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About Dr. Kalfayan

Dr. Nona Kalfayan is a leading expert in her field of primary eye health, and a highly sought-after physician specializing in treating dry eye disease nationwide. She holds a Doctor of Optometry Degree from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) College of Optometry, specializing in advanced ocular surface disease. Dr. Kalfayan’s dedication lies in holistic and preventive eye care. As the founder of Atlantic Eyecare & Spa in Pompano Beach, Florida, she specializes in Dry Eye, non-surgical ocular aesthetics, specialty contact lenses and myopic control. Atlantic Eyecare & Spa is renowned for its cutting-edge diagnostic technology and drop-less treatments for dry eye condition. Dr. Kalfayan was honored as one of “America’s Top Optometrists” in 2012 and is a frequent public speaker, healthcare consultant, and advisor to some major institutions in the eye care industry. Additionally, she serves as the treasurer for the Broward County Optometric Association and is a member of the Florida Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association.

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In this episode of The OI Show, Dr. Dave Kading reconnects with Dr. Jennifer Stewart, a visionary in optometry and practice management. After selling her successful large group practice in 2022, Dr. Stewart took a leap of faith, stepping away from clinical care and embarking on a transformative journey of consulting, speaking, and self-reflection. Fast forward to 2024, she’s back with a cold-start boutique practice in New Canaan, Connecticut, redefining what it means to create a patient-centered optometric experience.

Key Takeaways:

• The challenges and rewards of stepping away from a large practice and starting fresh.
• How Dr. Stewart built a streamlined, patient-focused practice with no front desk, paperless systems, and a smaller but highly efficient team.
• Insights into controlling costs, balancing high-quality care with profitability, and creating a unique patient experience.
• Lessons learned from listening, observing, and taking inspiration from industry trends while crafting a personalized vision for her new practice.

Dr. Stewart shares candidly about her journey, from moments of doubt to the triumph of building a practice that aligns with her passion and values.

Looking for inspiration to start fresh or rethink your practice model? Tune in to hear Dr. Stewart’s actionable insights and innovative approaches. Don’t forget to subscribe to The OI Show for more episodes with industry leaders and leave us a 5-star review to help others discover these transformative conversations!

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About Dr. Elise Kramer

Dr. Elise Kramer is a residency-trained optometrist in Miami FL who specializes in ocular surface disease and specialty contact lens design and fitting.

Her Doctorate degree was awarded in Optometry from the Université de Montréal in 2012. During her fourth year, she completed her internship in ocular disease at the Eye Centers of South Florida and went on to complete her residency at the Miami VA Medical Center. Her time there included training at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the nation’s top eye hospital. After her residency, Dr. Kramer became a fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society (SLS) and now serves as the vice president for the SLS. Dr. Kramer is also vice president of Women in Eyecare (WiE), a member of the American Optometric Association (AOA), the International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE), a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and of the the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA). She is also the Delegate of International Relations for the Italian Association of Scleral Lenses (AILeS).  Dr. Kramer has published several important articles and reviews and is participates in clinical research trials. She enjoys lecturing all around the world in several different languages about ocular surface disease and specialty lenses. 

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About Zac Denning

Zac Denning is the Director of Scientific & Professional Affairs at ScienceBased Health (SBH), which he joined in 1999. Following his passion for science, Mr. Denning studied biology and biochemistry at Evergreen where he received his Bachelor of Science. Working alongside scientists, clinicians and researchers, he has helped SBH pioneer new categories of eye supplements that are now widely recognized and utilized in eye care. Zac travels and presents widely, educating eye doctors and medical groups about the scientific basis for eye nutrition.
Zac has also helped maintain the company’s focus on primary clinical research in areas like dry eye and glaucoma. As a leader in eye nutrition and dry eye, Zac serves on the Corporate Advisory Board for Dry Eye Access and other companies, and has been profiled or featured in a variety of eyecare publications.

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About Kaleb Abbott

Is an optometrist and assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is faculty in both the Dry Eye Clinic and the Center for Ocular Inflammation where he specializes in complex ocular surface disease and participates in clinical trials/research pertaining to ocular surface disease. 

