It has been an exciting summer for OWL, as our members have connected across the nation at OWL local chapter events.

The local Texas chapter kicked things off with a panel hosted at Alcon’s office focused on Bridging the O’s for a Brighter Future. Panelists Tosin Smith, MD; Rebecca Miller, OD; and Brett Mueller, DO, PhD, discussed the importance of ophthalmologists and optometrists working together in a conversation moderated by Chandra Mickles, OD. The panel agreed that we can all collaborate to make eyecare better, as it is more important than ever as our largest generation ages:

• Collaboration for holistic care: With a shortage of surgeons and an influx of patients, optometrists are uniquely situated to assist ophthalmologists. Building collaborative relationships is essential to disperse patients, thus enabling all industries to do their jobs better.
• Communication is key: When we refer patients to one another, taking time to provide comprehensive notes, educate the patient on the transition, and even pick up the phone and call the other provider can ensure a more efficient process for everyone involved.
• Education and role clarity: We can only effectively refer patients if we are educated on how we can uniquely help each patient. The first building block to establishing more robust networks is educating each other on our roles.

The Florida chapter kept the momentum going with an event in Sarasota sponsored by RxSight and a discussion about breaking barriers in ophthalmology.

Industry trailblazer Dr. Dee Stephenson, shared her journey with OWL Champion Drew Parks of Sun Pharma, focusing on the importance of resilience, mentorship, and creating supportive environments in personal and professional spheres. Over the course of her career, Dee has seen the ratio of men to women in the field improve, yet she emphasizes that there is still a gap in academics, the boardroom, and pay disparity. Her experiences gave us great insights and takeaways as to what we can do to continue to break these barriers:

• Diverse relationships rooted in empowerment: Mentors and colleagues championing you are crucial in getting where you want to be. But to really push yourself beyond your limits and outside of your comfort zone, it’s critical to surround yourself with mentors and peers from all industries, all walks of life, and at varying stages of life.
• Passionate leadership: Whether it’s calling each patient personally before surgery or creating an office environment where employees can bring their true selves and even their families into the office, leadership requires passion and empathy. When you value the experiences each employee and patient brings through the door, you open the door to everyone’s growth.
• Staying true to yourself: While we can all be our worst critics, aligning our actions with our values ensures authenticity at all stages of the journey.

During Octane’s OTF, OWL’s SoCal Chapter hosted our second June event with a discussion on The Future of Work in Eyecare. Sheri Rowen, MD, FACS of NVISION Eye Centers; Jake Vander Zanden from McDermott + Bull; and Cindy Navarette of Tarsus Pharmaceuticals candidly shared how they’ve recruited and maintained talent in the age of remote work with moderator Heather Ready of STAAR Surgical and past president of OWL.

• Culture rooted in something bigger: In the current job market, pay is no longer the only driving factor for why people join (and stay!) at an organization. It’s crucial to define the mission and values of a company, as today’s workforce wants to belong to a community that is working towards a meaningful vision.
• Fill up their cup: Investment in your employees is a “cost” that will pay dividends. When you provide opportunities for training, development, and collaboration, employees not only learn new skills, but also feel as though they are getting poured into just as much as they’re pouring into their work.
• Balancing in-person vs. Remote: While working in-person is crucial to culture, remote work provides a freedom that can enable efficient and creative individuals. If you want to see employees in the office, thoughtful perks are necessary – such as dress code adjustments, the option to bring your dog to work, etc. One of the most thoughtful perks may be not only allowing remote work but integrating remote workers into the company through respectful policies and practices, such as including virtual options for everything from daily meetings to holiday celebrations.

This summer, OWL also explored new communities and potential interest for additional local chapters. A networking event in St. Louis, sponsored by EyeCare Partners, was met with excitement from leaders and OWL members in the area. Due to the encouraging response, OWL is excited to plan for a Missouri chapter very soon. We also have our first networking event planned for a New England chapter. If you’re in Boston or the surrounding area, keep an eye out for more information on this event scheduled for Q4.

OWL members can soon enjoy event recordings in the OWL On Demand portal.