About Me
I never set out to do any of this!
When I started optometry school, my dream was to specialize in low vision care, helping visually impaired people gain independence.
Like many doctors, my husband Jonathan and I became business owners by default. We were both working in great practices but we saw things that we felt strongly could be different and better. When we opened our first practice in 2001, we had no formal training in business ownership (aside from that one practice management class in 3rd year that feels irrelevant while you’re studying for boards!)
What we did have was a strong vision of the office we wanted to create, the work environment we wanted for our future team, and the experience we wanted to deliver for our patients.
We quickly realized that to build a successful practice, we needed to be more than good doctors. We needed to become great leaders – the kind that inspire people to do their best work, let them know how much they are valued, and build a team that moves forward together.
As Jonathan got excited about clinical developments in glaucoma and OCT interpretation, I soaked up everything I could about hiring, team development, strategy, finances, and all of the other puzzle pieces that make a practice run smoothly. I also found great joy in growth – buying practices, merging them into ours, and eventually opening additional locations.
When I first got the opportunity to share what I had learned with other practice owners, I couldn’t believe my luck. In 2021, I stepped away from the exam room to focus on consulting full time. In 2024, I deepened my understanding of leadership, adult learning, and human behavior by becoming certified in executive coaching and emotional intelligence.
What I do now:
Today I work with healthcare practice leaders and managers who want to feel more confident and in control of their businesses.
I help them:
- Understand their numbers and make informed decisions
- Build systems that support consistency and growth
- Develop managers and team members into real leaders
- Create cultures that are healthy, high-functioning, and FUN to be part of.
I coach 1:1, run group programs for owners and managers, speak at conferences, and provide hands-on consulting to practices that are ready for real transformation.
I don’t give generic advice– there’s plenty of that available elsewhere. I help clarify
your
goals, and look closely at
your
practice to get clear on what’s working and what’s not, and help you take steps that will actually make a difference.
What I believe:
We spend years learning to become good doctors and then are often thrown into practice ownership with minimal education. I believe that leadership is a skill that anyone can learn and refine, and that the time you invest in learning the mechanics and art of business will pay off in countless ways.
I believe that practices thrive (or struggle) based on the skill of their leaders. It’s harder than ever for practices to succeed “in spite of themselves.” Today’s practice owners need to be smart businesspeople, and build strong teams to work alongside and support them.
I believe that even the busiest, most overwhelmed doctor can become a great leader and build a practice they love – with the right support.
A little more about me:
I’m an optometrist, an owner of 2 (soon to be 3) practices in New Jersey, and a mom of two college-aged kids and 2 beagles. When I’m not obsessing about practice management, I’m probably out on the pickleball court (so much fun!), crocheting, baking vegan goodies or playing Pokemon Go!
