Dare to Be Different

Join me for an insightful interview with Dr. Mike Lipson, a true pioneer in the field of myopia control.  Known for his sincerity and genuine passion for orthokeratology, Dr. Lipson shares two "secrets: that lead to a successful myopia management practice: 1.    Avoid dabbling - Stay completely focused on the subspecialty you're providing. 2.    Holistic approach - Prioritize the child's overall quality of life as much as their myopia progression. Dr. Lipson's research findings are equally beneficial as his compassionate philosophy of care, he offers wealth of knowledge and expertise. Enjoy the episode!

Dr. Valerie Lam is a co-founder of Insight Vision Center Optometry, a leading optometric practice located in Southern California. Together with her partner, Dr. Thanh Mai, they embarked on a remarkable journey, opening cold and transforming it into a thriving practice.   With a specialization in areas such as specialty contact lenses, myopia management, and vision therapy, their practice stands out for its unwavering commitment to excellence, supported by well-established systems and procedures. In this heartfelt interview, Valerie delves into the crucial importance of assigning the right positions to individuals who possess the skills and passion to excel in their responsibilities. Throughout the conversation, she candidly shares her experiences and reflections, offering insights into the opportunities and challenges that come with building a successful partnership. Her genuine transparency resonated with me on a profound level, leaving a lasting impact, and I'm certain our listeners will feel the same.  

Welcome to today's episode, where I am thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Dr. Thanh Mai. I first crossed paths with Thanh when he participated in my SuperChargeYourPracticeTMWorkshop. Right from the start, I noticed his remarkable dedication to learning and personal growth.  Thanh and his partner, Dr. Valarie Lam (also a SuperCharge Alumni), have built an incredibly successful practice specializing in areas such as myopia management and vision therapy. In this episode, you'll gain valuable insights from Thanh as he shares his core philosophy on patient care, staff education, marketing, and goal setting.  Thanh has been one of the most dynamic and motivating speakers I've had the pleasure of interviewing to date. I strongly encourage you to listen to this conversation with a focused mindset, as there is much to gain from it!

Growing a Practice and So Much More Join me for an inspiring interview with Dr. Charlene Henderson as she reveals the secrets to a success optometric partnership, launching a thriving practice while pursuing personal passions, and constructing their own building...all while balancing a growing family. Dr. Henderson's story is a testament to calculated decision-making, and the courage to make tough choices. Gain valuable insights and learn how to cultivate the mindset needed to achieve extraordinary success in this engaging episode.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Alice Cusner, who had the courage to raise this question on the American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control google group. Dr. Cusner, a seasoned practitioner, has crafted her practice to align with her personal and professional aspirations. During the interview, Dr. Cusner proudly shares how optometry supported her in raising her three children and 14 grandchildren. Her journey is an inspiring example from which we can all learn.

Dr. Wesley Dares to Be Different by making tough decisions that have propelled her practice to remarkable success. My first encounter with Gina was during my SuperChargeYourPractice™ workshop, and since then, she has fearlessly forged ahead, taking bold steps that include eliminating vision plans.  Dr. Wesley generously shares her journey, from humble beginnings to constructing her own office building, by focusing on the patient experience and specialty care.  What sets Gina apart is her ability to take calculated risks that pay off. Discover how she achieved success while striking a work-life balance and staying true to the WHY she entered practice in the first place.    

In our latest episode of the "Dare to Be Different" podcast, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Ken Maller, a highly regarded expert in the field of specialty contact lenses.  His extensive knowledge in fitting custom lenses is unparalleled, making him one of the smartest individuals I have encountered in my career. During the interview, Dr. Maller candidly shares his unique journey and the lessons he learned along the way. His story serves as an inspiration.  Discover how his decision to stop insurance acceptance transformed his practice, and gain valuable insights that could potentially reshape your own professional path.

