Insight with Wendy Buchanan

Insights, Practice, Resources

Wendy Buchanan, Eyewear Image Expert is a Registered Optician, Image Consultant and Educator. She is the creative force behind the Be Spectacular Eyewear Styling System® for Eye Care Professionals. Wendy helps practices implement sales strategies that empower teams to confidently sell and style multi pairs for profitable practice results.

Wendy Buchanan

Registered Optician (Ontario) and Image Consultant
Mobile Practice: Perceptions Eyewear
Consultant and Trainer: BeSpectacular Eyewear Styling System

What advice would you give a new grad today?
My advice to a new graduate would be to include and invest in your Optical Gallery. You spend time attracting patients, providing the best eye care, building relationships but without an attractive eyewear selection, your patients walk down the street and spend their money. Invest in diverse product and then hire people who like people and fashion and train them to create an exceptional buying experience.

What business books would you advise other ECPs to read?
The business book I highly recommend to read is “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek. Simon encourages people to find work that inspires themselves and others.

This book was instrumental in helping me get a clear focus about not simply what I do or how I do it but WHY I do it? This read was crucial in my understanding that it is not about the money, it is about the action and getting results.

If you don’t read the book, watch his TEDx Talk. It is brilliant.

How do you choose the eye care products that you sell to your customers?
I like to stock eyewear from boutique eyewear designers and then find the perfect face to match. Independent eyewear designer creations can be matched to the style personality of my clients and provide something that is truly unique. Each piece has a story to tell.

What is your favorite TV show / Netflix series?
My favourite Netflix series is The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The main character is energizing to watch as she pivots her life with ease and grace to pursue a career that she loves.

The 1950’s New York fashion is incredible and I would trade big bucks to hang out with the wardrobe department on this set.

What’s your favorite movie?
The only movie I have loved watching more than once is Bohemian Rapsody.

Never a big fan of Queen, this movie converted me to a raving fan. I was completely mesmerized by Freddie Mercury’s fearless journey, willingness to be himself and his ability to intuitively follow his instincts.

Last indulgence?
My last indulgence was an Alexander McQueen luxury handbag.

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Episode 26: Dr Scott Mundle: Making a Difference in Service to Optometry

Eyes Wide Open, Podcasts

Dr. Scott Mundle, University of Waterloo (’83) has been active in the service of Optometry since early in his career. He is the past-president of the Manitoba Association of Optometrists and the Canadian Association of Optometrists, and is the Immediate Past President of the World Council of Optometry. He shares insights from this incredible path of leadership with Eyes Wide Open Host, Roxanne Arnal.

About the Guest

Having dedicated years in service of the Optometry profession, Dr. Mundle, continues to serve in the capacity of Trustee of the World Optometry Foundation (WOF), a nonprofit organization that finances the development of optometry around the world to reduce avoidable blindness.

Married to University of Waterloo, School of Optometry classmate Dr. Michelle Georgi, the couple has three children. On chance that any other free time presents itself, Dr. Mundle dedicates it to sporting activities, including cycling and fishing.

Episode Notes

Dr. Scott Mundle reflects upon his years of service with the WCO providing insights into the global politics and “turf wars” of vision care and the importance of the United Nations “Vision for Everyone” resolution that was ratified by the United Nations (UN) in 2021.

Dr Mundle explains why the UN resolution has consequences for Optometry, not only in developing countries, but also in more developed countries, including Canada.

He shares how his experience has heightened his awareness and appreciation of the importance of optometry leadership in past years that facilitated the development of the profession in Canada, especially when juxtaposed to the current situation in other countries, including less developed and even developed countries e.g. France, where Optometry is not yet recognized.

Dr. Mundle talks about the mission of the World Optometry Foundation and his current pursuits as Trustee.

Their conversation turns to reflections on the role of profit in the context of Optometry advocacy and at the individual practice level, including the important role of large industry players. They also touch on the meaning of “wealth” beyond dollars and cents.

He shares his views on athletic pursuits and how sports and his opportunity to attend several Olympic Games has impacted him.

Finally, he imparts words of wisdom to young Optometrists who aspire to get involved and continue to advance the profession of Optometry. Inspiration indeed.

Resources

ROXANNE ARNAL,

Optometrist and Certified Financial Planner

Roxanne Arnal graduated from UW School of Optometry in 1995 and is a past-president of the Alberta Association of Optometrists (AAO) and the Canadian Association of Optometry Students (CAOS). She subsequently built a thriving optometric practice in rural Alberta.

