For the Halloween episode of this season’s surgical horror stories, Cathleen McCabe, MD, joins Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, to share two uniquely challenging cases. In the first case, Dr. McCabe describes the time she performed cataract surgery on a kyphotic patient who was unable to lie on his back for the procedure. She explains her approach to positioning the patient and how she managed an additional unexpected complication. In the second story, Dr. McCabe discusses a patient with a difficult psychological history.

Sebastian Heersink, MD, joins to contribute to this season’s theme of surgical horror stories. He talks with Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, about his experience performing cataract surgery on his father and former guest of the podcast, Marnix Heersink, MD. Dr. Sebastian Heersink recounts how he managed the stress of operating on a family member, and how he approached a less-than-perfect result when the lens was slightly decentered on postop day 1, avoiding a potential horror story. He also discusses how he calms unhappy patients by validating their concerns and putting them at ease before surgery.

Arsham Sheybani, MD, joins the podcast to continue this season’s theme of surgical horror stories. He shares a case example with Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, in which he performed lensectomy in the eye of a 60-year-old woman who presented with angle-closure glaucoma and very high IOP. Following routine phacoemulsification, the anterior chamber began to shallow, eventually resulting in suprachoroidal hemorrhage. Dr. Sheybani also shares advice for communicating with patients about difficult, unfortunate outcomes.

Continuing this season’s theme of surgical horror stories, Neda Shamie, MD, joins Gary Wörtz, MD, to share an experience from early in her career when she faced an unexpected complication. While performing penetrating keratoplasty on a well-known patient, Dr. Shamie encountered an expulsive hemorrhage. She highlights the value of mentorship in these situations and having a trusted colleague to help shape one’s approach to stressful complications during surgery. She also emphasizes the importance of learning from these situations and gaining new surgical skills.

William Trattler, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share a story in which a referring optometrist’s family member presented with dark brunescent cataracts in both eyes. He describes his initial approach and technique for managing these advanced cataracts, including the unexpected complication of a dropped lens and capsular bag tear in the first eye. Weeks after referring the patient to a retina specialist for an eventual good outcome, Dr. Trattler began surgery on the second eye, only to encounter a similar complication.

Paul Walton, MD, continues the discussion with Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, on approaches to anesthesia and nuances to manage potentially difficult patients during cataract and refractive surgery. Dr. Walton shares pearls to ensure a smooth day in the operating room, mitigating potential ophthalmology ‘horror stories.’

Paul Walton, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share concepts to help cataract and refractive surgeons avoid horror stories in the OR. He says the goal should always be to have a “boring” day, emphasizing the importance of communication and understanding with patients. The surgeons also detail their approaches to anesthesia and how to best comfort patients before, during, or after surgery.

Nathan M. Radcliffe, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share his experiences managing complex patients with advanced-stage glaucoma. He shares a specific case of an 83-year-old man with a cataract and exfoliation glaucoma with an IOP of 56 mm Hg. Dr. Radcliffe walks through how he managed complications he encountered during the combined cataract and glaucoma surgery, including vitreous prolapse and suprachoroidal hemorrhage. The surgeons also discuss how to educate and counsel patients with advanced-stage disease to help them understand realistic surgical outcomes.

John Doane, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share his experiences for this season’s theme of “Horror Stories” in cataract and refractive surgery. Dr. Doane reviews a few examples from his career in which he had to manage uniquely challenging situations and discusses what he learned from them. Listen to gain insights into his experiences using early surgical technology and how he approached challenges with observers fainting in the OR.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, kick off the latest season of Ophthalmology off the Grid. This season focuses on the subject of ‘Horror Stories,’ where surgeons will highlight their toughest, most complicated surgical cases and how they managed them. In this episode, Drs. Williamson and Wörtz start the discussion by sharing their own uniquely challenging cases. Learn how Dr. Williamson managed an inflammatory complication following ICL implantation, and how Dr. Wörtz approached a challenging case of suspected horror fusionis.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, invite Matt Jensen to round out the year of episodes dedicated to building a business and brand in ophthalmology. Jensen shares insights he gained early in his marketing career, highlighting how he adapted to variabilities in different markets and learned to grow the business at home. The trio also discusses the value of having strong, trusted partners in business when expanding into new markets, and Jensen emphasizes the importance of maintaining a consistent company culture during that expansion. To learn more about Matt Jensen's expertise, visit https://mattjensenmarketing.com/ or https://matt-jensen.com/.

