Mayo Clinic Ophthalmology Podcast

What does it take to go from ophthalmologist to health system CEO? Dr. David Herman, former Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist and current CEO of Essentia Health, joins us to reflect on his remarkable career journey and the lessons he has learned along the way. We discuss physician leadership, decision making, delegation, navigating conflict and change, and how clinical training can shape leadership at the highest levels of health care.

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The appearance of any guest does not imply an endorsement of them, their employer, or any entity they represent.

In this podcast we sit down with pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Brad Black who founded and leads a special Music training program for children with visual impairment called “Vision through Music”. Tune in to hear how visually impaired children often have unique musicality potential and about the program to develop and appreciate this gift.

The appearance of any guest does not imply an endorsement of them, their employer, or any entity they represent.

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For our 100th episode, we welcome Dr. Will Flanary, the ophthalmologist and comedian behind Dr. Glaucomflecken. Dr. Flanary shares how an anonymous creative outlet grew into a platform reaching millions and takes us behind the specialty characters we all love. Dr. Will Flanary shares how humor, storytelling, and satire have helped create meaningful conversations about the realities of modern healthcare and the physician experience. We discuss why physicians struggle to speak with one voice, how state-level advocacy can create real change, and why he is urging communities to “keep medicine local.” Funny, candid, and hopeful, this episode reveals why Dr. Glaucomflecken’s humor resonates with all of us.

The appearance of any guest does not imply an endorsement of them, their employer, or any entity they represent.

Subscribe to the podcast:  https://MayoClinicOphthalmology.podbean.com  

Follow and reach out to us on X and IG: @mayocliniceye

In this episode, Dr. Bernhisel discusses two articles on global ophthalmology. Tune in to learn about Dissemination and Implementation Science and why innovative advancements don’t typically translate to improved patient outcomes. One of the articles is an opinion piece on overcoming the “last-mile translational gap” in ophthalmology care globally. The other is a successful example where a Smart phone app enhanced follow up after failed school screening in Kenya. As much as imaging and AI help us dream big in ophthalmology, these articles remind us that we need to be mindful of patient behavior, reach, adoption, fidelity, and sustainability.

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What if a decades-old infection-control rule isn’t actually making eye care safer and is instead damaging equipment, generating unnecessary plastic waste, and costing the health care system millions?  In this episode, we are joined by Mayo Clinic glaucoma specialist, Dr. Cheryl Khanna, to discuss a potentially practice-changing position statement from the American Glaucoma Society and American Academy of Ophthalmology on tonometer disinfection. The group explores why longstanding high-level disinfection requirements may deserve reconsideration, including the lack of confirmed infections transmitted through tonometry, potential damage to Goldmann tonometer tips from high-level disinfection, and the unique antimicrobial properties of the ocular surface.  Tune in to hear evidence supporting physical cleaning and low-level disinfection for appropriately selected patients.  Finally, the conversation tackles the financial and environmental consequences of disposable devices in ophthalmology and what still needs to happen before these recommendations translate into widespread changes in clinical practice.

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In Part 2, we transitioned to a journal club featuring two impactful recent publications on astigmatism management. Dr. Sella reviews a randomized clinical trial comparing femtosecond laser arcuate keratotomy (FLAK) versus toric intraocular lens implantation for the correction of corneal astigmatism during cataract surgery, followed by a discussion of toric intraocular lens calculations in eyes with corneal ectasia, highlighting the unique challenges of achieving accurate refractive outcomes in patients with irregular corneas.

Together, both episodes combine expert perspective with the latest clinical evidence, offering practical insights into contemporary cataract and refractive surgery. Whether you are a resident, comprehensive ophthalmologist, anterior segment surgeon, or simply interested in advances in ophthalmology, we hope you enjoy both parts of this special series.

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In this two-part episode, we welcome Dr. Ruti Sella, who is a cataract, cornea, and refractive surgeon, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, and Clinical Practice Chair at Mayo Clinic. In Part 1, we explore the evolution of modern cataract surgery, discussing advances in refractive outcomes, premium intraocular lenses, surgical planning, keratoconus, and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in improving precision and personalization of cataract surgery.

Together, these episodes combine expert perspective with the latest clinical evidence, offering practical insights into contemporary cataract and refractive surgery. Whether you are a resident, comprehensive ophthalmologist, anterior segment surgeon, or simply interested in advances in ophthalmology, we hope you enjoy both parts of this special series.

Subscribe to the podcast:  https://MayoClinicOphthalmology.podbean.com 

Follow and reach out to us on X and IG: @mayocliniceye

In today’s Mayo Clinic Ophthalmology Podcast, Dr. Sophie Bakri and I visit with retina specialist Dr. Joan Miller of Harvard Medical School. Her pioneering work helped establish photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration and contributed to the development of anti-VEGF therapies that have transformed the lives of millions of patients worldwide. Tune in to hear about her leadership journey and remarkable career advancing treatments for AMD.

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In this episode, glaucoma specialist and ocular dynamics researcher Arthur Sit, MD, MS, explores the hidden world of intraocular pressure fluctuations, why body position, sleep, and daily activities can influence eye pressure, and whether these changes contribute to glaucoma progression. Join us for a fascinating discussion on the future of continuous eye pressure monitoring and what it may reveal about protecting vision.

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In this episode, cornea experts Dr. Keith Baratz and Dr. Elisabeth Cohen discuss the Herpes Zoster Eye Disease study. Tune in to appreciate how long term Valacyclovir minimizes the symptoms and sequelae of this challenging condition. 

Subscribe to the podcast:  https://MayoClinicOphthalmology.podbean.com  

Follow and reach out to us on X and IG: @mayocliniceye