Roxanne took the decision in 2012 to leave optometry and become a financial planning professional. She now focuses on providing services to Optometrists with a plan to parlay her unique expertise to help optometric practices and their families across the country meet their goals through astute financial planning and decision making.

Roxanne splits EWO podcast hosting duties with Dr. Glen Chiasson.

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Staffing Challenges – They Aren’t Going to Disappear

Human Resources, Managing Others, Talent Acquisition

We always consider the staff an important factor when valuing a practice. Optometry, much like many other sectors of the economy, is facing severe workforce shortages in all facets of their team.

These challenges can be found throughout the country. Whether it is a shortage of optometric assistants or lab technicians, and unrealistic salary expectations from new hires, or the threat of staff leaving due to offers of significant wage increases, the situation is the same no matter where you are.

HR was always a challenge for many owners, but no one can argue that it has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Adapt a Proactive Strategy
Staff turnovers and shortages will continue to be a serious issue; therefore, owners need to create a two-prong strategy that enables them to be more proactive instead of reactive. Like the old expression goes, “best defence is a good offence”.

I would suggest that the first prong include the change of recruitment and hiring techniques. Consider widening your pool of potential candidates.

Traditionally, optometrists looked to temp and recruiting agencies which makes sense because ideally, candidates have qualifications and training. However, if these people cannot be found, why not be creative and expand your potential list.

A key and valuable employee in any service business is one who has excellent communication and customer service skills. Therefore, think about people from other industries that can be trained to work in a dental office.

Another suggestion is to energize your interview process. We can all agree that the interview, offer, negotiation and onboarding process often takes far too long. It is amazing how many people do not craft questions based on the culture of the practice. Many go straight to the tasks and duties that the candidate will have to perform.

While this is important, identifying key traits in an individual is truly beneficial. Remember, using old patterns in these challenging times may cost you a strong candidate. It is worth noting that in this market, you can assume that candidates are interviewing with multiple employers, and an efficient and thoughtful hiring process can help you stand out.

Focus on Retention
The second prong strategy must be to focus on retaining the employees you have. Given the competitive landscape, it may be worth more to invest in the employees you have rather than look for new ones.

Think about offering better financial and educational incentives. The goal is to keep your employees feeling valued and motivated. Employees will be more likely to stay with you if they believe they cannot find a better opportunity elsewhere.

Make it a priority to make sure this is true. Studies have shown that employees stay committed to their employers when they are involved, mentored, paid well, empowered, appreciated, listened to, understood, and valued.

Owners must do an assessment and see if they encourage these traits and adjust appropriately if not. Remember, an owner’s biggest responsibility aside from patient care is to manage and motivate the team.

Your employees are the ones that will go the extra mile for your patients. Unfortunately, if a team member does not feel valued, appreciated, or challenged at work, they stop focusing on taking care of patients and unfortunately start to focus on themselves.

It’s Your Responsibility to Lead and Nurture
It is the practice owner’s responsibility to hire talent, train accordingly and applaud employees for their efforts in having a healthy work environment. Employees who are confident, knowledgeable, and respected in their profession will have a higher likelihood of staying committed to their employers.

Your job as the owner is to be committed to developing a high-quality optometry practice management system that nurtures your team and leadership growth. It is so critical for an owner to listen to their employees.

You must have enough humility to do this. Remember to give positive feedback – point out what is working out well. Praise employees for their hard-work and commitment.

Remember to treat your employees the way that you treat your patients. Both can truly destroy a practice if you are not taking care of them. Your employees need to know that they are part of a team.

Whether that means offering to get them coffee when you are out, bringing in Taco Tuesdays, or taking them axe throwing to build relationships with each other. You want your team to enjoy being together and working toward the same goals.

If you like the people you work with, feel respected and listened to, can grow as a professional without a micromanager breathing down your back, the stress will decrease. If doctors let their teams support them, the employees will stay because they love where they work, and your patients will be happy because there is no turnover.

JACKIE JOACHIM

Jackie has 30 years of experience in the industry as a former banker and now the Chief Operating Officer of ROI Corporation. Please contact her at Jackie.joachim@roicorp.com or 1-844-764-2020.