Cathleen McCabe, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to discuss the challenges of moving across the country from an existing practice and referral network and starting in a new state. She shares insights into the dynamics of changing ownership and having a clear outline for the type of practice to join. Drs. McCabe, Williamson, and Wörtz further discuss the pros and cons of different business models and pearls for making decisions and taking risks with business in ophthalmology.

Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, joins this episode to speak with Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, about his experience building his practice and working with industry. He shares insights into how he grew from a small private practice by constantly adapting to a dynamic specialty. Dr. Donnenfeld stresses the value of resisting stagnation, and he explains why it is crucial to incorporate new technologies and treatments as one’s business expands. He also shares successes and failures from throughout his career and his predictions for the future of ophthalmology.

Tom Tooma, MD, founder, owner, and medical director for NVISION, joins Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, to continue this season’s topic of building a business and brand in ophthalmology. Dr. Tooma shares insights into his early days of building his refractive surgery practice, touching on the risks taken and lessons learned over the years. He further shares advice for surgeons to navigate the financial intricacies of running a successful practice and describes the current philosophy of his business.

Marnix Heersink, MD, joins Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and shares his experiences and philosophy behind building his business in ophthalmology, philanthropy, and more. Dr. Heersink breaks down his career path, from his first practice to his growth in business ventures beyond medicine. He shares advice for young physicians just getting started in practice, and comments on his outlook for the future of ophthalmology.

Joseph Gira, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share his experience with building and growing a business in ophthalmology. He outlines his career history, commenting on his skills for working and collaborating with other doctors and the benefits of working with optometry as a backbone for success. Dr. Gira also describes his experience working in private equity, sharing potential pitfalls and successes for younger surgeons to consider.

Farrell “Toby” Tyson, MD, FACS, joins the podcast to speak with Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, about the lessons he has learned from expanding his practice. Dr. Tyson shares critical elements to success in expansion, including the value of location visibility, the pros and cons of having an optical shop, and strategies to manage cash flow, drive more revenue, and attract top talent.

In the next installment of how to build a business in ophthalmology, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, speak with Rupa Wong, MD, about her experience building her personal brand and business through social media. Dr. Wong shares insights into evaluating how to invest in one’s social media marketing efforts and gives advice for creating engaging, authentic content that resonates with a specific target audience. She also shares tips for launching and building a successful private practice and discusses learning experiences, tips for networking, and more.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, continue this season’s theme of how to grow a business and welcome Brent Saunders, chairman and CEO of Bausch + Lomb, to discuss his experiences in ophthalmology. Mr. Saunders touches on how he defines business success, emphasizing the value of having a great mentor and encouraging young ophthalmologists not to shy away from taking risks. 

In this special live episode, recorded during the YoungMD Connect Live meeting in Austin, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, sit down with Shannon Wong, MD, to discuss his leadership philosophy and how he models his practice. Dr. Wong describes challenges he has faced regarding his practice and explains how he overcame them, citing how to learn from mistakes and grow the business by building a team of experts.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, invite friend and mentor James Loden, MD, to the podcast to discuss his experience building his practice and brand. Dr. Loden shares insights for young surgeons by explaining the best decisions to grow his business and potential pitfalls to avoid. The three physicians further discuss how to discover opportunities for expanding a business and determining how it aligns with one’s personal career goals.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, begins the first episode of the 2023 season of Ophthalmology off the Grid by bringing back the podfather himself—Gary Wörtz, MD—as co-host. The theme for the 2023 season examines the business side of ophthalmology. Drs. Williamson and Wörtz share insights as practice owners and discuss the key questions one should address when building a brand.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, is joined by Jorawer Singh, MD; Jeffrey Whitman, MD; William Rabourn; and John Blanck to further discuss the intricacies of owning an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). In this episode, Dr. Whitman shares his experience as an ophthalmologist who has found success with an ASC and selling shares to younger partners. Dr. Singh addresses several challenges young ophthalmologists can face when buying into an ASC. Finally, consultants William Rabourn and John Blanck share insights into how to overcome these challenges.

