Carla Mack, OD, MBA, FAAO, FBCLA, shares with Kristin Anderson, OD, FNAP, FAAO, how she cultivated her own leadership style. She embraces continuous learning; is concise in communication and proactive relationship-building; prioritizes patient/customer experience; applies business thinking; and adapts to industry change. 

This editorially independent content is sponsored by Astellas.

In this episode, Julie Rodman, OD, MS, FAAO, and Carl Danzig, MD, both of Florida, highlight the importance of early detection and referral for geographic atrophy (GA), now that therapies exist. As a retina specialist who wants to see pathology in its early stages, Dr. Danzig says it's rarely too early to refer to a retina specialist to assess. 

All primary care optometrists should aim to identify GA with fundus autofluorescence and OCT, take patient complaints seriously, and collaborating with supportive retina specialists. Dr. Danzig shares his success with sustained complement inhibitor therapy in preserving vision. These advancements in therapies have transformed GA from an untreatable condition into one where doctors can often offer hope.

This editorially independent content is sponsored by Astellas.

In this episode, Diane Hilal-Campo, MD, a New Jersey ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty, tells Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, that her goal in creating Twenty/Twenty Beauty was to change the narrative about eye health and beauty products. From seeing patients with dry eye exacerbated by their make up and removers to reading beauty editors' advice that went against good eye hygiene practice, Dr. Campo created a line of cosmetics that are not only eye-safe, but beneficial for the delicate eye area. Learn more about in-office inventories and an affiliate program at trytwentytwenty.com. 

Driven by her experience on the front lines of surgery, Anahita Dua, MD, MS, MBA, FACS, founded Healthcare for Action, an organization to train and empower healthcare workers to run for public office. As underfunded systems strain patient care, Dr. Dua argues that those who understand medicine can craft the most effective health policy—and she’s on a mission to send more clinician-candidates into government over the following years. 

As a young woman, Jade Coats, OD, FAAO, faced a cancer diagnosis that made her fully aware of the fragility of life. The experience forced her to re-evaluate what matters and led her to prioritize a work/life balance that works for her. This cycle—of being fully present at work and careful self-care and participation in things that bring her joy—allows her to show up to patient care and what is important to her in her private life more completely. 

Rachael Wruble, OD, has built a career defined by leadership and community engagement—all while balancing the demands of family life. Her story highlights the value of being proactive in local optometric communities, forming meaningful connections and redefining what success looks like. Through her continued support of young ODs and her advocacy for inclusivity in the field, Dr. Wruble is helping shape a progressive future of optometry.

Co-owner of Econologics Financial Advisors Eric Miller understands the financial burden of optometry school—and he's here to help new ODs manage their debt with confidence. Juggling one or more loans while launching your career can feel daunting, but Miller offers practical, sustainable strategies for managing it all.

Dr. Maples explains how patient feedback—including not feeling rushed, being listened to and receiving clear explanations—inspired her to deconstruct what makes an eye exam feel meaningful. She shares how mindfulness and reflexive listening can help providers build trust, improve outcomes and reduce burnout. The goal, she says, is to help more patients feel seen and heard—even on the busiest clinic days. 

Jade Coats, OD, FAAO, of Rogers, Arkansas, wants patients to feel like she's in their corner, inside and outside of the exam room. She's ready with a list of resources to help patients who need some emotional support as caregivers or patients undergoing treatment. Being empathetic, she says, costs her no additional time but creates mountains of goodwill and can contribute to better outcomes. 

Interprofessional collaborative practice involves health care providers from different specialties working together beyond traditional referral models. 

"It's not just referring someone out and saying you're working with them, but actually working with those professions to bring the best outcome for the patient," says Amy Moy, OD, FAAO, CPCO, FNAP. 

Other fields, particularly in hospital and community health settings, already embrace this model, with professionals coordinating care plans and sharing patient management responsibilities, but optometry has some catching up to do, she says.