In the optical industry there are several different directions you can take your career, and there are plenty of different ways to build up your personal brand as an OD to become a leader in the industry. While you may not realize it, as an experienced OD in the industry you've gone through things that many young ODs just starting out will face throughout their career, and your experiences can be valuable learning lessons for many of your peers.

In a recent eBook, 12 Insider Secrets from America's Top ODs, we interviewed Dr. Jeffrey Anshel on what it takes to become a leader in the eyecare industry. 

Dr. Jeffrey Anshel on Becoming a Leader in the Eyecare Industry

What do you know now that you wish you would have learned at the start of your career?

I spent my first two years out of school working in the Navy, so it took me a while to get used to private practice and the role of insurance companies guiding our patient treatments. We were instructed very well on how to treat a patient, but very little on how to get that patient into the office. Managing a practice is a moving target and there is no one right answer for every situation.

How did you get started with public speaking and education in the industry?

I've never been shy about speaking before a crowd, but when I realized how little eyecare providers know about nutrition for eye health I felt compelled to get the word out. I started the Ocular Nutrition Society to formalize nutrition education for eyecare professionals. I feel that we made quite the difference in teaching ODs the science of nutrition that affects eyecare and hopefully get them discussing it with their patients. This is more than just selling vitamins, it's a lifestyle discussion that can really help our patients with ocular health through their lifetime. If you recognize the need for something in the industry there are many opportunities to get involved and spread your voice.

To read more interviews with ODs, download a copy of the full eBook.