Episodes

"See Clearly, Lead Boldly, and Live Purposefully." — A powerful mindset for navigating legacy, leadership, and life beyond the slit lamp. Welcome back to the Nerdy Optometrist podcast, the dedicated channel for all things eye care, professional development, and innovation for eye care providers around the globe! 🌍 In this episode, your host sits down with Dr. Katie Chu—an absolute powerhouse in our industry who has been anchoring her private practice in Rosemead, California, since 1995. Dr....

"The young man who never gave up." — A powerful mindset for navigating the ever-evolving world of eye care. Welcome back to the Nerdy Optometrist podcast, the dedicated channel for all things eye care, professional development, and innovation for eye care providers around the globe! 🌍 In this episode, your host sits down with Dr. Jasdeep Soni—an optometrist, entrepreneur, and recruiter who is deeply dedicated to helping ODs build successful, fulfilling careers. Dr. Soni is the brilliant fou...

Recorded on World Optometry Day, this episode marks Dr. Samson's first-ever podcast appearance. He opens up about his journey from a personal family experience with glaucoma to managing a mobile eye care non-profit, and ultimately moving across the world to pursue high-resolution retinal imaging and genetics research. Top 5 Episode Highlights: The Spark: The personal family story that motivated Dr. Samson to dedicate his life to preventing blindness. Global Training Layouts: The distinct d...

In this episode of Nerdy Optometrist, I sit down with Dr. Ryan Corte, optometrist, multi-location practice owner, speaker, consultant, and host of the Ryan Reflects podcast. Dr. Ryan has built his career around a simple but powerful belief: that great optometry starts with great leadership. From running thriving practices to helping fellow eye care professionals find their purpose and fulfillment, he's become one of the most inspiring voices in our profession today. In this conversation, we refl...

In this episode of Nerdy Optometrist, I sit down with Dr. Glenda Aleman, internationally recognized myopia management and orthokeratology specialist, entrepreneur, educator, and global advocate for childhood vision health. Dr. Glenda first joined the podcast to talk about resilience and building a specialty practice. But in this special Women’s Day episode, the conversation evolves, from building a successful clinic to building a movement to fight the global myopia epidemic. As the CEO and fou...

In this episode of Nerdy Optometrist, I sit down with Eugene Shatsman, Managing Partner of National Strategic Group (NSG), to talk about what it truly takes to build a thriving, future-ready optometry practice. With over 17 years of experience, Eugene is known for combining business strategy, consumer behavior research, and data-driven marketing to help practices grow smarter, not just bigger. Through NSG’s network of 100+ experts, he helps optimize everything from SEO and digital marketing to ...

In this episode of Nerdy Optometrist, I sit down with Colton Calandrella, Co-Founder and CEO of Barti, for a conversation that goes beyond software and gets to the heart of why eye care technology needs a serious rethink. Colton is one of those rare founders who leads with both purpose and precision. Before Barti, he built software for Fortune 500 companies at Bain, launched an AI venture inside an accelerator, created a startup that reduced airport wait times, and even began his career as a te...

In this episode of Nerdy Optometrist, we welcome Dr. Melissa Barnett — world-renowned optometrist, educator, author, certified coach, and host of the Clearly KC podcast. Dr. Barnett shares her journey from clinical excellence in dry eye disease, specialty and scleral lenses, keratoconus, and presbyopia to embracing coaching, mindful leadership, and wellness as a new avenue for impact. We discuss what inspired her transition, how mindfulness works in today’s competitive healthcare landscape, th...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Gopinath Madeswaran, an award-winning optometrist, clinician, educator, and researcher who has made remarkable contributions to the field of optometry and healthcare research. From being a gold medalist at the Elite School of Optometry and Manipal Academy of Higher Education to mentoring hundreds through Opto Research Consultancy Services, Dr. Gopinath’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. He shares how he first discovered optometry, his evolution from c...

In this episode, we sit down with Tsu Shan Chambers, a former optometrist who transitioned into acting, writing, and producing. Tsu Shan shares the inspiring journey of leaving a stable career in optometry to pursue a life in storytelling, the challenges of breaking into the film industry, and the creative process behind bringing My Eyes to life. Key Takeaways: - Learn how to pivot successfully from one career to a completely different path filled with passion. -The importance of vision, both ...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Rehan Ahmed, a board-certified ophthalmologist, healthtech innovator, and co-editor of AI in Eyecare published by Jobson. As the Chief Medical Officer at Blink by Global Medical, Dr. Ahmed brings a unique perspective at the intersection of clinical excellence and cutting-edge technology. We explore his multifaceted journey—from performing surgeries to scaling tech-driven solutions in eye care. Whether you're a healthcare professional, technologist, or someo...

In this insightful episode, Dr. Masoud Nafey, an optometrist, 3X tech founder, and strategic advisor, joins us to discuss the potential and power of artificial intelligence in transforming the future of eyecare. From building cutting-edge digital health tools to shaping global strategies at VSP and EssilorLuxottica, Dr. Nafey shares his journey, his perspective on the biggest breakthroughs in smart vision tech, and what eye care professionals need to know as the landscape rapidly evolves. This e...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Erich Mattei, the dynamic President & CVO of Akrinos, LLC, a practice management consultancy dedicated to helping independent eye care professionals start, grow, and transition their private practices. Erich shares how he found his way into the world of optometry, the vision behind Akrinos (including the story behind its unique name), and how his team is transforming practices across North America. With a strong focus on innovation, collaborat...