In addition to his clinical and research duties, he is on the board of directors for the Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society; Vice Chair of the Nutrition, Disease Prevention, and Wellness SIG for AAO; on the advisory council for the Academic Medical Center Optometry AAO SIG; and on the editorial advisory board for Optometry360. He will be graduating from the AAO Flom Leadership Academy at AAO 2024. In 2024, he became host of the Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease section of the Clinical Podcast Series through the American Academy of Optometry Foundation. 

In 2019, Kaleb co-founded a start-up company called SunSnap Kids which took 1st place in the inaugural Bright Ideas Pitch Competition in 2022 and 3rd place in the Optometry Innovation Awards in 2023. Recently he sold the majority of this company to focus more on his clinical and research responsibilities at the University of Colorado. 

When not seeing patients, conducting research, or working on SunSnap Kids, Dr. Abbott lectures on ocular surface disease, writes articles, and is a medical reviewer for multiple medical journals including The Ocular Surface and Optometry and Vision Science. He resides in Denver, CO with his wife, daughter, and newborn twins. 

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In this insightful episode, we dive into the world of keratoconus and explore the latest advances in specialty contact lens fitting. Dr. Karen Deloss, a leading expert from the University of Michigan, shares her invaluable insights and clinical pearls that every optometry professional needs to hear.

 What You'll Learn:

• Key indicators for testing keratoconus: What to watch for in your patients.
• The differences between gas permeable and soft lenses for keratoconus care.
• The importance of community and networking at the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS).
• Tips for submitting research and case studies to contribute to the field.

Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just starting your journey in specialty lenses, this episode is packed with knowledge that can enhance your practice and patient care.

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About  Dr. Julie Rodman

Is the Chief of the Broward Eye Care Institute in Fort Lauderdale, FL and a
Professor of Optometry at Nova Southeastern University. She also is the Instructor of Record
for Posterior Segment Disease at the College. Her research interests include OCT/OCTA and
Vitreoretinal Disease. Dr. Rodman has authored over thirty publications with an emphasis on
retinal disease. She recently published “Optical Coherence Tomography Atlas: A Case Study
Approach”, the first reference book on this topic written by an optometrist. Dr. Rodman is a
member of the AOA, AAO, FOA, and ORS. She has been the recipient of numerous teaching
awards, was recognized as a Primary Care Optometry News “Top 300” Optometrists and
“Newsweek Best Optometrists of 2023”.

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About Kaleb Abbott

Is an optometrist and assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is faculty in both the Dry Eye Clinic and the Center for Ocular Inflammation where he specializes in complex ocular surface disease and participates in clinical trials/research pertaining to ocular surface disease. 

In addition to his clinical and research duties, he is on the board of directors for the Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society; Vice Chair of the Nutrition, Disease Prevention, and Wellness SIG for AAO; on the advisory council for the Academic Medical Center Optometry AAO SIG; and on the editorial advisory board for Optometry360. He will be graduating from the AAO Flom Leadership Academy at AAO 2024. In 2024, he became host of the Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease section of the Clinical Podcast Series through the American Academy of Optometry Foundation. 

In 2019, Kaleb co-founded a start-up company called SunSnap Kids which took 1st place in the inaugural Bright Ideas Pitch Competition in 2022 and 3rd place in the Optometry Innovation Awards in 2023. Recently he sold the majority of this company to focus more on his clinical and research responsibilities at the University of Colorado. 

When not seeing patients, conducting research, or working on SunSnap Kids, Dr. Abbott lectures on ocular surface disease, writes articles, and is a medical reviewer for multiple medical journals including The Ocular Surface and Optometry and Vision Science. He resides in Denver, CO with his wife, daughter, and newborn twins. 

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About Mike Cymbor

Is a dynamic and engaging speaker.  He lectures frequently on the topics of glaucoma and advanced diagnostic procedures.  He also speaks on diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, dry eye and ocular surface disease.  He has a growing interest in the intersection between health, diet and ocular disease.  Dr. Cymbor is a managing partner in one of the largest optometric practices in the country.  He directly oversees a million dollar-plus contact lens practice.  Dr. Cymbor and his wife, Autumn, have three grown children.  He loves being a husband and a father.  Recreationally, he bikes, hikes, swims, runs and generally prefers to be in motion.