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Smart Recruiting: Avoid these errors in posting for jobs.

Human Resources, Talent Acquisition

Eye Care Business Canada studied over 100 publicly posted Optometry and Optical positions which reveal what Canadian practice owners are offering in the battle to recruit talent. Job postings included in the study were made between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31, 2022.

The study indicates that a significant portion of eye care professionals posting jobs are making a fundamental error, potentially confusing search algorithms and job seekers.

Top-Line Results
Unsurprisingly, Optometrists are at the apex of the pay scale, garnering salary expectations more than double that of Licensed Opticians.

Among non-licensed roles, the study reveals a wide range of hourly wages even within a specific job type. Many employers provide hybrid job descriptions and offered wages reflect a 50% differential between the minimum and maximum wage within one job posting. Why?

Job Postings can be Confusing to Job Seekers
While employers may specify a wider salary range based upon their willingness to pursue candidates with little or more experience, the study found that the wide $ per range cited in a job post is more often associated with “hybrid” job definitions, such as combining job postings for Opticians with Optometric Assistants in one post.

Tim Brenner, Chief Visionary Officer, of Talent Sorter and Eyeployment.com, indicates that such “mashup” job postings may compromise online job searches and might confuse the candidates as to what the job entails.

“Getting your job posting found by the right candidate requires a focused keyword approach. Job Titles should be clear and succinct and repeated in the post at least three times”, says Brennan. Posting multiple positions in one post creates a dilution of the impact.

While the general labour shortage might tempt a practice owner to cast a wider net by including two or more titles within one job post, this may be counter-intuitive to the way a job seeker finds and views your job post and be sub-optimal in a candidate’s an online search.

Brennan advises employers to make the extra effort to post separate jobs, with each job focused on the specific job title, description, salary expectations, and growth opportunities. “If you find your star candidate for one position, you can delete the other or keep it running”, says Brennan.

This approach fits with one other best practice for hiring; Always be recruiting.

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Setting Up Your Business Marriage for Success

Finance|Wealth, Human Resources, Managing Others, Planning, Tax & Legal Matters

Dr. Roxanne Arnal, CFP^®

Are you considering joining another optometrist in an ownership position? This is what I call a business marriage . It’s a coming together of two or more people to operate a business and when two or more people come together, we open ourselves up to great opportunities and also potentially disastrous experiences.

The Good
Let’s face it, we are greater together. When we can tap into the collective brain power of more people, we have the ability to create exceptional things. For an Optometric practice, this can include the ability to grow at a faster pace, share in responsibilities, and to even split up management duties. Which can all be good things.

The start to any great marriage is a strong relationship built out of trust and understanding. It requires honesty and a common vision.

The Bad
We all begin our business marriages as friends. We all start with a mutual respect for each other and recognizing our perceived strengths and weaknesses. Notice that I said “perceived”. But have you had the tough conversations? Have you reviewed how you may respond to bad things happening?

Have you undergone serious strain in this relationship and worked through it to find resolution when things got hard or you disagreed? This is where things can start to fall off the rails.

When I was a practicing Optometrist, I believed that my new partner would be a great co-manager because they enjoyed handling team member issues, where I had grown weary of it. My new partner had also worked as my associate for over five years and I assumed they understood my management philosophy- the one that permitted us to grow exponentially.

Turns out I made a lot of assumptions and failed to recognize the need for honest conversation. It wasn’t that either of us was knowingly misleading the other. It was the result of our perceived understandings and expectations.

Expectations Lead to All Sorts of Misery
When was the last time someone let you down? More likely than not, they had no idea what you were expecting of them and therefore it became virtually impossible for them to meet those expectations. And hence frustration ensued. Emotions rise to the surface and we may or may not move on. Even when we do move on, we rarely forget. Now we are keeping score.

Step One
Similar to marriage preparation courses offered at most churches, a business marriage needs proper planning. Working with a qualified advisor to walk you through all that might go wrong and to bring everyone’s expectations to the surface is step one.

With our clients that are considering a business marriage, we work through a thorough process of interviews and mediation to help them prepare the shareholder/joint venture agreement template to take to their lawyer for drafting. Important conversations that need to be had before any hardship may surface.

Consider all the options and the ‘what if’s’. No one ever starts their day thinking “Today is the day I’m going to get in a car accident and not be able to go to work for 6 months”. But it has happened- then what?

