Dr. Stephanie Strawn always had a keen interest in health care, but it wasn91裸聊视频檛 until she had an eye health experience of her own that she chose the field of optometry.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 far-sighted,91裸聊视频� Strawn explained. 91裸聊视频淏ut when I was in high school, I didn91裸聊视频檛 know that I needed glasses. I struggled to do my homework. When I got glasses, everything was so much clearer.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频� and she quickly seized it.
91裸聊视频淚 couldn91裸聊视频檛 give up an opportunity to work with Mark Stickle,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e been learning so much from him about how to build a business. He91裸聊视频檚 an optometrist and he has an MBA.91裸聊视频�
Strawn91裸聊视频檚 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 doesn91裸聊视频檛 cover in its curriculum.
Most health care practices don91裸聊视频檛 have retail outlets, Strawn notes, which means she91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� and that91裸聊视频檚 a challenge that Strawn welcomes.
91裸聊视频淭he key is to just keep learning,91裸聊视频� Strawn noted. 91裸聊视频淚 send my staff to continuing education. We91裸聊视频檝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 91裸聊视频� there are always new techniques to learn and new pieces of equipment to buy.91裸聊视频�
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 she91裸聊视频檚 passionate about educating the public on the importance of eye health.
91裸聊视频淢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.
91裸聊视频淥ne of the biggest struggles we have in British Columbia is that sight testing is legal. In other provinces, sight testing isn91裸聊视频檛 allowed.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e seen patients come in on many occasions who think they91裸聊视频檝e had eye exams when, in fact, they haven91裸聊视频檛. I91裸聊视频檝e diagnosed them with progressive diseases and vision loss that could have been prevented. Macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment91裸聊视频hese things don91裸聊视频檛 show symptoms, and you wouldn91裸聊视频檛 know you had them unless you got checked.91裸聊视频�
Strawn most recently advocated for patient awareness in May of 2016, during Vision Health Month.
Strawn works hard to balance her advocacy work with business91裸聊视频� demands and her personal life, and structures her community work in an efficient manner to maximize her impact.
91裸聊视频淚 want to make this office the best it can be and still have family time,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频�(That91裸聊视频檚 why) most of the community initiatives that I91裸聊视频檓 involved in happen through the office.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频� or any business 91裸聊视频� 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 MacKay91裸聊视频檚 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.
