EyeSteve MD

Good morning, Chicago! We’re here in the Windy City this weekend to attend the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Four days of educational meetings to stay update-to-date on the newest research and innovative treatments to bring back to our patients in Colorado.

The theme of this year’s meeting is “Gather” - how wonderful it is to see friends and colleagues from around the world who have traveled to to gather, share, and learn!

What is a retina specialist?

You have been told by your doctor that you need to see a retina specialist, but what exactly is a retina specialist?

Check out this infographic to see the extensive training required to become a retina specialist and just a few of the conditions that retina specialists treat!

Or visit our site at https://frontrangeretina.com/what-is-a-retina-specialist/

Celebrating one year ago that we moved back to Colorado, beginning the adventure of a lifetime - starting a retina practice in Castle Rock, Colorado three days a week while continuing a busy retina practice in Bend, Oregon the other half of the week.

I’m well over 100 flights between Oregon and Colorado since then, and if that isn’t crazy enough, when I’m in Oregon I live in this van to save money for the business and the family.

Can’t wait to get back to living in Colorado full-time (eventually) so we can start the real road trip adventures! Until then, you know where to find me (or do you..?..I’m on the move!!!)

🚐 🌲 ✈️ 👀

Enjoying a 🌅, 🚐, 🌮 , and watching videos 👨‍💻 to try and figure out how to be a bookkeeper 💰 for a medical practice 🏥.

Feeling very much, alive, in all the randomness of moments like these.

When did you last feel, alive, when you realized you’re alive, living, breathing, making something of both the life you have been given and the life you are creating?

Had a great time as a panelist of tonight’s workshop on “Hanging a Shingle and Starting Your Own Practice,” together with of , of , and . While I’m just a month or so into this journey, I loved having the opportunity to share tips, advice, and encouragement with colleagues who may one day “take the plunge” and “hang their own shingle.”

When asked why she decided to start her practice, said simply, “Why not?”

suggested “take care of patients” (and the rest will work out) - great advice to keep it simple when starting a business seems so complex

and when asked what expert consultants to hire suggests “the experts are right here,” emphasizing the value of mentorship and peer-support.

Thanks for organizing the workshop and for the opportunity to be involved!

Happy Father’s Day!

I have been very lucky to have outstanding role models and family members to inspire and encourage me to become a physician. My dad (center) is/was a comprehensive ophthalmologist, and ran a solo practice in Salt Lake City, Utah. His patients LOVED him, and it was so clear that he loved his patients. Just last night at my brother’s wedding reception, former patients of his asked if my office would be like his, with an exam room COVERED in baseball memorabilia, and another covered with train decor. My Uncle Jack (left) was a comprehensive ophthalmologist in Colorado Springs, and before retiring last year, we worked in the same building - he would pop in every few weeks to say hello! I loved that!

I have heard people say that ophthalmology is very hereditary, and while I’m not familiar with ophthalmology-specific studies, being a physician is clearly hereditary! Checkout these screenshots from a 2020 British Medical Journal study asking if medicine “runs in the family.”

For physicians born in 1950-1959 (almost my dad’s generation), just 6% have a physician parent, compared to those born from 1980-1990 (that’s me, y’all, 1983!), where 20% have a physician-parent! That differs considerably from attorneys, where the “heritability” has remained from 5-8% over the same timespan.

Are you a physician? If so, what decade were you born and do you have a physician-parent?

Let’s check the physician-heritability of our own small sample population!

Happy Father’s Day to everyone out there, whether your dad is a MD/DO, a JD - or the best job of all - a DAD!

430 AM - wake up in Oregon, in my van already parked in airport parking (best thing ever), stagger across the parking lot to the airport for 530 AM flight
930 AM - Arrive in Denver (delayed)
11 AM - volunteer lecture on cataracts to students in Denver - a great group of studying to be ophthalmic technicians
2 PM - screen, insurance/paperwork, work up, diagnostics, examine, counsel, documentation, submit billing/claims for patients
9 PM - gaze up at THIS sign, and reflect on the thrill of the hustle, the satisfaction of teaching minds eager to learn, the excitement of solo practice, and the gratitude for each moment and each day.

Keep up YOUR hustle, whatever it is at this time in your life - Find ways to teach others and volunteer - Discover the moments that remind you you’re alive - and, finally, gratitude.

to

Flying from , Oregon to , Colorado to, you know...

OPEN A RETINA PRACTICE ! ! !

I never thought I would say those words, and until just recently was very skeptical that the solo practice model could survive in today’s era of and consolidation.

Will it be tough? Yes. Will it be toughER than having joined a group and just-showed-up-to-see-patients-and-go-home? YES!

But, that’s ok. The BEST things in life are tough. Staying in the ring IS the fight. The struggle IS the JOURNEY.

And, I know I can do this.

- my father was a solo . My siblings are , , , , gurus - each has already contributed in meaningful ways
- I majored in management . I was 👌close to studying accounting. I have been blogging since 2011
- I love ophthalmology, love , and love caring for patients
- residency taught me to be the captain of my ship - truer wisdom has never been given
- fellowship gave me the skills to handle most anything clinically and surgically
- my first year in practice was BUSY, and I learned SO much
- my second year in practice has taught me nuances of retina, , and
- my practice in is extremely supportive of my bold dreams and my CRAZY commute
- my wife is a talented freelance graphic designer and is 100% on board

So, today, and every Thursday from now until who-knows-when, I leave on a 530 AM flight to Denver, where I will see patients in all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and on Sundays I fly back to Oregon for clinic Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - then back to Colorado. ✈️

And, did I mention that while in Oregon I live in a to save money for the business? More to come on that later. 🚐

Do I have a full schedule of patients to see today? Nope, but ‘if you build it, they will come,’ and I pray that they will come. 🙏

And speaking of eyes, are those tired eyes in my pic? Yes, those are VERY tired eyes - and this is just the beginning! 👀

I extend to you a personal invitation to join us in celebrating the opening of ! @ Bend, Oregon