Legal Execution
I’m a firm believer that any buy/sell agreement should not be executed without the contingent signing of the shareholder/joint venture agreement. Lawyers are great for helping us get through the paperwork, but I will caution you that not all lawyers are of equal competence in this subject matter and a great corporate lawyer executing your buy/sell agreement will often place less importance on the shareholder/joint venture agreement. I challenge you however, that despite looming deadlines, the desire to quickly create a clean year end, or to make the bank deadline, all of these things are less important than having the rules of your business marriage clearly defined and executed. Choosing the right partner in marriage and business both require time, good communication, and the proper paperwork.

Advisory
As your Chief Financial Officer, I’m here to help you create a successful business marriage. Personally, I have lived the results of a poorly created (and never executed) shareholder agreement and a bitter business divorce. I have witnessed other businesses blow up because they were all friends until one partner just stopped coming to work. My experience with the bad has proven that we can’t leave something so critically important to chance.

I help you manage a team of financial professionals and ensure that you have thought about the potential issues and opportunities. Helping you succeed is our focus.

Have more questions than answers? Educating you is just one piece of being your personal CFO that I offer. Call (780-261-3098) or email (Roxanne@claritywealthadvisory.ca) today to set up your marriage prep.

Roxanne Arnal is a former Optometrist, Professional Corporation President, and practice owner. Today she is on a mission to Empower your Finances.

These articles are for information purposes only and are not a replacement for personal financial planning. Everyone’s circumstances and needs are different. Errors and Omissions exempt.

ROXANNE ARNAL,

Optometrist and Certified Financial Planner

Roxanne splits EWO podcast hosting duties with Dr. Glen Chiasson.

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New Year – Financial House Cleaning

Finance|Wealth, Planning, Resources

Dr. Roxanne Arnal, CFP^®

Welcome to a new year! With every new year we make resolutions. We make commitments to ourselves – that may or may not last into February! Many of us also take those last days of the holiday break to clean out a closet, a basement, a garage – clean sweep if you will.

Financially speaking there are a few new year tasks I highly recommend, especially for my young adult clients.

Last Year in Review

How much did you make in 2021? And, how much did you actually spend? Have you physically looked at and reviewed your statements? Part of effective tax planning and living within your means requires you to have a good understanding of your money from the previous year.

Did you make any RRSP contributions in the last year? Should you have contributed more? Did you know that you have the first 60 days of the new year to add to your RRSP for the previous tax year? This is provided for you as a great planning opportunity. If you are subject to tax withholding from your pay at source, adding to your RRSP will typically enhance your tax refund – which in turn I recommend using to add to your TFSA. That aside, if you are self-employed, an RRSP contribution top up will reduce your taxes owing for the last tax year AND decrease the installments needed for the new tax year. Win win!

Expenses

Are you feeling that you don’t have money for an extra RRSP deposit? Perhaps it’s because you have lost track of where all your money goes. If you have never reviewed your spending, I highly recommend you take the time to set up a spread sheet and plug in all your expenses from the past year. Housing is often a number we can calculate off the top of our head with fairly good accuracy. What about how much you spend at Timmie’s or Starbucks? Take out lunch every day? Over-tap and other bank charges adding up? Pull up all your credit card and bank statements and plug in those numbers. Take the time to figure it out early and watch your wealth grow quickly. Knowledge is power.

Create a Better Cash Flow Plan

Now that you know where your money is going, set up a better cash flow plan for the new year. Input realistic projections for your income, add in your mortgage or rental expenses, up your other non-discretionary expenses for inflation, and then decide the best way to allocate your remaining income between living today, saving for short and mid term goals, and your future retirement. Remember, if you spend $60,000 a year now, after debt payments and taxes, you can expect to spend the same (adjusted for inflation) in retirement – unless of course you want to decrease your lifestyle in retirement – but what kind of fun is that?

