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Please share with us your background.
I grew up in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and received a bachelor of arts degree in natural science from Saint John’s University. In 2015, I graduated magna cum laude and salutatorian from the Rosenberg School of Optometry.
When I was younger, I enjoyed making art, cooking, and designing and crafting Halloween costumes or outfits to wear to the Renaissance Festival. (I even have a steampunk optometrist costume.)
Describe your current position.
I am an associate doctor at Pinecone Vision Center in Sartell, Minnesota. I love working alongside Nick Colatrella, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, ABCMO; Stacy M. Hinkemeyer, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, ABCMO; Trevor Foss, OD, FAAO; and Kevy Simmons, OD, MEd-VFL, FAAO. I practice primary care optometry with patients of all ages, but I have a passion for the anterior segment and dry eye. The clinic operates as an externship location for students, which offers me the opportunity to teach—an activity I find valuable and rewarding.
Who are your mentors?
Dr. Colatrella has been a mentor of mine since the completion of my residency. I am grateful to work with him at his clinic as I continue to learn from his expertise in the areas of anterior segment disease, dry eye, and amniotic membranes.
Burt Dubow, OD, FAAO, was my father’s eye doctor. I shadowed him between my first and second year of optometry school. He influenced my style of patient communication and helped me to understand the value of treating my patients as friends and caring for them as if they were my own family. He also strengthened my appreciation of patient education regarding our profession (what we do, what value we provide through an exam) as well as the importance of our involvement in advocacy. We still often connect once or twice a year.
What has been the most memorable experience of your career thus far?
In 2019, I was invited to attend an eye care marketing event hosted by Marketing4ECPs. Kevin Wilhelm, the president of Marketing4ECPs, called me out as being the most valuable associated optometrist in the United States because of my success on YouTube. At the time, I was embarrassed by his comment, but it has since become a moment of pride and honor for me.
What new technological advances do you find exciting? Which advances in the pipeline are you most enthusiastic or curious about?
The advances in the realm of myopia control have the potential to change our profession. With new technologies at hand and in development, we are better armed to treat and manage myopia as not just a visual condition, but in fact a progressive disease for children and some adults.
Describe a typical day in your life.
Mondays through Wednesdays are my YouTube and video days. After my morning workout, I plan and research which videos I want to make next and then shoot, craft, and edit those videos. Thursdays and Fridays are my clinic days. Throughout the week I also attend business meetings.
I practice Muay Thai boxing and jujitsu martial arts twice a week, and in my downtime my wife and I enjoy hiking, biking, and cuddling with our cat, Zelda.
What advice can you offer to those now choosing their career paths after optometry school or residency?
Time is your most valuable resource. I have found the value in searching for a job you love and living a lifestyle that makes you happy. Life is too short to work yourself to death, and if you do not love your job then you have some changes to make.
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