In episode two of Dare To Be Different, Dr. Alan French opens up about his ongoing experience of breaking free from insurance dependency. He sheds light on the storm that practitioners often face before experiencing the sunshine of a thriving practice.  Dr. French's story serves as a reminder that dropping insurances requires faith in the value of your services and professionalism…surpassing the convenience of being a participating provider in plans that often don't properly reimburse you for your time, expertise and philosophy of care. Amidst the era of social media where only the highlights are shared, Dr. French candidness is refreshing and heartfelt. His genuine insight and lessons learned will be invaluable to those who Dare To Be Different. 

Well we did it! We launched season 2 of Dare To Be Different podcast! My first interview is Dr. Julio Arroyo. He accepts select vision and medical plans as a vehicle to generate potential leads into his specialty care clinics. I've known Julio for 10 years; he's committed to constant and never-ending development of his practice. Listeners will truly benefit from his interview, whether they side viewpoint or not.

In this episode, we go "big picture" with the CEO of The Power Practice, Dr. Bethany Fishbein. We talk goals, lifestyle design and getting the most out of your practice. Dr. Fishbein has had extensive experience with practice owners at all levels, and her insight into useful strategies is truly valuable.

Dr. Gelb discusses how his practice, within LensCrafters, allowed him to fulfill his mission to provide patients with state-of-the-art vision care. He envisioned and helped produce the full-length documentary, Eyes Wide Open. The film delivers the resounding message that the eye holds the secrets to our hidden health. He also hosts a podcast that interviews key opinion leaders within the health industry, aimed to educate patients and professionals on the role optometry plays in preserving patient's overall health. His insight into leadership is thought provoking.

Dr. Cheryl Chapman describes how she transformed a small office, into a thriving, multi-disciplinary practice. She discusses how she designed her practice to fulfill her professionally and personally. Cheryl attended her first Vision by Design symposium in 2016 and is the incoming president of the American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control! Her interview reveals the minded needed to realize her goals, while raising 6 children!

Over the past 10+ years, Dr. Woo has learned how to lead and operate optometry clinics at the highest level. She has also incorporated specialty contact lenses into practice and perfected a streamlined system to manage scleral lens patients with maximum efficiency and profitability. Using this experience, Dr. Woo is committed to helping you achieve your personal and career goals!

Gary Gerber embodies the dare to different mindset. In this episode, we discuss three main phases in his professional career: private practice, optometry consultant, and his most recent achievement, Treehouse Eyes, for one simple purpose: give children better vision for life. The commonality among all three endeavors is his unparalleled ability to integrate ideas from outside our profession, into each successful business.

Dr. Shefali Miglani dared to be different. She had the foresight and courage to expand her office to help incorporate a myopia management clinic. Facing reduced reimbursements, she systematically dropped vision plans, to better focus on specialty care. Her success motivated her to develop “HOOT Myopia Care” to help parents and practitioners better manage myopia in children. Her interview is enlightening and inspiring.

The term dared to be different is defined by Dr. Herzberg's path in optometry, spanning 50 years! He's founder of the American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control and the current president of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control. In today's episode, he describes the source of his passion and his insight on the future of myopia management. His insight and direction is inspiring!

Dr. Miki Zilnicki dared to be different by opening up her specialty practice, 1 years out of her residency….in vision therapy and practice management! Miki shares her motivation and the hurdles she overcame, as a mother and practice owner, to achieve practice and personal fulfillment.

Dr. Cho has a practice devoted to myopia management, Ortho K Specialty, after attending Vision by Design and SuperChargeYourPracticeTM workshops. He's been featured on several episodes of the PBS series, “Asian America,” discussing the side effects of myopia on Asian students. Dr. Cho received his both Doctorate of Optometry and Masters of Vision Science at the SUNY College of Optometry. He later completed his residency in Pediatric Vision. He has published papers in research When not in the office, Dr. Cho loves spending time with his wife Mary and two active children: Evan and Audrey. He enjoys watching his son's hockey team and traveling with his family.

Welcome to a new podcast that focuses on the successful lives of optometrists.