OIS Podcast | Ophthalmology's leading Podcast

Today’s EHRs can create click fatigue, notebloat, and disconnected workflows, but what would it take to build an EHR designed for the AI era from the ground up? In this episode of the OIS Podcast, host Firas Rahhal, MD speaks with retina specialist Dr. Andy Gonzalez, joined by Dr. Kevin Talbot, about the challenges of legacy EHR systems and his work building Retinex. They discuss what an AI-native EHR could look like, from FHIR-first data and interoperability to prior authorization, billing, and a more seamless clinical workflow for eye care practices.
 
In this episode, learn about:
🔹 Why legacy EHR systems create technical debt, click fatigue, and notebloat
🔹 Retinex’s approach to building an AI-native EHR and what clinicians actually need from their technology
🔹 Why interoperability and structured clinical data are critical to creating more connected workflows
🔹 How prior authorization, payer contracts, billing, and other administrative challenges could be integrated into the EHR
🔹 What’s next for Retinex, including its pilot rollout, MVP development, and plans for continued clinician-driven innovation

Inherited retinal diseases can profoundly affect a child’s vision and development, yet there are no approved drug treatments for most of these conditions in children. In this episode of Eye on Innovation, host Carey Powers speaks with Carmen Carrichio, CEO and founder of RareSight, about why pediatric inherited retinal diseases have historically received less attention and investment than adult diseases — and how advances in genetic testing and clinical assessment are beginning to change that.

In this episode, learn about: 

• Why treatments developed for adults cannot simply be applied to children
• Where gene therapy may fit into the future of care
• RareSight’s approach to developing treatments designed to remain in the eye longer
• How these treatments will change the trajectory of a child’s life

RESOURCES: 

Carey Powers: Carey Powers, MBA | Ophthalmology Innovation Source  

Firas Rahhal, M.D., partner of ExSight Ventures and Retina Vitreous Associates Medical Group, and Scott Usiak, co-founder of ExSight Ventures, join host Carey Powers on the Eye on Innovation podcast to discuss their new venture, ExSight Catalyst. They dive into the services they provide to investors and colleagues, how they're filling a gap that a fund alone cannot fulfill, and what a client walks away with from their experience at Catalyst. 

In this episode, learn about:  

• How compliance, risk, and operations from a global financial institution translate into advising early-stage ophthalmic innovators 
• Conducting due diligence on companies how that’s helped with Catalyst 
• What to expect from Catalyst in the next year 
• The importance of being a doer and operator for an enterprise 

PANELIST (TITLE and AFFILIATION):  

• Richard L. Beckman, M.D., Principal, RLB, M.D. Consulting, LLC 
• Malvina Eydelman, M.D., CEO, The Collaborative Community on Ophthalmic Innovation 

MODERATOR: Barbara Wirostko, M.D., FARVO, CMO and Co-Founder, Qlaris Bio 

Description:

How should you design your first-in-human study? Richard L. Beckman, M.D., principal of RLB, M.D. Consulting, LLC, and Malvina Eydelman, M.D., CEO of the Collaborative Community on Ophthalmic Innovation, sit down on a panel at OIS Ignite 2025, moderated by Barbara Wirostko, M.D., FARVO, CMO and co-founder, Qlaris Bio, to discuss what goes into designing first-in-human studies, including the preclinical work, the right people to advise you, and considering the population and patients. Also, stay tuned for updates on the next OIS Ignite, taking place on March 2027! 

In this episode, learn about:  

• How the FDA can help and if it’s ever “too early” to reach out to them 
• The FDA’s perspective  
• Establishing a target product profile 
• If a DSMB is recommended for trials 

RESOURCES:  

Barbara Wirostko: https://ois.net/barbara-wirostko-md-farvo/  

Richard L. Beckman: https://ois.net/richard-rick-l-beckman-md/  

Malvina Eydelman: https://ois.net/malvina-eydelman/  

Gordon Bethwaite, head of marketing of eye care at Viatris, joins the Eye on Innovation podcast with host Carey Powers, M.B.A. to discuss Viatris’ footprint and impact on ophthalmology on a global scale. Bethwaite shares details on the company’s overall strategic vision for eye care, their fifth anniversary, and how it handles the “noisy category” that is dry eye.

