If you have ever wondered what career opportunities are possible outside the exam lane, Charissa Lee, OD, MBA, FAAO; Christi Closson, OD, FAAO; and Mandy Sallach, OD, share their top tips for professional success.
Tip #1: Connection is a key component of care
Clinical care is always the top priority for patients in the exam chair. However, authenticity and connection are key components of both optimal patient relationships and career success that can sometimes get lost in the depth of optometric practice.
Whether you want to set yourself apart from the competition, build your professional network, or elevate patient care, a commitment to creating authentic relationships will help you build your brand and create a practice patients will want to return to.
“Everyone needs to come in and see an eye doctor,” said Dr. Closson, Associate Director Professional Education at Johnson & Johnson. “But that doesn’t mean they need to come back and see you again. If you can do one thing that sets you apart as an optometrist, creating instant rapport with someone is a crucial skill that is often overlooked.”
Tip #2: You don’t have to be a practice owner to be successful
While practice ownership is a professional goal for many optometrists, it’s not for everyone. Beyond private practice or practice ownership, optometrists can grow their careers in a number of important leadership roles within or outside of a practice, including:
- Training staff
- Taking on practice management roles to grow the business
- Specializing skills in specific areas, such as marketing or billing and coding
- Consulting
- Data analytics
- Research and development
- Marketing or Professional Affairs
- Regulatory or Medical Affairs
- Public health role
- Teaching
It’s important to remind yourself that it’s OK if you realize your current role isn’t for you and to try something new. Any time you can expand your skills, you not only nurture your current career, but you also prepare yourself for future opportunities within the profession.
Tip #3: Get involved with your community
Optometry is a special profession in that doctors are always a valuable part of any community. Giving back and getting involved in your local neighborhood—or within your profession—can not only be extremely rewarding, it can nurture your brand, provide insights into your patients’ lives, solidify your purpose, provide perspective about the optometric craft, and lead to surprising career opportunities, like practice with public speaking and interactions with local leaders.
“Not only is volunteering fun and rewarding, but it can also spark an interest or an idea about what you can do to make an impact beyond patient care,” said Dr. Sallach, Associate Director, Professional Relations at Johnson & Johnson.
Once you start looking, you’ll find ample opportunities, such as:
- Providing care in optometric deserts
- Teaching children and teenagers about eyes and optics through STEM programs
- Advocating for health initiatives within and outside of optometry
Tip #4: Outsource your weaknesses
Transitioning from an associate optometrist to practice owner is a huge jump in responsibility. As a practice owner, not only are you making most of the decisions for your patients, but you are also responsible for critical business decisions as well, whether that is tough conversations with staff, layoffs, capital purchasing decisions, or how you train your staff.
“Some of the best advice I received was to outsource my weaknesses,” said Dr. Lee, Head of North America Professional Affairs at Johnson & Johnson. “Make sure you have a great office manager, and hire people who are excellent at doing what you don’t like doing or you aren’t as good at doing.”
As a result, you can fortify your practice's (and your brand’s) foundation by relying on others' skills. You will also find that by giving staff members ownership, you empower them to do their best and help grow your business.
Tip #5: Discover what drives you
Practice ownership isn’t for everyone. Early in your career, it’s important to discover what drives you and gives you energy. If you have a curiosity about the business side and want ownership and accountability of a practice, then private practice can be an ideal career pathway.
However, there are many other opportunities for success in optometry that don’t involve owning a business. Do you have interests in psychology or business? Maybe you thrive in relationship building, peer-to-peer interactions, project-based work, research and development. Is there a particular area where you would like to make an impact? Sometimes it takes some self-reflection to discover what feels like your true purpose—but the inquiry is always worth it.
“I always loved patient care,” said Dr. Sallach. “Soon I realized my favorite part was building relationships with people. Now that I work in professional relations, I can do that every day.”
Tip #6: Set yourself up for optimal career growth
As a recent grad, career options can feel overwhelming. However, one of the best things you can do is follow your heart and listen to anything that compels you. For example:
- If you want to work in a hospital or in academia, then apply for a fellowship or residency.
- If you want to live in a certain part of the country, move there sooner rather than later.
- If you are into the business of optometry, explore what career opportunities are available for you today.
- If you want to pursue a subspecialty, whether it’s contact lenses or a specific disease state, don’t be afraid to follow that passion to find greater purpose and fulfillment.
Remember: no matter what you want to do, there is always room for good people. So trust yourself, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to branch out of your comfort zone.