In this special collaboration of YoungMD Connect and Survive & Thrive, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, invited Caroline Watson, MD; Rupa Wong, MD; and financial advisor Victoria Consoles, CFP, EA, to share insights into how to make smart choices with debt and investments in three different career scenarios. Don’t miss the information shared during this workshop and learn answers to real-world questions for ophthalmologists to find financial success.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, continues the topic from a previous episode about ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). In this episode, Taylor Strange, DO, discusses his career journey from starting a new practice, increasing surgical volume, and eventually building an ASC as a long-term business strategy. Stephen Sheppard, from Medical Consulting Group, shares insights into the most appropriate road map and timeline for young physicians to anticipate if they are interested in investing in an ASC.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, sits down with Priyanka Sood, MD; Sahar Bedrood, MD, PhD; Cristos Ifantides, MD; and Brent Kramer, MD, to compare the differences between private practice and an academic setting. Dr. Sood shares her career experience working in both settings and explains why she found academia to be a better fit. Dr. Bedrood discusses how her personal goals more closely aligned with private practice. Drs. Ifantides and Kramer share how their private practice experiences still involve some aspects of academia, such as performing research and training surgeons.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, hosts a new installment of Survive & Thrive with guests Arjan Hura, MD; Usiwoma Abugo, MD; and David Felsted, DO. The panel addresses a key question for surgeons in training and early years of residency: Should you pursue a fellowship? Listen as Drs. Hura, Abugo, and Felsted share their experiences and discuss how they arrived at their decisions based on individual passions and professional goals.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and cohost Michael Patterson, DO, invite Andrew Maller, MBA, COE, from BSM Consulting, to discuss critical information for young surgeons about the potential to buy into an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). The trio shares insights into the value of being business-minded to maintain a successful practice and address common questions to determine opportunities to find a path to ownership.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, hosts another installment of Survive & Thrive with guests Brenton Finklea, MD; Rahul Tonk, MD; Camila Albo, MD; and Mike Zein, MD, to share advice for ophthalmology resident applicants as the match approaches. Drs. Albo and Zein share advice as PGY-1 ophthalmology residents who have recently gone through the match process, commenting on what to look for when researching different programs. Drs. Finklea and Tonk share perspectives from the other side of the interview table and touch on how to have a strong, authentic, and memorable interview.

Cohosts Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Darrell E. White, MD, invite guest Karl G. Stonecipher, MD, to the podcast to discuss the relationship between his work in ophthalmology and his personal life. The trio of surgeons discusses how to incorporate personal activities into a busy professional schedule and the importance of taking time to focus on family and friends.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, hosts another installment of Survive & Thrive with guests John P. Berdahl, MD, and Robert J. Weinstock, MD, to discuss the topic of clinical research in private practice. Drs. Berdahl and Weinstock share pearls and insights for those who have a research interest but are unsure how to get started outside of academia. Listen to learn more about the types of research one can conduct in this setting to help advance the field of ophthalmology.

Darrell E. White, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, as cohost for this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid. They invite Maria C. Scott, MD, and Lisa K. Feulner, MD, PhD, to share unique experiences with their career paths in ophthalmology. The panel discussion touches on how each surgeon balances personal and professional goals and how their individual goals have evolved over the course of their careers.

This special episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid was screened during the 2022 MillennialEYE Live meeting in Austin, Texas. Andriy Kovalov, MD, PhD, joined Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, from Kyiv, Ukraine, and discussed how he and his family have supported the civil defense efforts of his home country. Dr. Kovalov, with a 40-year established career in ophthalmology, explains how the Russian invasion has caused hospitals to shift from providing routine patient care to emergency services only. He further discusses ongoing challenges with communication and infrastructure as he cares for ocular trauma patients. To support Dr. Kovalov in helping to provide supplies and medical services to the citizens of Ukraine, you can donate to https://www.gofundme.com/f/c5mxd-help-for-ukraine.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Darrell E. White, MD, welcome guest Preeya K. Gupta, MD, to discuss the benefits and challenges of running a private practice. Dr. Gupta, who recently became a private practitioner, discusses her decision to leave academia, why she decided to take a leap of faith and bet on herself, and the importance of setting expectations when first starting out in private practice.

Hosts Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, invite Erik L. Mertens, MD, FEBOphth, and Gregory D. Parkhurst, MD, FACS, to share their experiences with the recently FDA-approved EVO Visian ICL (STAAR Surgical). The surgeons discuss the excitement surrounding this technology, and Drs. Mertens and Parkhurst provide insights into the ideal patient candidates for this procedure and how ophthalmic surgeons can start to incorporate the EVO into their practices.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, welcome Ben LaHood, MD, MBChB(dist), PGDipOphth(dist), FRANZCO, to learn his perspectives on the similarities and differences in ophthalmology from his side of the world in Adelaide, Australia. Dr. LaHood shares his path from medical student in New Zealand to his current position as an ophthalmic surgeon, his passion for achieving optimum outcomes in astigmatism management, and more.  

