Sandbox Stories - The Podcast

Dr. Moes Nasser is a philanthropic, globally-minded Optometrist.  From his family history, starting in India and then in Africa, to his successful practice in Houston, to his contributions to Optometry Giving Sight, Dr. Nasser’s stories are sure to inspire. 

 

The Stories within the Story include:

1:04  The Tanzania Story

6:04  The Childhood Vision Story

12:31  The Early Career Mindset Story

14:16 The Family Story

17:25  The Optometry Giving Sight Story

25:15  The Pearls of Success Story

32:20  The Love of America Story

37:20  The Optometry Threats Story

43:50  The Reading Story

Pierre Bertrand is an industry veteran and has an incredible ability to tell meaningful stories. His current role is with Neurolens.  Learn about his upbringing in Montreal, as well as what his grasp of fear has taught him.

This Sandbox Story features Brittany Ammerman, a fourth year student at the Penn State College of Medicine.  Her story is shared to show my Optometry colleagues the path of an enterprising young woman who was influenced to pursue medicine.  Brittany’s stories are compelling - some are very relatable  - and others are simply fascinating, including the story about how an outreach trip to Africa to focus on women’s health led her to found a women’s soccer league in Kenya which resulted in the recognition with the NCAA Hockey Humanitarian Award in 2015.  “Sports, health, and women’s empowerment” - these are what Brittany is all about.  

 

The Stories within the Story include:

1:12  The College Hockey Story

5:50  The Coach Story

7:31  The College Decision Story

13:30  The Family Story

17:20  The Med School Influence Story

28:26 The Women’s Health Story

44:38 The Peloton Story

47:19 The Mentoring Story

 

To donate to the Nikumbuke Soccer League for women in Kenya, visit www.nikumbukesoccer.org

 

Runtime:  58 min

One word describes Dr. Howard Purcell - passionate.  In this Sandbox Story, you will learn about his passion for optometry, fellow optometrists, music, and family.  I caught up with Dr. Purcell earlier in the summer when his schedule at the College became lighter, and we covered a variety of his views on optometric education, as well as his efforts in the optometry industry sector.  He’s a leader, and this interview includes clear evidence and examples from which the audience can learn.

The Stories within the Story include:

0:52  The Generational Story

5:32  The Optometry Decision Story

10:15  The Waterskiing Story

11:58  The J&J Story

23:47  The Industry Relations Story

29:07  The InfantSEE Story

31:18  The Essilor Story

36:56  The Family Story

38:48  The Traveler Story

42:50  The Positive Attitude Story

Dr. Justin Bazan is a recognized optometry leader on topics of disruptive, insightful business operations and social media strategies for eye care businesses.  In this Sandbox Story, he shares insights about his life experiences that have led him to where he is today, and also pearls of advice about how to contemplate the future of practice.

 

The Stories inside the Story include:

0:55  The Upbringing Story

4:30  The Wanderlust Story

5:22  The Becoming an OD Story

11:50  The Practice Story

21:03  The Social Media Story

30:32  The Younger ODs Story

34:07  The 2022 Look-Ahead Story

39:20  The Traveler Story

42:40  The Best Advice Story

 

Runtime:  44 min.

Dr. Stephanie Johnson-Brown practices in Chicago, IL.  She joined the practice of her late father, who had the foresight to build a clinic that not only served the community through primary eye care services, but also via a not-for-profit entity that assured that all children could be given the opportunity to vision therapy.  She talks about her time in leadership of the National Optometric Association (NOA), as well as her nephew, Larry Fitzgerald, who attributed his time in vision therapy to the development of his focus and coordination.  Also included is her sage advice about how to observe and communicate with patients.

 

The Stories within the Story include:

0:48  The OD Father Story

7:57  The Siblings Story

10:08  The Not-for-profit Story

16:21  The Nephew Story

19:54  The Public Schools Story

24:59  The Employees Story

28:02  The Advice Story

32:25  The NOA Story

37:27  The Functional Approach Story

40:16  The Life’s Joy Story

EHR vendors are not eager to more deeply integrate with important third-parties that eye care businesses want to utilize.  That is shameful, and it's time for it to change.  Here are my thoughts, along with a little history of how I got involved in EHR during my career.

Dr. Brianna Rhue is the Co-founder and CEO of DrContactLens, an emerging practice performance software system.  Her commentary includes a review of her practice of myopia management, as well as personal stories including how yoga has transformed her.  Dr. Rhue and Sandbox Stories host, Dr. Scott Jens, take turns pointing out the critical need for EHR vendors to better provide access to a practice’s patient information so third-party applications can be used by practice owners to improve their businesses.  

 

The Stories within the Story include:

1:15  The Early Influence Story

2:21  The Spouse Story

3:10  The Myopia Management Story

5:08  The Questioning Myopia Management Story

11:40  The Yoga Story

14:38  The Traveler Story

15:51  The DrContactLens Story

19:07  The Entrepreneur Story

23:25  The Patient Control Story

26:22  The Technology Adoption Story

30:12  The Cost of Goods Story

32:00  The Challenges of EHRs Story

37:30  Scott’s Editorial Commentary

40:05  The Connecting Doctor and Patient Story

42:57  Scott’s Second Editorial Commentary

45:54  The EHR Vendor Statement Story

51:51  The Great Advice Story

 

Runtime:  54 min.

Remember the first time you were called “Doctor”?  This Sandbox Story kicks off with the pure joy of a new grad being called “Doctor” for the first time, and then wanders through a variety of topics that help highlight the rigor of today’s Optometric education, as well as the preparation that new graduates make as they begin their careers as a Doctor of Optometry.  From student debt insights, to the power of a pre-career mentor, everyone will gain incredible insights.  The guests are 2021 graduates of the Illinois College of Optometry - Dr. Kim Fazio, and Dr. Chelsea Goodman.  

 

The Stories within the Story:

2:00  The Student Leadership Story

3:45  The Becoming a Professional Story

5:23  The Patient Care Story

6:21  The Understanding Story

7:59  The Misunderstanding Story

9:52  The Student Debt Story

12:08  The Early Career Options Story

14:53  The Low Vision Story

18:09  The Pre-Career Story

18:50  The Mentor Story

20:23  The Clinical Education Story

21:43  The Research Story

23:12  The State Laws Story

24:18  The COVID Education Story

26:44  The $275,000 Debt Story

28:00  The Work Opportunity Story

29:42  The Honesty Story

 

Runtime:  32 min

This is a Sandbox Story Interview of tech entrepreneur, Dr. Nikki Iravani.  She developed the Eyexam app and continues to be on the cutting edge of eye care service.  She is also on the Board of "Women in Optometry", and has an incredible set of family stories.  

 

The Stories within the Story:

1:08  The Iran Story

6:04  The Influence Story

11:17  The OD Women Story

12:15  The Family Story

17:00  The Boards Story

25:12  The Eyexam Story

 

Runtime:  40 min