We wish our Managing Editor Mindi Lewis the best for her new position as a faculty member at the University of California Berkeley, School of Optometry. With the increase in complexity of lens design, materials and treatments, combined with new frame construction, materials and designs, I’ve seen an increase among new optometrists to know more about the spectacles that satisfy prescriptions written. I applaud UC Berkeley for this team approach.

As Mindi’s manager at 20/20, it also highlights a manager’s responsibility. That is, provide opportunity to grow those that you manage, enhance their education, challenge them and if there are no new positions within your own organization to reward their capabilities, push those people out into the world when an opportunity arises. It reminds me of a Jack Welch quote in which I have added the words “manager.” It states, “Before you are a leader (manager), success is all about growing yourself. When you are a leader (manager), success is all about growing others.”

Let me ask you… if you are a manager, do you have defined plans to grow your people? Are you assigning learning to them in a variety of topics so that they better understand not only their job in your office, but also the way that they and your office fit into the optical industry? I suggest that you add specific educational topics as quarterly goals choosing CE courses from 20/20, articles from Pro to Pro and Lenses & Technology. Use Vision Monday articles regularly as a basis for a discussion at the next staff meeting. Add in a financial review so that everyone in the office knows their impact on office success. Ask yourself as a manager: “What can the team learn that will improve efficiency, office attractiveness, use of social media or a discovery of a new patient base?” When you are a leader (manager), success is all about growing others. When that happens, your practice also grows.

This month’s CE is an NCLE-approved course titled “Understanding Dry Eye: 2017 Update.” Written by Linda Conlin, ABOC, NCLEC, it reviews the ocular anatomy and physiology through an understanding of dry eye syndrome, its causes and symptoms. Then one can understand how dry eye syndrome is managed using a range of options from over-the-counter treatments to surgical intervention. And if you are a contact lens fitter, learn about contact lens fitting considerations for patients with dry eye syndrome to increase comfort and wearing time.

• Mark Mattison-Shupnick, ABOM
[email protected]
2020mag.com/education