WO Voices

Visionary Voices: Dr. Carla Mack on Leadership

Carla Mack, OD, MBA, FAAO, FBCLA, shares with Kristin Anderson, OD, FNAP, FAAO, how she cultivated her own leadership style. She embraces continuous learning; is concise in communication and proactive relationship-building; prioritizes patient/customer experience; applies business thinking; and adapts to industry change. 

Dr. Julie Rodman and Dr. Carl Danzig: MDs Want to See Pathology; Refer GA Patients Early

This editorially independent content is sponsored by Astellas.In this episode, Julie Rodman, OD, MS, FAAO, and Carl Danzig, MD, both of Florida, highlight the importance of early detection and referral for geographic atrophy (GA), now that therapies exist. As a retina specialist who wants to see pathology in its early stages, Dr. Danzig says it's rarely too early to refer to a retina specialist to assess. All primary care optometrists should aim to identify GA with fundus autofluorescence and OCT, take patient complaints seriously, and collaborating with supportive retina specialists. Dr. Danzig shares his success with sustained complement inhibitor therapy in preserving vision. These advancements in therapies have transformed GA from an untreatable condition into one where doctors can often offer hope.This editorially independent content is sponsored by Astellas.

Dr. Melissa Barnett and Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo, Founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty

In this episode, Diane Hilal-Campo, MD, a New Jersey ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty, tells Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, that her goal in creating Twenty/Twenty Beauty was to change the narrative about eye health and beauty products. From seeing patients with dry eye exacerbated by their make up and removers to reading beauty editors' advice that went against good eye hygiene practice, Dr. Campo created a line of cosmetics that are not only eye-safe, but beneficial for the delicate eye area. Learn more about in-office inventories and an affiliate program at trytwentytwenty.com. 

Dr. Anahita Dua: Meet the Surgeon Urging Healthcare Workers to Run for Office

Driven by her experience on the front lines of surgery, Anahita Dua, MD, MS, MBA, FACS, founded Healthcare for Action, an organization to train and empower healthcare workers to run for public office. As underfunded systems strain patient care, Dr. Dua argues that those who understand medicine can craft the most effective health policy—and she’s on a mission to send more clinician-candidates into government over the following years. 

Dr. Jade Coats: What Does Your Work/Life Balance Look Like?

As a young woman, Jade Coats, OD, FAAO, faced a cancer diagnosis that made her fully aware of the fragility of life. The experience forced her to re-evaluate what matters and led her to prioritize a work/life balance that works for her. This cycle—of being fully present at work and careful self-care and participation in things that bring her joy—allows her to show up to patient care and what is important to her in her private life more completely.