What interested you most about a career in optometry?
While I was in college, I knew I wanted to go into some field of medicine. I spent time shadowing doctors in different specialties, including radiology, anesthesiology, pharmacology, ophthalmology, and optometry. I was fascinated with the technology and visual optics of the eye. I narrowed it down to optometry school or pharmacy school, and then I just flipped a coin!
What new technological advances have you have found particularly exciting? Which advances in the pipeline are you most enthusiastic or curious about?
I was involved in one of the early clinical trials with the Array multifocal IOL (Advanced Medical Optics; no longer available) platform. Now we have the AcrySof IQ PanOptix Trifocal IOL (Alcon), the Tecnis Symfony Extended Range of Vision IOLs (Johnson & Johnson Vision), and the Light Adjustable Lens (RxSight), among others, that exceed expectations on a regular basis.
What advice do you have for someone just starting out who wants to get involved in the profession?
Make your desire known. Once an opportunity presents itself, try not to take on too much too soon (I’m guilty of this). Better to do good to excellent work than to overextend yourself and do average work (I’m also guilty of this). Before you know it, you will have to learn the art of saying “no.”
What lessons has your work life taught you?
Work-life balance is so important. Most professionals who make it through optometry or medical school have an inner drive and are very goal-oriented. But if we don’t tap on the breaks every now and then, we may not enjoy the ride while achieving our goals (Again, I’m guilty of this myself).
Are any of your children interested in a career in optometry? As a father in the medical profession, are there particular values that have been important for you to instill in your son and daughters?
My oldest, Samantha, is in her second year of college and is wanting to become a nurse. My son, Alex, is enrolling in a trade program within the next year. And my youngest, Taylor, is still in high school and deciding between medical school and a nurse-anesthetist program. None have expressed an interest in eye care—yet!
As for values, it has been interesting to see my kids grow and mature over the years, each very different, and each with a slightly different set of core values. What they have in common is their spiritual growth and faith in Christ Jesus. This will sustain them regardless of the career path they choose or the inevitable storms of life.
How did you get into hand-crafting tobacco pipes?
My fascination with tobacco pipes has to be credited to my grandfather. While the aroma of tobacco smoke was always appealing to me, what intrigued me most was the intricate design and varying shapes of some of the pipes he had acquired while stationed in Italy in the Army. The detailing on some of these pipes was quite impressive.
I primarily make them as a therapeutic release, for personal use, or gifts (Figure). After a long week, there is nothing more relaxing to me than sitting on my deck or patio with a pipe in one hand (perhaps smoking Mac Baren Virginia No. 1) and a glass of Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Kentucky bourbon poured over a rock of ice in the other. Cheers!
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