the latest technology offered for myopia control.

The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect

Learn more about Dr. Ying Zhao

Resources mentioned in the episode: Vision by Design 2023; World Council of Optometry; International Myopia Institute

Negotiating a contract as a new grad OD can be as terrifying as the first day of Optometry school. That’s why we’ve invited Dr. Emilie Seitz to the Four Eyes podcast to provide tips on negotiating contracts, identifying red flags, discussing money, and how to prioritize your needs. Dr. Seitz also shares her personal experiences when negotiating for job opportunities, as well as social media collaborations! 

The Four Eyes Podcast is brought to you by YoungOD Connect

Learn more about Dr. Emilie Seitz

Resources mentioned in the episode:  ODs on Finance contract review and counseling; Gender and Optometry Wage Gaps by Dr. 

Dr. Maharaj joins our podcast (for the third time!) to share the journey behind merging his successful dry eye specialty practice into a nationally recognized ophthalmology practice. The cohesive relationship between EyeLabs and the Prism Eye Institute is an excellent demonstration of how ODs and OMDs practice together as "heroes" to treat the common "villains" of eye disease. Dr. Maharaj shares not only his journey towards the Prism Eye Institute, but also his opinion on how Optometry is shifting. The landscape of Optometry is changing, and so we also discuss the importance of emphasizing medical specialties in Optometry.

Resources:

Dr. Jasdeep Soni, also known as Optoturban on social media, returns to the podcast to share his personal experience with burnout through his optometric career and social media presence, and the steps he has taken to address mental fatigue. Dr. Bilkhu and Dr. Kar contribute to the conversation to bring a new graduate OD perspective on mental burnout that they have also experienced early into their careers.

Check out Episode 32: Life as a New Grad with Optoturban to see what Dr. Soni was up to in the early stages of his career!

Follow us on Instagram @foureyesoptom and listen to our podcast on all available podcast platforms.

We’re back with another season of Four Eyes! Dr. Kar and Dr. Bilkhu kick off the season by sharing tidbits they’ve learned over the early years of their career in hopes to help new graduate optometrists find their confidence and know their worth. Some of the tidbits also stress important tips on refractions and how to navigate Rx re-checks.

Follow us on Instagram @foureyesoptom and listen to our podcast on all available podcast platforms.

Resources mentioned in the episode: