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Vision Source launches programs to support young ODs, students
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ANAHEIM, Calif. – Executives from Vision Source announced the launch of two programs, Vision Source Next and Mentor OD, designed to help young optometrists and students transition into private practice.
“Mentor OD is [intended] to help students link with doctors in the Vision Source network for clinical help, practice management help, for specialties,” Kristin O’Brien, OD, a Vision Source member leading the Mentor OD program, said at a press conference here at the organization’s annual meeting.
“The focus is to have students connect with our amazing network of strong leaders and doctors to forge collegial relationships that last much longer than when they’re students,” she said. “The program will help make students’ involvement in private practice a success.”
O’Brien said Vision Source reached out to her when she was in her second year of optometry school.
“It was because of this outreach that I was able to start my own private practice out of optometry school,” she said.
Forty optometry students are currently linked with Vision Source doctors, she said. During the 2018-2019 school year, Vision Source will be involved in campus programs and invite students to local members’ offices and regional meetings.
Vision Source President and CEO Jim Greenwood announced the launch of Vision Source Next.
Glenn Ellisor, OD, “founded Vision Source 27 years ago to preserve, protect and sustain private practice optometry,” he said. “We have a number of members reaching their 8th or 9th inning who would like to sell or transition their practice, keeping it independent.
“We are launching Vision Source Next as an effort to market to the younger ODs who are working in a commercial setting today, those 25 to 35 years old, to build a pipeline of those young ODs and allow them to transition to independent optometry with confidence,” Greenwood said.
Some young optometrists may wish to buy into a practice, while others may want to open one, he said.
“You can imagine for those who are going to open a practice, that’s daunting today,” he continued. “We will provide a lot of muscle to ensure that if they are suited to do that in a strategic market and if there’s an opportunity, we’ll help them be successful.”
Greenwood said Vision Source will help choose a location, hire staff, design the office, outfit it with the right equipment, get the practice into the right insurance plans and provide marketing services.
“We’re going into the Dallas-Fort Worth area as the first market,” Greenwood said, “and will open up 10 practices, and they’ll be successful.” – by Nancy Hemphill, ELS, FAAO
Disclosures: Greenwood is employed by Vision Source. O’Brien is a Vision Source member.