In this episode, learn about: 

• Viatris’ acquisitions and license agreements with different companies
• What Tyrvaya brings to the table for clinicians and patients
• How Viatris is tackling unmet markets
• What innovation means to Viatris in the context of ophthalmology

RESOURCES: 

Carey Powers: https://ois.net/carey-powers/    

Gordon Bethwaite: https://ois.net/gordon-bethwaite/ 

Rakhi Melvani, M.D., board-certified cornea and cataract and refractive surgeon at Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute, joins the Eye on Innovation podcast with host Carey Powers, M.B.A. to discuss innovative corneal treatments and how they’re changing the way patients receive treatment. Their conversation explores the FDA approval of Epioxa, an epithelium-on corneal collagen cross-linking therapy to treat progressive keratoconus, as well as refractive surgery and dry eye therapies.  

In this episode, learn about:  

• Ray tracing-based customization technology and how it’s different from Lasik 
• Collagen mimetic peptides and how they work 
• ST100 and the patients that would benefit from it 

RESOURCES:  

Carey Powers: https://ois.net/carey-powers/  

Ehsan Sadri, M.D., CEO and founder of Visionary Eye Institute, joins the Eye on Innovation podcast to discuss the advancements of interventional glaucoma. With host Carey Powers, their conversation delves into how Sadri has changed patient care and management, the advancements he’s most excited for, and his thoughts on those who have yet to adopt interventional glaucoma as a practice mainstay. 

In this episode, learn about:  

• The burden of drops on practices 
• The characteristics to look for when choosing a minimally invasive procedure 
• Metrics to evaluate success for interventional glaucoma procedures 
• How patient education has evolved 
• How interventional glaucoma procedures contribute positively toward patient adherence and engagement 

RESOURCES:  

Carey Powers: https://ois.net/carey-powers/     

Dr. Ehsan Sadri: https://ois.net/ehsan-sadri-md/ 

Peter Michael Benz, Ph.D., joins The Rob & Jai Show, an edition of the OIS podcast, to discuss Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH’s ambitious goals for the ophthalmology field, particularly on glaucoma, and the reasons behind the company’s partnership with Ravana Therapeutics, as well as offer advice on what makes for a good partnership. 

In this episode of the OIS podcast, learn about:  

• Boehringer emerging from stealth mode for eye health projects  
• Their plans for their investments in the U.S. 
• Why it was so important for Boehringer to partner up with Ravana 
• What makes a good partnership 

RESOURCES:  
Dr. Rob Rothman: https://ois.net/robert-rothman-md/ 
Dr. Jai Parekh: https://ois.net/jai-g-parekh-md-mba/ 
Dr. Peter Michael Benz: https://ois.net/peter-michael-benz-phd/  
 

Malvina Eydelman, M.D., CEO of The Collaborative Community on Ophthalmic Innovation (CCOI), joins The Rob & Jai Show, an edition of the OIS podcast, to discuss what innovation in the industry looks like in the next 30 years—and if we’re hitting a saturation mark. Plus, a deep dive into Eydelman’s career in the FDA, her current role at the CCOI, and a big announcement of her next initiative. 

In this episode of the OIS podcast, learn about:  

• Eydelman’s time at the FDA and the many hats she wore 
• The goal and plans of the CCOI 
• The role of AI in digital management and getting more patients into the system 
• Details about Eydelman’s next big initiative 

RESOURCES:  

Dr. Rob Rothman: https://ois.net/robert-rothman-md/ 
Dr. Jai Parekh: https://ois.net/jai-g-parekh-md-mba/  

Dr. Malvina Eydelman: https://ois.net/malvina-eydelman/  

Adrienne Graves, Ph.D. returns, this time on The Rob & Jai Show, an edition of the OIS podcast. As a trailblazer of the industry, Dr. Graves shares her insights and lessons learned as a CEO and board member of several companies. She also discusses getting treatment to areas around the world that need it the most, how AI will affect and continue to impact eyecare and healthcare at large, and utilizing ophthalmic data for systemic disease diagnosis and management. 

In this episode of the OIS podcast, learn about:  

• Getting affordable and accessible ophthalmological therapies across the world 
• The differences between being a CEO and a board member 
• The impact of AI on eyecare and how it applies to practices 
• The next hot topic of ophthalmology 

RESOURCES:  

Dr. Rob Rothman: https://ois.net/robert-rothman-md/ 
Dr. Jai Parekh: https://ois.net/jai-g-parekh-md-mba/  

Adrienne Graves, Ph.D.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennegraves