SOCIAL

  O.D. SCENE

THE ENTERTAINING SIDE OF OPTOMETRY

Q&A

Jack Schaeffer, O.D.
Editor-in-Chief O.D. Scene

As optometry moves into the integrated healthcare model, it is more important than ever that those in the trenches share their knowledge. After all, in order to secure our place in this model we, as a profession, must continue to make significant contributions in advanced patient care.

Many optometrists share their knowledge from the podium. This month, you will meet three of our young colleagues who are making names for themselves on the lecture circuit. They are Melissa Barnett, O.D., F.A.A.O., Charles Ficco, O.D., and Whitney Hauser, O.D. I have had the great pleasure of attending lectures by all three of these passionate practitioners. As a result, I can tell you firsthand that our future is very bright.

Finally, resident epicurean/world traveler Kirk Smick, O.D., F.A.A.O., provides you with a list of his favorite restaurants in Seattle. This couldn’t be more timely, as many of you, no doubt, will be in the Emerald City for this year’s Optometry’s Meeting this month. Hope to see you there!

Key Optometric Leaders Weigh in…

Q: CAN YOU BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR PRACTICE?

MB: I work at UC Davis in two distinct locations. The first is a clinic near UCD Medical Center in Sacramento where I have a medical, specialty contact lens and ocular surface disease practice. The other practice is on campus at the UC Davis Student Health and Wellness Center in Davis. Contact lenses are an integral part of both practices.

CF: I am an associate in a large O.D./M.D. group practice just south of Atlanta. Our group consists of four M.D.s, eight O.D.s, an ASC and approximately 100 employees — all in a 40,000 square foot location. Personally, I perform 60% medically oriented eye exams and 40% comprehensive annual eye exams.

WH: I’m the clinical development consultant at the TearWell Advanced Dry Eye Treatment Center at SCO. TearWell is exclusively dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of ocular surface disease. Our patients are long-term dry eye disease sufferers who have bounced from doctor to doctor without relief or answers.

1: Dr. Ficco horsing around with son, Jack; 2: Dr. Hauser’s children, Andrew, Richard and Alice Cate; 3: Dr. Barnett with sons, Drew and Alex.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE?

MB: Ocular surface disease and specialty contact lenses. I have a special interest in Sjögren’s syndrome and autoimmune disease, as both are found so commonly with ocular surface disease.

CF: I have a passion for the ocular surface.

WH: I’ve spent most of my career in anterior segment with a focus on surgical comanagement and ocular surface disease. It’s my wheelhouse.

Q: WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN THE LECTURE CIRCUIT?

MB: A few years after I graduated from optometry school, several mentors suggested I lecture. I contemplated the idea, and two years after my sons were born, I decided to give lecturing a try.

CF: While on staff at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, after my residency, I was in charge of the externship program. It was my job to educate and lecture to the students and, once in a while, some of the ophthalmology residents. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to pass on the knowledge that was given to me by my mentors there. I remember watching some of them in clinic and at the podium and thinking to myself, “If I can be half the doctor that they are and pass on just a fraction of what they have taught me, I will be proud to call myself an optometrist.” That is when I knew I wanted to join the circuit.

WH: In 2013, I decided to leave as clinical director of a referral center and pursue academics. Public speaking initially intimidated me, but I quickly found an affinity for it. I love that it pushes me to study and research, because if you plan to be the content expert on the podium, you better be able to back it up.

Q: IS IT IMPORTANT AS A SPEAKER TO BE A MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY AND THE AOA?

MB: In order to advance our profession, I strongly believe that it is important to be a member of the AAO and AOA. In addition, I educate the public and doctors as a spokesperson for the California Optometric Association.

CF: Yes, I think that it is very important to be involved in organized optometry. I am a member of the AOA.

WH: I applied for fellowship in the Academy this year. It’s like I tell my students, “You never look back and think you wish you’d studied less.” I don’t know that it will help me get more speaking invitations or increase my credibility, but it certainly won’t hurt.

Q: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT A LECTURE YOU GAVE THAT DIDN’T GO WELL?

MB: My absolute worst lecture was to my local optometric society. A doctor, who was along in years, repeatedly interrupted me to the point at which the entire audience (and service staff) were dismayed. I told him I would answer questions at the end of the lecture; however, he continued to interrupt. Eventually, he stormed out and got severely reprimanded from our society. (My colleagues complimented me on keeping calm).

CF: My first lecture, at SECO, was on posterior uveal melanoma. The lecture itself went relatively well, but there was one attendee who started asking questions that had nothing to do with the lecture material. Of course, I couldn’t answer any of his questions, so I politely apologized for not knowing the answer and tried to move the lecture along. I think he sensed I was young and tried to take advantage of that fact.

WH: While my resident’s day presentation went well (at least as I remember it), it wasn’t without complications. I stood at the podium with a raging fever from a viral infection. It was difficult to advance the slides because the chills made my hands shake. After completing the lecture, I got ibuprofen from another resident and gulped it down with a flat Sprite. Not a banner day.

Q: HOW CAN A COLLEAGUE GET STARTED ON THE LECTURE CIRCUIT?

MB: Create a lecture, outline, CV and biography. This helps when asked to lecture. It is best to initiate the desire to speak and to be prepared. An alternative is to contact a company that you have an interest in, and ask to speak for them.

CF: The first thing you need to do is network. Introduce yourself, and let the “right” people know you are interested. Second, concentrate on your passion. Choose something that excites you, and stick with it.

