Defocus Media

Are we really burned out or are we just bored?

Dr. Adam Ramsey gets into that question in this episode of Play Chess Not Checkers. Sometimes it’s not about walking away from optometry, it’s about switching things up.

Dr. Janette Pepper joins Dr. Jacobi Cleaver and Dr. Jacob Wilson to unpack The Sheep Detectives, from grief and belonging to eye anatomy and advice for the next generation of optometrists.

What should guide dry eye treatment when a patient’s symptoms do not match the clinical signs? Dr. Kaleb Abbott joins Dr. Darryl Glover to explore the research, the role of nerve dysfunction, and why individualized care matters.

Dr. Adam Ramsey breaks down what it really takes, from building expertise and creating your own content to developing relationships, mastering your craft, and understanding the work that happens long before you step on stage.

What if exceptional patient care begins with an “unreasonable” commitment to people? Dr. Warren Toews shares how love, leadership, excellence, and meaningful connection can create stronger teams and truly transformative patient experiences.

From humble beginnings to becoming the first Black chair of the American Board of Opticianry, Phernell Walker shares how compassion, perseverance and purpose shaped his remarkable journey. This episode explores his mission to unify opticianry, elevate professional standards and open doors for the next generation.

The Leonardo Learning Platform is changing how eye care practices train, develop, and retain exceptional teams. Discover practical strategies to improve staff education, strengthen leadership, reduce burnout, and elevate the patient experience.

Building a successful eye care practice requires more than outstanding clinical skills—it requires an entire team that is confident, knowledgeable, and committed to continuous improvement. In this conversation, Dr. Fayiz Mahgoub, Senior Manager of Learning and Development at Leonardo, shares how the Leonardo Learning Platform helps practices create structured learning pathways for front desk professionals, technicians, opticians, and practice leaders.

What do new optometrists really want from their careers? Dr. Wynn Nguyen breaks down earning opportunities, work-life balance, flexibility, career growth, and why smaller communities may offer some of the biggest advantages.

Scaling an eye care business presents unique challenges that require more than just clinical expertise. In this conversation, Jamie Rosen joins us to discuss the operational shifts necessary to expand your practice. We focus on the practical realities of managing growth while maintaining the quality of care your patients expect.

Throughout the discussion, we cover the critical role of collaboration and forming the right business partnerships. You will gain insights into why continuous learning is non-negotiable for leaders in this field. By applying these eye care practice growth principles, you can navigate the complexities of expansion with a clearer strategy for your team and operations.

We also examine how effective healthcare business scaling relies on strong communication and shared vision between partners. Whether you are currently managing a single location or preparing to expand, understanding these professional collaboration dynamics is vital for long-term success in optometry practice management.

Hormones can affect far more than we realize and the answers are not always textbook. Dr. Janice Luk shares why asking better questions about hormonal changes may uncover important connections between women’s mental, overall and ocular health.