What does it take to grow from one practice to a multi-location operation while staying rooted in your community? On this week’s episode of Optometrists Building Empires, host Ankit Patel sits down with Dr. Howard Dolman, an accomplished optometrist and partner at Dolman Eyecare and KW Neuro Vision, whose decades-long journey is equal parts professional growth and personal resilience. From navigating the early days of practice ownership to leading innovative services like myopia management and dry eye treatment, Dr. Dolman shares what it really takes to build and sustain a successful optometry practice. 

Takeaways:

• Seek early advice and mentorship. Engaging with optometric consultants can mitigate stress and provide a clearer understanding of the business landscape.
• Owners should not shy away from the costs associated with continuous education and professional development. The return on investment in terms of practice growth and personal growth is substantial.
• Building and participating in community networks can provide crucial support and fresh ideas. This includes local professional groups, regional meetings facilitated by co-ops, and even international focus groups.
• Staying on top of technological and procedural innovations is key to offering the best patient care and keeping the practice competitive.
• Balancing family life and practice management is crucial. Structuring the work schedule to allow for family time can lead to a healthier personal and professional life.
• Creating a family-like, warm practice culture can boost staff morale and patient satisfaction. This extends to being transparent about community contributions and charitable activities, fostering a sense of a bigger purpose among staff and patients.
• Engaging with peers, joining focus groups, hiring consultants, and continually seeking advice helps in navigating the complexities of practice management and growth.

Quote of the Show:

• “ You realize when you go through a life-threatening situation that every day is a gift.” - Howard Dolman 

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-dolman-84271716/  
• Company website: https://www.dolmaneyecare.com 
• Email [email protected] 

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208