One to Watch: Margaret Moore, OD, FAAO

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Please share with us your background.

I grew up in Germantown, Maryland, where I attended diverse public schools and enjoyed playing saxophone and clarinet in our school’s jazz band and pit orchestra. While attending the University of Notre Dame, I worked in a lab examining the genetics behind retinaI degeneration. Following undergrad, I worked in a microbiology lab but needed a 9-to-5 work schedule, as I was helping my mother care for my terminally ill father. I took a position in an optometry practice and fell in love with clinical eye care. I went on to attend The Ohio State University College of Optometry and later matched to a residency in ocular disease and low vision at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in West Haven, Connecticut. Connecticut is home now!

Describe your current position.

I practice in an MD/OD group owned by ReFocus Eye Health (formerly Eye Center of Southern Connecticut) with two general ophthalmologists who perform cataract surgery, an oculoplastic surgeon, and a glaucoma/cataract surgeon. I see a mix of comprehensive exams and ocular disease management. I also perform sensorimotor exams (ie, prism and accommodative testing) when indicated, and the occasional low vision evaluation. I’m fortunate to have colleagues nearby to refer to for other types of exams, including contact lens fittings, vision therapy, and pediatrics.

Who are your mentors?

I’ve had many over the years, but I want to specifically mention Terri Zerilli, OD, my residency supervisor, who continuously challenged me to be more thorough and confident in my clinical care and presentations. She was tough on me and my co-residents, and we benefited from it!

What has been the most memorable experience of your career thus far?

I’ve always wanted to serve developing areas, so my first clinical service trip abroad to San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala, has been one of my favorite experiences thus far. I’m looking forward to my next service trip to Nicaragua!

What are some new technological advances that you find particularly exciting? Which advances in the pipeline are you most enthusiastic or curious about?

I’m excited about the many emerging ways to treat and monitor ocular surface and lid disease, including lotilaner ophthalmic solution 0.25% (Xdemvy, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals) and the ScoutPro Osmolarity System (Trukera Medical). I’m also interested in how nutrition affects ocular health and how we can offer lifestyle recommendations to our patients to prevent ocular disease.

Describe a typical day in your life.

I wake up to my rescue dog, Bridget, wanting her first belly rub of the day. I take her for a morning walk by the beach near our home, then drive 20 to 35 minutes to one of the three offices where I see patients. I see about 30 patients per day, scheduled every 10 to 15 minutes—a volume I wouldn’t be able to maintain without our technicians and my incredibly sharp, hard-working scribe, Amanda Flores. After clinic, I head home for another dog walk. I sometimes have obligations for one of my extracurriculars—my company’s physician advisory board, the board of directors for the Connecticut Association of Optometrists, the Notre Dame Alumni Club of New Haven (for which I serve as President), the 2023 American Optometric Academy Leadership Institute, or YoungOD Connect. If I’m off the hook, I tend to my vegetable garden and watch Netflix with Bridget.

What advice can you offer to individuals who are just now choosing their career paths after finishing optometry school or residency?

Keep an open mind about where you end up living and practicing. Be brave enough to try new things and stay on top of the latest developments. Form relationships with doctors in your area (and beyond)—your colleagues will be some of your most valuable resources throughout your career.