The NewGradOptometry Audio Series

This episode has been adapted from the article “The Resume Writing Guide for Optometrists,” by Dr. Cory Hakanen. Every new grad needs a resume. What needs to be included in yours as a new grad optometrist?

This episode has been adapted from the article “Guide to Optometry Practice Partnership,” by Dr. Alex Jackson. Are you a new grad optometrist considering taking your career in the direction of practice partnership? Here's what you need to know, and how to prepare for this big step.

This episode has been adapted from the article “Vasovagal Syncope Triggers and Management In the Optometric Practice,” by Dr. Michael Hay. No matter how rare something is, you need to be prepared for it, and that includes vasovagal syncope.

This episode has been adapted from the article “Comparing Compensation Structures in a New Grad's Contract,” by Dr. Patricia Fulmer. There are many important decisions to make when you enter the workforce as a new grad OD, but one area that graduates need to make sure they understand before starting negotiations concerns the different structures of compensation that one may encounter in a contract.

This article has been adapted from Dr. Matt Geller's “Setting Fees at Your Optometry Practice” piece, which can be read online on CovalentCareers.com. The online article also includes a downloadable spreadsheet for determining optometry fees.

This article has been adapted from Kevin Cornwell's “The New Grad's Guide to OD/MD Practice.” As recent optometry graduates scan the horizon for their next professional move, there's a good chance an opportunity to practice within an ophthalmology OD/MD group setting will arise.

This article has been adapted from Kevin Cornwell's “My Patient Has Optic Nerve Pallor: What Do I Do?” which can be read online, with references and examples, at newgradoptometry.com. Atrophy to the optic nerve occurs when there is degeneration to the axons of the nerve. This results in recession and loss of the micro-capillary networks that supply the optic nerve.

This article has been adapted from Joanna Carter's “Visual Symptoms and Optometric Treatments for Traumatic Brain Injury.” Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious concern for patients of all ages. Fortunately, most patients recover completely within the first few weeks of a mild head injury. However, 10-15% have lingering symptoms which can prevent them from returning to school and work.

This article is adapted from Joel Kestenbaum's “When To Hire An Associate Optometrist For Your Private Practice." If you are a solo practitioner in private practice, making a decision on when to hire an associate optometrist for your practice can be difficult and arduous.

This episode has been adapted from Dr. Courtney Dryer's “4 Reasons Doctors Should Be Involved In Their Opticals.” Prescribing lens technologies, assessment of insurance reimbursements, inventory management, and lab and product selection are vital to the health and success of your practice.

This episode has been adapted from Dr. Patricia Fulmer's “A Basic Guide to Brilliantly Staffing Your Optometry Practice.” Staffing your optometry practice can be one of the most challenging responsibilities of running a practice, regardless of if you are starting from scratch or taking over an established clinic.

This article has been adapted from Dr. Canaan Montgomery's “Creating Value: Are You Cultivating Loyal Patients?” If your patients would leave your care if you no longer accept insurance, whose practice have you really been building, yours or the insurance company's?

This article is adapted from Kristin White's “How To Open An Eye Clinic In A Community Health Center.” Working in a community health center can be the perfect mode of practice for optometrists seeking to practice within the medical model of optometry.

This article has been adapted from Dr. Kyna Veatch's “Here Is How You Should Be Mediating Clinic Arguments." Conflict in the workplace can decrease productivity and waste valuable time and energy that you and your staff could otherwise focus on running a smoothly operating clinic. The burden of managing conflict falls on everyone within the office, and resolution should be a collective effort.

This episode has been adapted from the article "Dilation Is Routine, But Should It Be?" by Steve Turpin, and can be found online at NewGradOptometry. If one were to imagine a universe where optometrists didn't dilate, it would resemble a very bland episode of The Twilight Zone. But should dilation be routine? Why is it routine? In this episode we cover the history of and the science behind dilation.

This episode has been adapted from “Optometry Office Construction Fraud: 4 Rules To Prevent Your Worst Nightmare” by Bruce Colton, and can be found online at NewGradOptometry. Bruce Colton incorporated his first cold start optometry practice in a great location in 2016. Six months later he was facing bankruptcy and his practice hadn't even opened yet. Find out how this happened, and how you can avoid optometry office construction fraud.

This episode has been adapted from Steve Turpin's article on NewGradOptometry. There are a variety of ways to control the development and progression of myopia, and in this episode we cover some of the best options and the science behind them.

This episode has been adapted from the article "How To Effectively Build Patient Relationships" by Michael Hay, which can be found on NewGradOptometry. The profession of optometry has changed, and optometrists much change with it—including how we interact with our patients.