Tell us a little about your background.
I’m one of those ODs who didn’t know I wanted to be an OD when I grew up. I was raised in Northern California in the heart of Silicon Valley. I went to UC San Diego and fell in love with vision therapy, which is what brought me to SUNY. Eventually, I found my calling as a business owner, so I opened a practice in 2007 in Irvine, California. I never thought I would end up in industry because I didn’t know that was an option, but I was recommended as a consultant, and that’s what started my relationship with Johnson & Johnson Vision.
How did you develop an interest in optometry?
My fascination with the eye came from the brain. Your eyes are an extension of the brain and help you learn from the world. We tend to take them for granted until something goes wrong. That’s where eye care providers come in.
How did you come to be in your current role?
A doctor within Johnson & Johnson knew of me and needed a professional affairs consultant out west. The role was to speak to other doctors about products and services that the company offers. My first reaction was, “Thank you for thinking of me, but no thank you; I don’t like public speaking.” Then the doctor asked, “Have you done any public speaking?” And I said, “No, I haven’t because I don’t like it.” He replied, “How do you know you don’t like it if you haven’t done it?” I agreed to try it out, and ended up doing it for 9 years. As colleagues, we were able to interact, share information, and learn from each other. Every time I attended an event, I brought something back that I could use in my practice or share with my patients. When I was asked to come work for the company, I questioned if the opportunity would come around again. Now, I head up Professional Affairs for North America Vision Care.
What does your typical workday look day? What are your main responsibilities?
No day is the same, which is very different from working in a clinic day. My day-to-day is emails, meetings, and travel, but in a broader sense, it’s supporting successful patient outcomes through the products and services that Johnson & Johnson produces. My role from a leadership perspective is guiding the company with my knowledge of the business and clinical insights to foster better patient and provider experiences.
What are the most rewarding or enjoyable aspects of your job?
It is always going to be centered around the patient, the reason I went into health care in the first place. We best serve them by supporting their relationship with doctors, making sure legislators understand it, and providing products and services that enhance it.
What have you learned through your industry role that you never would have learned working in a practice setting?
In 2019, I decided to get my MBA. Industry helped me understand a little bit about a lot of different things, and I felt that getting an MBA would further enhance my depth of knowledge. Industry taught me that we can shape our external environment through advocacy efforts reaching beyond our direct circle of influence.
What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career in the optometric industry?
It’s about engaging other people, starting a conversation, and putting ideas out there into the universe. My belief is that we as a community of professionals like helping other people, especially those whose position we’ve been in before. I’ve had a fairly unique journey and am able to connect people with others who can lend some insight, help them network, and create an experience for them. Our ability to grow with each other is important.
What professional development opportunities have helped you grow in the past year?
I love listening to books that promote a growth mindset—how to better understand others, develop personally and professionally, and reframe and solve problems.
What motivates you?
At this point in my life, one of my biggest motivators is impact. With the skills, knowledge, and influence that my position affords me, how can I create the most immediate impact in the time that I have? There are different ways that everyone can help. It’s about finding your purpose in life and making the most of what you can do right now in the position that you’re in with the knowledge that you have. Then, ask yourself how you can further your knowledge to create even more of an impact.
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