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, welcomes Gary Wörtz, MD, and Keith Walter, MD, to discuss and challenge some of the dogmas commonly faced in everyday practice. The trio reconsiders some of the traditional methods and timetables used within their practices to avoid stretching themselves too thin in the clinic and to push the ophthalmic practice forward. 

Presbyopia is inevitable for all patients, but with new products hitting the market and coming down the pipeline, it is becoming increasingly easier to manage. Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and his cohost, Neda Nikpoor, MD, welcome Karl G. Stonecipher, MD, for an in-depth discussion about how they currently treat presbyopia and how they expect the management of this condition to evolve as new mechanisms of action are developed, FDA approved, and released.

In certain clinical cases, there is a blurred line regarding the proper direction to take when diagnosing and treating patients with refractive errors. Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Neda Nikpoor, MD, welcome William B. Trattler, MD, to the podcast for a deep dive on keratoconus and a discussion on how the AvaGen Genetic Eye Test (Avellino) can provide a clearer path to meet refractive goals.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and his co-host, Neda Nikpoor, MD, welcome Guy Kezirian, MD, MBA, FACS, to the podcast for an open look at the evolution of modern refractive surgery. The trio discuss the factors that led to the globalization and modernization of refractive surgery, the roles of organizations like ASCRS in this evolution, and much more.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, is joined by Shehzad Batliwala, DO; Leti Alto MD; Kenji Asakura, MD; and Dixon Davis to discuss financial freedom for physicians. The panelists explain how to utilize investment properties to create passive cashflow, the steps to achieving financial freedom, and how extra income can change the way physicians practice.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Tal Raviv, MD, welcome Allon Barsam for this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid. Allon Barsam is the director and founding partner of OCL vision—a bespoke private ophthalmic surgery practice in London—and joins the show to share what it’s like to operate a private practice within the UK’s National Health Service. The trio also discusses practice growth strategies, IOLs available in the United Kingdom and Europe, and more.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Tal Raviv, MD, are joined by Graham Barrett, MD—a world-renowned ophthalmologist and professor from Australia—to discuss his autonomous set of IOL formulas, the Barrett Suite, and his process for designing his own IOL.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and his new co-host, Tal Raviv, MD, welcome Jennifer Loh, MD, to another episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid for a discussion on the challenges faced when opening a private practice. Dr. Loh walks through the process of opening her practice in Miami, some of the common challenges faced when opening your own practice, as well as the changing landscape for women in ophthalmology. 

Blake Williamson, MD, hosts a panel of fellow ophthalmologists, including Shani Esparaz, MD; Allison Early, MD; David Felsted, MD; and Gary Wortz, MD, on the keys to a balanced life outside the clinic. They discuss a wide range of topics, including the importance of hobbies, finding time for family, managing maternity leave, and more. 

Andy Corley and Blake Williamson, MD, welcome Louis Probst, MD—a renowned, board-certified LASIK surgeon—for this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid. They discuss Dr. Probst’s decision to ditch cataract surgery and exclusively perform LASIK, how he manages unhappy patients, and his choice to step away from the podium.

Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, welcomes a panel of ophthalmologists with diverse professional backgrounds to try and tackle a common question for those looking for jobs after finishing their residencies and fellowships: private practice or academia? The panelists discuss the driving forces behind the professional direction they chose, compare the day-to-day and longer-term aspects of their jobs, weigh in on work-life balance, and more.

In this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Andy Corley welcome two pioneers of phaco—Chuck Williamson, MD, and Jim Little, MD. The quartet discusses the origins of phaco in cataract surgery, the subsequent learning curve within the OR, and how those initial cornerstones compare to today's usage.

In this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid: Survive & Thrive, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, welcomes Nandini Venkateswaran, MD, Nicole Fram, MD, and Arsham Sheybani, MD, to discuss the best practices for gaining and sharpening surgical skills. The group chats about visualization, adding MIGS techniques to your repertoire, and the benefits that come from visiting other surgeons in the OR. 

In this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Andy Corley are joined by Eric Topol, MD, to discuss the changes technology brings to health care. Together, they share their thoughts on how doctors can synonymously embrace technological advancements and provide a more empathetic approach with patients.