Update your Net Worth Statement

At least annually, you should update your net worth statement. Like a business balance sheet, your personal net worth statement is the compilation of your assets and your liabilities. Assets are things that have value. Generally speaking, unless you collect cars, your vehicle is more of an expense than an asset. Carry a credit card balance? That’s a liability. If you’d like a template to ensure that you capture all the valuable pieces, send us a request at admin@claritywealthadvisory.ca

Check your Credit Report

Once a year the two main credit agencies in Canada have to provide you a free credit score report. They don’t make it easy, but you can find the contact information online for both Equifax and Transunion and I recommend you request both reports. Not only do you want to review the health of your credit score, you also want to review the list of credit items linked to you and ensure there are no errors. Aside from the obvious, this is also a great way to review if your identity has been compromised financially. It may also remind you about those store credit cards that you applied for years ago to get a discount on your purchase – yet forgot to cancel, or worse, didn’t completely pay off! They will try and entice you to sign up for their paid subscription services or monitoring – watch the fine print. There really isn’t a great reason for ongoing monitoring unless you have been compromised in the past. And please, don’t ever, send your SIN via email.

Clean Sweep

Now that you know where things stand, keep track of your current year cash flow habits. Work to plug those holes in your bucket so that you can truly reap the rewards of your hard work with all the good things you deserve. Happy New Year!

As your Chief Financial Officer, I’m here to help you identify your goals, set your plan in place, monitor and adjust it as the wind changes. I help you manage a team of financial professionals and ensure that you have thought about the potential issues and opportunities.

Have more questions than answers? Educating you is just one piece of being your personal CFO that I offer. Call (780-261-3098) or email (Roxanne@claritywealthadvisory.ca) today to start your plan.

Roxanne Arnal is a former Optometrist, Professional Corporation President, and practice owner. Today she is on a mission to Empower your Finances.

These articles are for information purposes only and are not a replacement for personal financial planning. Everyone’s circumstances and needs are different. Errors and Omissions exempt.

References:

https://www.consumer.equifax.ca/personal/help/faq/request-free-copy-credit-report/

https://www.transunion.ca/product/consumer-disclosure

ROXANNE ARNAL,

Optometrist and Certified Financial Planner

Roxanne splits EWO podcast hosting duties with Dr. Glen Chiasson.

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Insight with Dr. Laurie Lesser

Insights, Practice, Resources

Dr. Lesser, born and raised in Canada, spent her childhood outside of Toronto before moving to the US. Laurie has spent over 25 years practicing in both private and commercial settings.

In 2020 she joined Bailey Nelson as the Eyecare Director North America and UK, where she she can share her experience, knowledge and passion for Optometry and support Optometrists. In her spare time Laurie enjoys hiking and exploring Vancouver with her husband. She is happy to be back in Canada

Dr. Laurie Lesser

Optometrist, Salus Pennsylvania College of Optometry (1992)
Eyecare Director – Bailey Nelson North America & UK

Why did you choose your field?
I have the traditional Optometrist origin story. I received my first pair of glasses at age 5 and it opened up my world (thanks Dr Stan Salsberg!). I know optometry makes a tangible difference in people’s lives and I wanted to help people. Twenty years after my first exam I became an O.D. and I continue to see patients. I became Bailey Nelson’s Eyecare director to pursue my other passion, supporting optometrists and helping them find the same level of fulfillment in being an Optometrist.

What advice would you give a new grad today?
Your work environment matters. You have worked so hard to become an optometrist, you want to make certain that you enjoy practicing. Money is important but the expectation of how many patients you see per hour or pressure to sell from the chair can be very stressful. Having the support of other Optometrists to reach out to and a great team supporting you in your office makes a big difference. The goal is to be excited to go to work every day and get to do what you’ve been striving for.

What business books would you advise other ECPs to read?
Simon Sinek’s Start with Why. ECPs can explain what they do and how they do it, but to be truly successful they need to understand their Why. If you understand what inspires you, you can inspire your team and that engagement will lead to your success.

What is your most effective marketing tool/platform?
Google reviews and online marketing are very important but the most effective way to market your practice is internal marketing. The word of mouth from your patients, referring their friends and family is extremely effective. Bailey Nelson’s “Why” is to bring Joy to Eyecare.

As an independent Optometrist you can feel confident that your patient will have the best experience inside and outside the lane. We pride ourselves on customer service from the moment they come in the store. We make it an experience worth remembering and worth sharing.

If you could take one album, one book, and one luxury item to a desert island, what would they be?
The answer depends on if I’m stranded on the desert island. If so, the book would have to be how to
survive on a desert island and the luxury item would be a mega yacht. Otherwise, any book by
Haruki Murakami, the album Scarred but Smarter by Drivin N Cryin, and a big beach umbrella.

