Partnering for the Future of Optometry: Why Mentorship Matters

When I think about the future of optometry, I feel genuinely optimistic. The need for high-quality eye care isn’t going anywhere, and every year I meet new graduates who are more than ready to carry our profession forward. That’s a big part of why I’ve found so much meaning in mentoring through VSP’s Future Leaders Academy. 

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
VSP’s Future Leaders Academy is a substantial nine-month development program created for emerging leaders in optometry. The idea is simple but powerful: identify the people who will shape our industry and start investing in them now. Through leadership training, exposure to different aspects of the profession, and structured mentorship, the program gives early-career ODs tools that many of us had to learn slowly—and sometimes painfully—on our own. 

From where I sit, VSP’s commitment is unmistakable. When an organization is actively preparing future leaders, it signals something important: they’re here for the long haul, ready to support not just optometry as a whole, but the doctors who keep it thriving. 

Becoming a Mentor—And Growing Because of It 
I chose to become a mentor because I remember exactly how valuable my own early mentors were. More than a decade later, I still carry many of their lessons with me. Now that I’ve been in private practice for more than 11 years, it feels like the right time to give back. 

Each month, I meet with my mentee—a new OD in Ohio—to talk through whatever is most pressing for her. Sometimes it's clinical questions, sometimes leadership challenges, sometimes big picture discussions about the future of the profession. What surprises me is how often I’m the one who walks away feeling energized and inspired. Revisiting my own journey helps me see how far I’ve come and reminds me why this work matters. 

There’s real value on both sides of the mentorship relationship. She gets practical insights and support; I get the joy of helping shape the future while reflecting on the experiences that shaped me. 

The Future is in Good Hands
The more I work with new graduates, the more confident I become in the direction optometry is heading. As Eye See It, today’s emerging ODs are smart, capable, and eager to grow. As long as we continue attracting people who love patients and value great care, the profession will stay strong. 

And with programs like the Future Leaders Academy empowering the next wave of leaders, I believe our profession has a bright and stable future.