WH: Talk about what you know and love. If you know the topic, you’re more confident immediately. If you love it, the audience will be more engaged. They sense the enthusiasm, and it becomes contagious. Be certain that you’ve had plenty of clinical experience with the subject of interest. Nothing adds authenticity to a lecture like real cases or anecdotes about patients.

1: Dr. Barnett with her sons and husband, Todd.
2: Dr. Ficco with girlfriend, Mary Elizabeth Brice, in Las Vegas.
3: Dr. Barnett and husband out on the town.
4: Dr. Hauser with daughter, Alice Cate, before a Katy Perry concert.

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST LECTURE YOU HAVE ATTENDED THUS FAR?

MB: Two memorable lectures were Condoleezza Rice, who lectured in Sacramento a few years ago, and Karla Zadnik, O.D., Ph.D., who spoke on the concepts of the book “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead.” Both were inspirational.

CF: Recently, I attended a lecture at Vision Expo East by Melton and Thomas called, “Separating the Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Is it Glaucoma or Not?” They have a great chemistry on stage, and it was a great, no nonsense glaucoma lecture that made me feel more comfortable about the decisions I make in practice.

WH: Likely the last one I attended. When I attend conferences, I spend hours in the lecture hall bouncing from class to class. Anterior segment, posterior segments, nutrition — I love them all.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OPTOMETRIC MEETING AND WHY?

MB: GSLS for specialty contact lens education and meeting colleagues from around the world, and the Hawaiian Optometric Association for the beautiful setting.

CF: Vision Expo West is my favorite meeting. Vegas, do I need to say any more?

WH: I love the AOA for personal reasons. My three kids have grown up attending AOA conferences all over the country. They patiently sit through receptions and dinners happily attached to their iPods. Each year, their good behavior (acceptable behavior, perhaps) is rewarded with a tagged-on family vacation.

Q: WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY, AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN?

MB: My husband, Todd Erickson, an optometrist (yes, we were classmates), and two children, Alex, age 8, and Drew, age 6. We love travelling, going to the farmer’s market, bike riding and eating sushi. For fun, yoga is my absolute favorite, but I also enjoy running and weight lifting.

CF: I have two beautiful and amazing children, Brooke, age 18, and Jack, age 13, and I have my beautiful girlfriend, Mary Elizabeth Brice, O.D. They are the loves of my life, and I am just as content sitting on the couch watching a movie together as I am on a ski adventure in Gatlinburg, Tenn. We love going to the Gulf Coast beaches, as well as hanging out locally in Atlanta.

WH: My husband, Joe, and I have three kids, Richard, age 12, Andrew, age 10, and Alice Cate, age 7. We spend much of our time driving to and from sporting events, piano lessons and scout meetings. When the kids turn 10 years old, I take them on a special individual trip, just the two of us. Richard went to N.Y.C., and Andrew to San Francisco this spring. Alice Cate has her sights on Paris. For fun, I love fitness and I go to the gun range.

Q: IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH ANYONE, LIVING OR DECEASED, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

MB: Julia Child, a fellow Smith graduate. She would cook the most delicious meal and have a great perspective about dinner.

CF: My two grandfathers. One passed away before I was born and the other when I was 4 months old. I am named after both, so I would like to have some time to get to know them even for a short period.

WH: The character Claire Dunphy from “Modern Family.” Claire and I are cut from the same über competitive cloth. We could swap stories about our three kids, our favorite running shoes, etc. Before dinner is finished, I predict we’d argue about who was right about something and arm wrestle to determine the victor.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK, MOVIE, BAND AND ADULT BEVERAGE?

MB: Book: “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead”; Movie: The Sound of Music; Band: Tears for Fears; Adult beverage: A nice glass of Red Blend wine from California.

CF: Book: “Leadership” by Rudolph Giuliani; Movie: The God-father; Band: Rush; Adult beverage: Absolut Citron on ice.

WH: Book: “Gone with the Wind”; Movie: Mr. and Mrs. Smith; Band: Fall Out Boy; Adult beverage: any cocktail with St. Germain.

TRAVEL, FOOD & WINE

Seattle: More Than Great Coffee

Kirk L. Smick, O.D., F.A.A.O.
Senior Editor, O.D. Scene

Seattle remains one of my favorite culinary destinations based in no small part on its bounty of exquisite seafood.

As Optometry’s Meeting is in Seattle this year, I wanted to provide you with a list of what I consider the best places to eat. A caveat: Seattle recently initiated the $15.00/hour minimum wage for restaurant workers, so expect a little bump in food prices.

MY LIST

• The Walrus and the Carpenter
Located at 4743 Ballard Ave N.W., this is, in my opinion, the best place for oysters. Keep in mind, however, that the restaurant’s “no reservation” policy makes getting a table difficult.

• Westward & Little Gull Grocery
Located at 2501 N. Northlake Way, this restaurant offers Mediterranean fare and is my second favorite oyster spot.

• 7 Beef Knife Club
This recently opened restaurant in the city’s Central District serves coulotte and oyster steaks in a butchery room.

• The Market Hall
If you like Eataly in New York, you will love this place. It is part bar, restaurant and market. It’s located at 1798 8th Ave.

• Ivar’s Salmon House
Located at 401 N.E. Northlake Way, this place serves salmon every way possible, in addition to chowders and other fish.

• RockCreek Seafood & Spirits
I highly recommend the Oregon Petrale Sole served on a bacon lentil ragout and the Neah Bay Black Cod “Provencal.” The restaurant is located at 4300 Fremont Ave. N.

• Loulay Kitchen & Bar
This restaurant offers French cuisine, courtesy of “The Chef in the Hat,” Thierry Rautureau. It’s located at 600 Union St.