Tell me something few people know about you?
I was an on-air radio DJ in high school. The advice: “There are no bad days in radio”, has helped
me always focus on patient needs no matter what else might be going on in my life.

Have you changed since high school?
When I was in high school, I discovered Punk music. I’m older and wiser now but a great deal of that punk rock sensibility has stayed with me. Being your true self and being passionate about what you do. Having the ability to look at things from a different perspective and not following the status quo.

It’s what excites me about Bailey Nelson; It isn’t a cookie cutter Eyewear Company with the same old ideas. Our culture, values and community make us stand out.

What is something you believed to be true for a long time only to find out you were wrong?
Oddly this just happened to me! I was watching a silly show called Peacemaker. A character mentioned that the series of children’s books about a bear family is the Berenstain Bears, not the Berenstein Bears.

When I looked it up to confirm this, I saw that this misconception is very common. There are some interesting theories about a parallel universe where the bears were called Berenstein and the two universes merged in the 1990’s. As a Haruki Murakami, fan I loved this explanation.

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Episode 25: Personal Perspectives on Vision Therapy & Its Future

Eyes Wide Open, Podcasts

Dr. Patrick Quaid, immediate past-president of the Ontario College of Optometrists, founder and Director of Optometric Services Vue³ Vision Therapy Clinics, speaks with EWO podcast host Dr. Glen Chiasson about Vision Therapy – or as he prefers to call it – Neuro-Optometry. Dr. Quaid has authored over 750 articles and publications. EWO listeners will be able to take his CE courses at no cost – compliments of CRO (Clinical & Refractive Optometry) Journal.

About the Guest

A young Patrick Quaid was traumatized by auto accident leaving him with an eye teaming issue and wiping out 2½ years of schooling. He went on to complete his Optometry training (UK) and achieved a PhD at the University of Waterloo (UW), School of Optometry & Vision Science where he also subsequently served as an Adjunct Professor. Dr. Quaid is the immediate past president of the College of Ontario Optometrists and serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Optometric Examining Board of Canada.

Episode Notes

Just as Dr. Patrick Quaid is passing the presidential torch of the College of Optometrists of Ontario (COO) presidency, he and Dr. Chiasson talk about his path from childhood trauma to to developing a non-dispensing Vision Therapy practice group.

He delves into the details of his personal journey following a traumatic car accident as a child, from being bullied and taunted at school to finding an optometrist that was able to treat his vision problems and restore his academic performance.

Disappointed about the dearth of vision therapy instruction at optometry school (UK), he was motivated to learn more about how the brain makes the eyes work by pursuing a doctorate at University of Waterloo, School of Optometry & Vision Science.

Dr. Quaid shares his motivation and experiences in writing a book for parents of children with academic issues and co-authoring a chapter on concussion in a medical textbook with Neuro-Ophthalmologist, Dr. Eric Singman.

Following completion of his PhD, he explains how his journey evolved from a primary care eye doc with the IRIS Group to the establishment of the VUE³ Vision Therapy clinics. He credits the business of eye care experience gained from his stint at IRIS and speaks fondly of the mentorship from IRIS founder, the late Dr. Francis Jean.

Finally, he provides insights as to how Optometry’s path from “special interest” to a true “Specialist” designation is unfolding in three disciplines, including Vision Therapy.

Resources

Dr. Glen Chiasson

Dr. Glen Chiasson is a 1995 graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry. He owns and manages two practices in Toronto. In 2009, he co-hosted a podcast produced for colleagues in eye care, the “International Optometry Podcast”. He is a moderator of the Canadian Optometry Group, an email forum for Canadian optometrists. As a host of “Eyes Wide Open”, Glenn looks forward to exploring new new technologies and services for eye care professionals.

Dr. Chiasson enjoys tennis, hockey, and reading. He lives in Toronto with his wife and two sons.

Dr. Chiasson splits EWO podcast hosting duties with Roxanne Arnal.

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Insight with Dr. Patrick Quaid

Insights, Practice, Resources

UK Trained Optometrist
PhD in Vision Science University of Waterloo (2005)
USA Board Certification FCOVD designation (2011)
Founder & Director of Optometric Services, VUE³ Vision Therapy Clinics

Dr. Quaid founded VUE out of his passion for visual rehabilitation, Having suffered the consequences of a brain injury at age 8 years in an auto accident, he knows first-hand what it can do to the academic potential of a child. He has also written a book for parents of children with learning difficulties on how vision is often a missing critical piece that is overlooked.

