Since the pandemic hit last year, the world is still trying to adapt to some major changes.
Professionalism is the art of conducting yourself in a manner that lets others know they’re in good hands. It’s a guarantor to the people you’re dealing with that they can trust you and rely on you. An individual who embraces a code of ethics, values time, and stays true to their word is generally considered a thorough professional. The case is no different when it comes to your optometry practice.
The importance of professionalism
According to a survey conducted by The College of Optometrists, it has come to light that the clearest definition of professionalism embraces a number of factors.
Among them, building and maintaining relationships with patients, as well as staying on good terms with colleagues, takes precedence. Furthermore, looking to other professionals for guidance and mentorship, while making valuable contributions through research adds value to the profession as a whole.
Also talked about was the fact that routinely analyzing one’s practice, and suggesting and implementing ways to improve can do wonders for patients.
Here are some ways that are sure to make you stand out:
Look and dress the part
It’s true what they say about first impressions.
While every profession requires individuals to maintain their appearance, you need to be even more mindful of personal hygiene when dealing with patients.
Stick to your personal code of ethics
A solid set of ethics can take you very far. If you’re an honest person outside the workplace, chances are, you bring the same values to the clinic.
On an even more serious level, ethics include compliance with state and federal laws, which are ultimately meant to protect you, your family, and your patients.
Stay calm under pressure
Maintaining your calm when everything is falling apart is what will set you apart as a true professional. Everyone has days that are especially taxing, but it doesn’t help to lash out at colleagues or start whining.
Instead, take a deep breath, temporarily detach yourself from the situation, and try to look at it objectively. The next time a similar situation arises, you’ll know what to do.
Find a mentor
Even if you’re the best in the business, there will be days when you find yourself stumped.
Mentors can be sources of great support in such cases, and can include anyone from past professors to people you’ve met at training workshops.
Now that you’ve got these handy pointers under your belt, you’re ready to take your personal brand of professionalism up a notch or two, especially in these trying times.
https://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/optometrist-and-patient.jpg6661000Corporate Optometryhttps://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Logo-CO4.jpgCorporate Optometry2021-03-10 11:26:092022-10-13 08:12:514 Tips for Young ODs
Dr. Tran and Dr. Dornbos are members of the Vivid Vision group. Vivid Vision uses virtual reality headsets like the Rift, HTC Vive, Samsung GearVR, and Google Daydream to treat binocular vision issues like amblyopia, strabismus, and vergence disorder.
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Partnering with Optical Staff for Sublease Success.
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Corporate Optometry Nation Podcast interviews Dr Diana Ramirez. Dr Ramirez has a sublease with Walmart in Texas. She was awarded 2020 OD of the Year at Walmart for Excellence in Patient Care. Listen in to the podcast was Dr Sampalis interviews her about how she works with the optical staff to secure her success in her own practice. Learn how to motivate and partner with the optical staff in corporate optometry.
https://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/w2.png263377Corporate Optometryhttps://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Logo-CO4.jpgCorporate Optometry2020-06-26 04:57:522020-06-26 04:57:53Partnering with Optical Staff for Sublease Success.
Corporate Optometry Nation podcast interviews Dr Camille Cohen. Dr Cohen purchased an established Pearle Vision Franchise in New York. She just purchased it before COVID-19 put New York on lock down. Listen in to learn what to look for when buying a franchise and why Pearle Vision was the best option for her.
https://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/paint-2.png417613Corporate Optometryhttps://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Logo-CO4.jpgCorporate Optometry2020-06-06 17:56:222020-06-06 17:56:23Purchasing a Pearle Vision Franchise.
Vision Benefits of America Offers $1 Million in Loans to Optometrists
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Corporate Optometry Nation Podcast host Dr Maria Sampalis interviews the VBA CEO Jeff Hollowood. We divide into the great things VBA is doing for ODs during this pandemic. VBA set up the Pennsylvania Optometric Emergency Assistance Program. It currently has provided close to 500k in loan assistance to optometrists.
Questions that were asked during the interview highlighted. The Pennsylvania Optometric Emergency Assistance Program.
· Who is eligible?
· What is the eligibility criteria?
· When did the program begin?
· How long do participating providers have to pay back the loan?
· Why did VBA decide to offer POEAP loans?
Listen in to learn more about this great program to help the OD community.
https://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/paint3.png200305maria sampalishttps://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Logo-CO4.jpgmaria sampalis2020-04-29 14:07:512020-04-29 14:07:52Vision Benefits of America Offers $1 Million in Loans to Optometrists
Podcast Across the border- with Stuti Misra in New Zealand
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In
this fun chat with Optom. Ukti Vora, Dr Stuti Misra discusses her
journey from undergrad to doctoral degree to working in academia in New
Zealand. Stuti aims to guide optometry students (based in India or
elsewhere) interested in studying overseas, doing eye research or simply
interested in practicing optometry on distant shores. With a constant
intent of taking an unconventional path, Stuti describes how she ended
up in Optometry let alone in the land of ‘Lord of the rings’ better
known as ‘middle-earth’. She believes one doesn’t need to be clever or
smart but primarily STUBBORN to undertake doctoral degree. Stuti also
briefly mentions about her passion for research and interest areas of
ocular surface diseases, dry eye and diabetes.’
For more information on practicing optometry in New Zealand or Australia, please visit www.ocanz.org
https://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/paint3.png200305maria sampalishttps://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Logo-CO4.jpgmaria sampalis2019-08-13 05:58:132019-08-13 05:58:14Podcast Across the border- with Stuti Misra in New Zealand
Indian optometry is at a very interesting and critical juncture. The allied and health care council bill 2018 is tabled in the upper house of the parliament and gone to the standing committee for deliberation with various stakeholders. Their suggestions will be considered and revised bill will be presented in the parliament.
