Dr. Stephanie Strawn always had a keen interest in health care, but it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 until she had an eye health experience of her own that she chose the field of optometry.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 far-sighted,香蕉视频直播� Strawn explained. 香蕉视频直播淏ut when I was in high school, I didn香蕉视频直播檛 know that I needed glasses. I struggled to do my homework. When I got glasses, everything was so much clearer.香蕉视频直播�
Strawn completed her doctorate of optometry in 2007, graduating from the University of Waterloo. After returning to Kelowna and working at other optometry practices, the prospect of having a practice of her own presented itself 香蕉视频直播� and she quickly seized it.
香蕉视频直播淚 couldn香蕉视频直播檛 give up an opportunity to work with Mark Stickle,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been learning so much from him about how to build a business. He香蕉视频直播檚 an optometrist and he has an MBA.香蕉视频直播�
Strawn香蕉视频直播檚 typical day at her optometry practice typically involves anywhere from 18 to 24 patient appointments, covering topics such as routine eye exams, surgical follow-up care, and emergency eye care.
Strawn says that working as an optometrist is the easy part of her job, as her training and education has prepared her well for optometry. But running a business is a subject that optometry school doesn香蕉视频直播檛 cover in its curriculum.
Most health care practices don香蕉视频直播檛 have retail outlets, Strawn notes, which means she香蕉视频直播檚 faced with the added challenge of learning to run a healthcare practice and a retail store at the same time.
Changing consumer buying habits, new technologies, and emerging health and lifestyle trends mean that optometrists need to be more committed to staying current than ever before 香蕉视频直播� and that香蕉视频直播檚 a challenge that Strawn welcomes.
香蕉视频直播淭he key is to just keep learning,香蕉视频直播� Strawn noted. 香蕉视频直播淚 send my staff to continuing education. We香蕉视频直播檝e been to seminars in Texas and Vancouver to keep our knowledge up to date. Optometry is only 100 years old, and things change fast 香蕉视频直播� there are always new techniques to learn and new pieces of equipment to buy.香蕉视频直播�
In addition to her work as an optometrist, Strawn serves as the official Media Spokesperson for the British Columbia Association of Optometrists. Strawn says that she took that role because she香蕉视频直播檚 passionate about educating the public on the importance of eye health.
香蕉视频直播淢y work with the BCAO involves raising awareness about specific topics, usually related to something current like Vision Health Month or Glaucoma Awareness Month. We remind the public about things like the important of having an eye health exam along with getting checked for glasses.
香蕉视频直播淥ne of the biggest struggles we have in British Columbia is that sight testing is legal. In other provinces, sight testing isn香蕉视频直播檛 allowed.香蕉视频直播�
Sight testing refers to the practice of performing a simple vision test to determine what corrective lenses a patient needs, but failing to perform an accompanying eye health exam.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e seen patients come in on many occasions who think they香蕉视频直播檝e had eye exams when, in fact, they haven香蕉视频直播檛. I香蕉视频直播檝e diagnosed them with progressive diseases and vision loss that could have been prevented. Macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment香蕉视频直播hese things don香蕉视频直播檛 show symptoms, and you wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 know you had them unless you got checked.香蕉视频直播�
Strawn most recently advocated for patient awareness in May of 2016, during Vision Health Month.
Strawn works hard to balance her advocacy work with business香蕉视频直播� demands and her personal life, and structures her community work in an efficient manner to maximize her impact.
香蕉视频直播淚 want to make this office the best it can be and still have family time,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播�(That香蕉视频直播檚 why) most of the community initiatives that I香蕉视频直播檓 involved in happen through the office.香蕉视频直播�
Stickle & Strawn Optometry participates in several community projects, including the Re/Max annual Easter egg hunt and ongoing food bank fundraisers.
Strawn says that the key to running a successful practice 香蕉视频直播� or any business 香蕉视频直播� is in having great people skills, and the policies and support to make the best possible use of them.
She says that at Stickle & Strawn, success is measured by staff morale and by community support.
Crowe MacKay香蕉视频直播檚 Women to Watch program is a weekly feature that profiles remarkable women in our community, which will conclude October 16. After terrific response, the nomination period for 2016 is now closed. Watch this space each week to see our remaining Women to Watch.