Dr. Patrick Quaid

Optometrist, FCOVD, MCOptom, PhD
Immediate Past-President, College of Optometrists of Ontario

Why did you choose your field?
When I was about 8 years old in Ireland, unfortunately I was involved in a car accident and ended up with both double vision and a speech impediment as a result. After quite the search, we eventually found both a speech and language pathologist and an Optometrist who made a massive difference to me.

At the time, although it was a very basic form of visual rehabilitation, it made a massive difference in my life by eliminating the double vision at near. This inspired me to pursue eyecare and try to make the same difference in the lives of others.

What is something you have done in your practice to set you apart?
After being extremely disappointed not to have learned a lot about VT in optometry school, I opted to pursue a PhD in Vision Science. After having completed the PhD and post-doctorate year at Waterloo (and some time in private practice), I opted to set up a “vision therapy only” clinic to essentially integrate research and real-world clinical interventions and track all data with the intention of publishing it and using it for further enhancements to our protocols. In essence, our clinic is a “living lab”.

Peer reviewed evidence is not just published papers but also clinical experience. Both of course are vital, but the latter has been majorly ignored and needs to be acknowledged. This “iterative process” allows us to constantly improve the rehab process to achieve higher rates of graduation from our program.

Have you changed since high school?
Majorly. In high school, although on the junior AAA national team (point guards are not meant to be tall), I was a very quiet and introverted student. Although “a straight A student” – few knew that it was a lot of work for me as I still had visual issues (i.e., tracking issues, headaches). I got through high school out of pure sweat equity.

Now in my 40s, one of my biggest lessons is realizing that wisdom and intelligence are not necessarily correlated. I know plenty of wise people who barely finished high school (my dad) and plenty of PhDs that lack common sense. I honestly had way more fun during my PhD years, when I was allowed to “think for myself” and form my own ideas.

I think primary school and high school are more about “teaching you what to think”, but of course education should be about teaching you how to think. As WB Yeats says, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire”, could not agree more.

Tell me something few people know about you?
By pure luck, I ended up being an extra in the movie “Saving Private Ryan” and got to meet Mr. Tom Hanks personally (as he wished to hear someone speaking my native tongue Gaelic). I was serving the Irish Defence Forces at the time. I also speak three languages (Gaelic, English and French) and am learning my fourth (Turkish) thanks to my wife!

What business books would you advise other ECPs to read?

Definitely “The Ideal Team Player” (by Patrick Lencioni). The approach Pat Lencioni takes with his “Humble, Hungry and Smart” rubric is pure genius. Not just in terms of figuring out “who to hire and ensuring you have the right team”, but also his additional “Working Genius” model also allows you to ensure you have “right person right role” essentially. Game changing book!

What habits in your opinion make you a successful person?
I have made my share of mistakes over the years like everyone else. However, I firmly believe that these three habits have saved me (i) never being so entrenched in my position that you are unwilling to change perspective, (ii) always taking the position that everyone (yes, even people you don’t like) have something to teach you and (iii) realize that everything is earned and not “deserved” and that the world is not always fair. Also, as we all get older, we tend to be less “full of fire and vinegar” and some more humility. We tend to get to “know ourselves better” over time.

I am always on a journey to know myself better – sounds odd, but you would be amazed how many people have not taken the time to figure themselves out. “Know thyself” is key to being successful. For example, impressing people is something younger people always try to do, this gets less as we get more self-confident and older. My dad (a career drill instructor in the army) always used to say, “if you knew how quickly we forget the dead, you would try less to impress the living”. Having serves for 35 years and done over a dozen tours internationally with the UN, I think he has a point. Being successful #1 means “knowing thyself”.

Which ECP leaders do you admire?
It is important to have people you admire, mainly because you then think about “why you admire them” which invariably moves you to emulate them in a good way. Two people come to mind immediately here. Dr. WC Maples OD FCOVD (Southern College of Optometry, retired; USMC retired) and Dr. Eric Singman MD PhD (Johns Hopkins Neuro-Ophthalmology).

Dr. Maples (or simply “WC” as most call him) is a gem to optometry to be frank. He is one of the wisest, most humble men I have ever met. In his 80s now, he is not only an absolute GENIUS in vision therapy and knew the “OD originators of VT”, but he is also a published researcher and a veteran (USMC, Vietnam). He is always willing to help others and has that quiet strength” that is only attained by “success with significant adversity.