In this episode, I had a pleasure of speaking with Optom. Zulfikar Barodawala, a dedicated optometrist transitioning from India to the UK. Currently pursuing pre-registration training with Boots Opticians, he shares his journey, challenges, and insights on becoming a UK-registered optometrist. Zulfikar has over five years of experience as a Consulting Optometrist and Speciality Contact Lens Consultant in India. He co-founded Prizmatic Visionary Solutions and the Online Optom Learning Series, em...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Fayiz Mahgoub, optometrist, tech entrepreneur, and founder of Augmented Vision Labs, a groundbreaking company focused on solving problems in eye care with technology. Dr. Mahgoub shares his inspiring journey from optometrist to industry leader, shedding light on his innovative work to solve the problem of contact lens dropout using cutting-edge technology. Tune in to hear about Dr. Mahgoub's passion for merging technology with healthcare, his entrepreneuria...

In this episode, we explore the unique journey of Dr. Tabiza, who has successfully blended optometry and the world of aesthetics. From discovering a passion for eye care to becoming an accomplished aesthetician, Dr. Tabiza shares insights and experiences that will inspire aspiring professionals. We delve into how to get started in the dual fields of eye care and skin care, highlighting essential tips for those venturing into this industry. Discover the importance of integrating cutting-edge tec...

In this episode, we dive into the world of AI in eye care with Ehsan Vangefi, entrepreneur and Associate Professor of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence in Optometry and Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland. With a distinguished career marked by over 45 peer-reviewed journal articles, 5 patents, and more than $10M in research grants, Ehsan shares his extensive expertise and entrepreneurial journey. Together with his co-founder, Dr. David Squirrell, Ehsan launched Toku Eyes in 201...

Join us as we delve into the fascinating journey of myopia researcher Dr. Pavan Verkicharla, a leading scientist at the L V Prasad Eye Institute, India. He has a B.Sc. in Optometry, a PhD from Queensland University of Technology, and post-doctoral research experience from Singapore Eye Research Institute. With over 60 publications, he has received the "Bernard Gilmartin Award" and the "INSPIRE Faculty Award." Dr. Verkicharla leads the Infor Myopia Centre and is an ambassador for the Internationa...

Welcome to today's episode, brought to you by BostonSight, a pioneering nonprofit healthcare organization revolutionizing the treatment of diseased or damaged corneas and dry eye. Since its founding in 1992, BostonSight has led the way with the development of the first fluid-ventilated scleral lens, igniting the modern scleral lens industry. In this episode, we're thrilled to have two incredible guests from BostonSight: Dr. Karen G. Carrasquillo, Senior Vice President of Clinical and Profession...

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Optom. Preet Shah, a distinguished healthcare professional with a unique blend of expertise in optometry and health informatics. Join us as we explore Preet's remarkable journey from India to the USA, and learn how he seamlessly integrated clinical practice with cutting-edge technology to enhance healthcare delivery. 👁️ Episode Highlights: How it All Began: Discover how Preet Shah found his calling in eye care and the motivations behind his career...

Join us in this nerdy episode as we delve into the world of pharmaceuticals and eye care with Arthur, an esteemed professional with over 18 years of experience in the field. With a background in mechanical and biomedical engineering, Arthur has played pivotal roles at industry giants like Novartis, Alcon, Insightec, and Bausch and Lomb. Currently serving as a VP of Medical Affairs at Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Arthur's innovative contributions have left a significant mark on the ophthalmology secto...

Welcome to an inspiring conversation with Easy Anyama. In today's episode, we're joined by Easy Anyama, a trailblazer at the intersection of AI and healthcare, transforming eye care through initiatives like ODX Health and Eyedeal Innovations. As a leader in the field, Easy's pioneering spirit extends to his roles in organizations like the American Optometric Student Association and AOA's Telehealth Council. Tune in as we delve into Easy's journey, from AI innovations to his passion for low visio...

Join us for an illuminating conversation with Dr. Eric Rosenberg, a distinguished Cornea and Complex Anterior Segment Surgeon at SightMD and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at New York Medical College. With a passion for education and a keen interest in the fusion of technology, engineering, and medicine, Dr. Rosenberg is at the forefront of innovation in ophthalmology. He serves on the executive Digital Committee at ASCRS and is a co-founder of MetaMed Media. Some of the episode highlight...

Join us on a fascinating journey with Ankit Patel, an Optometrist with a unique path – born and raised in Britain, studied in India from BVP Pune (2009-2014), and acquired his GOC license to practice in the UK in 2016. In this episode, we dive deep into Ankit's eyecare adventure. 👁️ Some of the highlights includes: Uncover the serendipitous discovery that led Ankit into the realm of eyecare and optometry. Explore the decision-making process that took Ankit from the UK to India for his optomet...