In this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid: Survive and Thrive, Dr. Blake Williamson is joined by Nick Sideris, Dr. Valentina Lozano, and Dr. Luke Rebenitsch to discuss their experiences using social media. They touch on social media’s networking benefits, how they’ve used it to grow their practices, different methods for different platforms, and how to optimize algorithms for visibility.

 In the latest episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid, Ashley Brissette, MD, MSc, FRCSC, is joined by Ruth Williams, MD, to dispel some of the most common myths in ophthalmology. The pair break down cannabis as glaucoma treatment, blue light filtering glasses, the efficacy of laser vision correction, and how to gracefully dismiss misinformation to patients. 

In this episode, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, is joined by cohost Ashley Brissette, MD, MSc, FRCSC, and guest Will Flanary, MD—famously known as Dr. Glaucomflecken on Twitter and TikTok—to discuss the value of being a physician with a sense of humor. They discuss how humanity can break down barriers between physicians and patients, and the fine line between humor and professionalism.

In this episode, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, is joined by cohost Ashley Brissette, MD, MSc, FRCSC, to discuss the IOLs that have recently become available in the United States. Francesco Carones, MD, joins the conversation to lend his insight into these latest technologies.

In this episode of the Survive & Thrive series, Gary Wörtz, MD, is joined by Cherie Fathy, MD, and David Felsted, DO, and special guest Bilal Ahmed, BS, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Toledo School of Medicine. They each share their experiences applying for ophthalmology residency, and Bilal tells his story about finding ophthalmology and creating his podcast, Honestly Bilal, where he connects with others in the field and chronicles his journey to becoming an ophthalmologist.

In this episode of the Survive & Thrive series, Gary Wörtz, MD, is joined by Nandini Venkateswaran, MD; Dagny Zhu, MD; Cherie Fathy, MD; and David Felsted, DO, to talk about the one challenge that every young doctor inevitably faces: the job hunt. They discuss what to consider when choosing a job, how to handle contract negotiations, and navigating all of the anxieties that go along with this complicated process.

In this special Thanksgiving episode of Ophthalmology Off the Grid, host Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, invites his colleagues to join him in expressing their gratitude. Hear from Dr. Williamson; Richard L. Lindstrom, MD; Evan Schoenberg, MD; Iqbal Ike K. Ahmed, MD, FRCSC; and Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD, on what has them feeling thankful in these particularly challenging times. 

In this episode of the Survive & Thrive series, Gary Wörtz, MD, is joined by Nandini Venkateswaran, MD; Dagny Zhu, MD; and guest Preeya Gupta, MD, to talk about one of the big decisions faced by young ophthalmologists: private practice or academia? They weigh the pros and cons of each career path and share their own experiences in navigating this choice.

In this podcast of the Survive & Thrive series, Gary Wörtz, MD, is joined by Cherie Fathy, MD; Nandini Venkateswaran, MD; David Felsted, DO; Dagny Zhu, MD; and guest Uday Devgan, MD, FACS, to talk about performing surgery alone for the first time. Drs. Venkateswaran and Felsted share their recent experiences as first-time solo surgeons, and the others weigh in with advice for the early days of operating independently.

Cohosts Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, invite cornea specialist Ed Holland, MD, of the Cincinnati Eye Institute to discuss his career-long passion for treating patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. Dr. Holland shares how this passion led to the development of his Cincinnati Protocol and the creation of the Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration.

In this webcast of the Survive & Thrive series, moderators Gary Wörtz, MD, and Lisa Nijm, MD, JD, are joined by Cherie Fathy, MD; Nandini Venkateswaran, MD; David Felsted, DO; and Ashley Brissette, MD, MSc, FRCSC, for a conversation about gender equality in ophthalmology. They touch on the barriers faced by women in ophthalmology, the importance of representation across subspecialties, and how to support and encourage women colleagues going forward.

In this episode, cohosts Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, are joined by ophthalmology’s favorite comedian, Dr. Glaucomflecken. Dr. G talks about how comedy started as his creative outlet and led to him becoming the comedic voice of medicine on Twitter. He also shares how he has used humor to help him cope with personal adversity.

In this episode, host Gary Wörtz, MD, is joined by Cherie Fathy, MD, and Nandini Venkateswaran, MD, along with special guest Bill Trattler, MD, for a discussion about how to network in a way that is enjoyable and leads to genuine and lasting relationships.