It could be a giant step towards professional recognition of Optometry.
We have the Optometry Council of India (OCI), a peer regulating body with the responsibility of establishing & maintaining high standards of optometry education & recognition of optometry qualifications in India. The Indian Optometry Federation (IOF) is an umbrella organization of various associations. State associations are members of this association. Lobbying with govt about optometry rights etc. Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) works with the institutes to standardize curricula, infra structure and also towards capacity building of educators. These organizations are doing a good job in getting optometry recognized by the government and bringing standardization within the profession. In other words, we are getting our house in order.
The other important aspect is creating awareness about the profession and getting public recognition. We need people to know about optometry and its scope. We want people to come asking for the optometrist for a comprehensive eye test. For that each optometrist has to offer the best clinical eye examination and provide the best services to patients.
This is exactly why I chose to focus on the awareness part. Looking at the students’ enthusiasm and creativity I thought they can definitely contribute a lot in this area. One fine day a group of optometry students and fresh graduates was formed and it still continues to work cohesively as one unit.
Role of youth
Almost everything that is great has been done by youth- Benjamin Disraeli
We are sitting on a gold mine. Probably it is the largest untapped resource. There are more than 50 institutes offering a 4-year B. Optometry program. Imagine the number of students graduating every year. Most of them are technologically savvy. They are very active on social media. They are happy to travel and meet new people. Most of the students I have seen are are passionate about the profession and want to contribute in a significant way. If we can channelize their energy and creativity, we can do wonders. There is no dearth of raw talent. They need direction. They need acknowledgement & recognition. More importantly they need to have the feeling that they belong to the community.
How have they contributed till now?
These students and fresh graduates have been very active in last twelve months or so. One group has started ‘Let’s RevolutionaryEYES’ – Social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, twitter and youtube. They regularly post content related to eyecare and eye related facts etc. The platform serves to both optometrists and public. As ‘World Optometry Day’ is celebrated across the world on 23rd March, 23rd of every month is dedicated to #Optometry #Eyecare. All social media channels are flooded with eye care related posts on this day. It is a great way to catch attention of people.
Another team created an explanatory video about scope of optometry. It covers what students are taught in a four-year course and what investigations an optometrist can perform. A poem composed by one group along with visuals was so well received by all that it even reached the govt. officials and was appreciated.
The Optometry Council of India (OCI) required eye awareness posters for their pan India campaign. These students conceptualized and designed posters with innovative ideas. Their efforts were recognized by OCI and Bausch + Lomb and these posters are being used extensively now.
This group also raised some fund through their efforts and contribution to the field. What is heartening to know is that they donated to the Kerala flood victims. Along with talent today’s optometry youth also has Good values.
Their energy and creativity were at display during awareness walks and street plays on World Sight Day.
Recently four new graduates under the supervision of Masterclass Optometry conceptualized and organized a program ‘Shaping Millennial’s for final year students. This program was developed considering what confusion a graduating student goes through. Over 225 students from 13 institutes were benefited from expert’s guidance.
Way forward
We have just unlocked the potential of this goldmine. We need to keep nurturing these minds. They need to be kept busy in a right way. We are already working on a new project wherein the Optometry Council of India needs Optometrists to approach high schools and counsel the class 11,12 students about optometry, refractive errors and eyecare in general. Many of these fresh graduates from different parts of India have already offered to be a part of this project. We are really excited to see how it works. You never know, going forward we could help them find the right placement for work. Also, we could establish international links wherein these youngsters can freely interact with international students and experts.
The future definitely belongs to the youth. The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Its time for the senior optometrists to acknowledge their potential and help them convert it into performance. Young ODs need role models NOT just critics !!
https://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/paint3.png200305Corporate Optometryhttps://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Logo-CO4.jpgCorporate Optometry2019-06-16 14:55:382019-06-16 14:55:39Corporate Optometry India Part 3
Corporate Optometry Nation latest podcast. Dr. Matthew Sheehan and explores the importance of optics in an optometry day to day professional life. He also talks a bit about optometry in Australia and how its coming along compared to other parts of the world.
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Corporate Optometry Nation teams up with the Primary Eye Guys to interview an Optometrist in London who practices in a hospital setting in London. Listen in to learn the scope in England.
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Corporate Optometry Nation interviews Dr Marrotte from Nationwide Vision. Dr Marrotte is the Professional Director of Nationwide Vision in Florida. This corporate optical focuses on the medical model of optometry and requires all their optometrists to have a DEA license and practice full scope. Many offices have exam lane as well as a retinal camera and visual field so that patients can continue their care with Nationwide Vision. Nationwide Vision started in Arizona and has expanded to Florida, Nevada and South Dakota. Listen in to learn more and what job opportunities might be available.
Dr. Richard Marrotte received his his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1985 from the new England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts. He is a Board Certified Optometric Physician here in Florida and he has been licensed in both Massachusetts and California.
He was in Private Practice for over 26 years in the Boca Raton, Florida area and his Specialties include Keratoconus, LASER Vision Correction, Neuro-Optometry for Stroke and Brain Injury and All Types of Contact Lenses. He is a Certified LASER Vision Correction Consultant.
https://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/nav2.png200220maria sampalishttps://corporateoptometry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Logo-CO4.jpgmaria sampalis2018-12-02 13:19:542018-12-02 14:59:34Nationwide Vision with Dr Richard Marrotte