Dr. Eric Singman is simply a powerhouse in “bringing people together” by always wanting to collaborate to publish data, regardless of politics. I think the main reason I admire both, is that they have achieved so much yet remain so humble and have a habit of “telling it like it is”.

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Looking Towards a Brighter 2022

Practice, Resources

Most of us can certainly say that 2021 was an improvement on 2020. Many of us came to the end of 2021 feeling very hopeful and encouraged as we felt the worst was behind us.

Then the Omicron variant entered the picture and quickly changed (and perhaps even dashed) some of these hopes. None of us could have predicted that such a highly transmissible variant would come along. I am hopeful, though, that the end is finally in sight. It might be foolish to make another prediction, but I think we must believe we are in the final stages of this pandemic.

Why am I so hopeful?
We all know that healthcare offices can adapt despite all the measures and protocols required to keep staff and patients safe. We know a lot more about SARS-CoV-2 today than we did 18 months and three waves ago. Whether you choose to be vaccinated or not, the fact is that we at least have more protection against severe illness due to COVID-19.

It is true that during something like a pandemic, practice owners must be more vigilant at business planning. Ideally, this should be an exercise undertaken at the start of every new year but as we move forward there are always the same questions that must be asked in order to achieve success. Perhaps, as you read through them, you may see these are the same questions that should have been asked prior to the pandemic.

How well do you know your patients?
Any growth that one wishes to attain in practice, must begin with this. The COVID-19 crisis has reinforced what we already know: we must communicate in very clear and precise terms. In other words, speak to your patients (through social media, in person etc.) and share information in language that means something to them. The pandemic has taught us that any messages we share must be relevant. Personal/human connections were even more important in the last 18 months when social distancing became a way of life.

Are you retaining and increasing referrals by ensuring the last best experience your patient had?
There is no doubt that all our expectations were already on the rise before COVID-19. But when the coronavirus hit, digital transformation accelerated overnight. Savvy owners focused on improving their social media presence to communicate and educate patients as well as potential patients. In-person appointments became very different due to PPE protocols and social distancing, thus making personal experiences even more challenging. Again, the smart practice owner ensured that patients felt appreciated and valued.

Do people feel valued in your office?
COVID-19 has placed a new emphasis on relationships. Staffing during the pandemic has proven to be a massive challenge and point of stress for owners. Successful owners have worked very hard to capitalize on the strength of their bonds prior to March 2020. Trust and integrity are fundamental to driving practice success. Trust will be built by and rewarded to those that listen to the needs of staff (and patients) and then craft solutions to meet those needs.

How flexible have you become? Like it or not, COVID-19 has created an irreversible trend for owners to be nimble and adapt quickly. Hopefully, this crisis has helped to create a mindset of responsiveness that is likely to be permanent. Never take things for granted and run-on auto pilot. Always continue to observe and listen. Flexibility enables one to make faster decisions.

Have leadership skills improved?
COVID-19 has created a leadership culture of collaboration combined with the urgent need for resilience. A good leader is pro-active. There is no doubt that news of the 4th wave and of newer variants of concern on the horizon is upsetting. But if we look at pandemics of the past, subsequent waves have been part of their life cycles as well.

The purpose of these questions is merely to illustrate the importance of developing and implementing strategies that are essential to maintain practice value and to drive growth in a post-Covid-19 world. We all know that we cannot continue to do things the way we always have.

No doubt we have had to become accustomed to adjusting and changing. However, my hope is that even in a pandemic we have comfort in knowing that the answers to these questions should have been a priority prior to the pandemic. Despite what is currently happening, one can be successful if they choose to be. At least in 2022, a fresh start enables owners to prioritize the critical things that influence success.

It is a fact that the pandemic will create huge lasting changes that will take years to fully understand, which can feel scary. Yuval Noah Harari, once wrote that, “people are usually afraid of change because they fear the unknown. But the single greatest constant of history is that everything changes.”

The world has adapted to big disruptions before, and we will do it again.

JACKIE JOACHIM

Jackie has 30 years of experience in the industry as a former banker and now the Chief Operating Officer of ROI Corporation. Please contact her at Jackie.joachim@roicorp.com or 1-844-764-2020.

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