Behind the Scenes at the Heart of America Eye Care Congress with Dr. Suzy Lake & Dr. Jeff Gerson
Release Date: 10/16/2025
Why Diagnostic Tools Go Unused — and How to Make Them An Asset to your Practice with Dr. Mile Brujic
The Power Hour
operationally, and financially—is where most practices struggle. A Problem Most Practices Recognize Many practices invest in advanced technology with good intentions—better care, differentiation, growth. Yet months later, the equipment is used inconsistently, reserved for rare cases, or quietly avoided because it disrupts flow. Dr. Brujic explains why this happens so often: Doctors buy equipment to be “cutting edge” without first identifying a real gap in care or existing patient demand. Workflow isn’t designed to support consistent use Teams aren’t aligned on when or why...
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Closing the 95% Myopia Gap: The Consult, the Close, and the Systems That Drive Growth — featuring Matt Oerding.
The Power Hour
When close rates stall around 30–40%, most teams blame price. What if the real issue is what happens after the appointment? Myopia management is no longer “up-and-coming.” It’s here, and it’s big. In this episode of Power Hour, Eugene sits down with Matt Oerding, CEO & Founder of Treehouse Eyes, to unpack a market Matt describes as a untapped opportunity, and the uncomfortable reality behind it: even though a large share of optometrists say they offer myopia management, only ~4–5% of eligible kids are actually receiving treatment. Matt explains that the myopia...
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How I Increased My Profit By 30% While Cutting Down Staff: Dr. Lauretta Justin & Eugene Shatsman
The Power Hour
What if cutting your staff dramatically could increase your profit margins by up to 30% with capture rates being at 78%? This week on Power Hour, Eugene sits down with Dr. Lauretta Justin, Founder of Optometry Divas and creator of The CEO of You, to unpack a transformation that starts with burnout and ends with clarity, profit, and purpose. After running a full-scope practice with a team of ten, Lauretta hit a point many ODs know too well: she was successful on paper… and exhausted in...
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Joy as a Leadership Strategy: Allegra Cohen on Mindset, Presence & Performance with Eugene Shatsman
The Power Hour
What if the biggest shift in your practice this year doesn’t come from a new piece of equipment, a new hire, or a new plan — but from the way you train your brain to notice joy? In this episode of Power Hour, host Eugene Shatsman is joined by Allegra Cohen (TEDx speaker, author, and Chief Joy Officer of BRAVE LIFE) for a conversation that blends neuroscience, leadership, and everyday happiness in a way that’s deeply relevant to optometrists and practice leaders. Eugene first encountered Allegra’s work when...
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How I Built It: $4,000 Per Visit in a Specialty Practice, with Dr Stephanie Woo and Eugene Shatsman
The Power Hour
Every optometrist dreams of running a practice that truly reflects their passion. Few ever rebuild one from scratch to make it happen. That’s exactly what Dr. Stephanie Woo did. After years of running three full-scope practices, she sold them all to pursue a vision that challenged everything she’d known about optometry — a specialty-only clinic built entirely around custom contact lenses, concierge-level care, and life-changing patient outcomes.
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Performance Drivers of Top Practices and KPIs with Jason Lake & Eugene Shatsman
The Power Hour
What separates the practices that are growing in 2025 from those falling behind? This week on Power Hour, Eugene Shatsman welcomes back Dr. Jason Lake, General Manager of PERC and Opti-Port, for another data-driven conversation every practice owner should hear. As one of optometry’s top data experts, Dr. Lake manages one of the largest private-practice datasets in the industry, giving him a unique perspective on what’s really happening behind the numbers. And this quarter, the data tells a surprising story: while much of the industry saw exam volume drop nearly 5%, many...
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Building AI for Optometry: A Live Walkthrough of Practical AI You Can Use in Your Practice
The Power Hour
Most optometry practices think AI is complicated, expensive, or years away from being practical. This episode proves otherwise. In this first-ever live build on the Power Hour, host Eugene Shatsman and AI consultant Abhi Bhattacharya (Amazon Alexa, Athenahealth, VSP Vision) create a working AI voice agent — from scratch — that calls and confirms patient appointments in real time. No long timelines. No big budgets. Just practical tools you can actually use. If you’ve ever wondered “Where would I even start with AI?” — this episode is your starting point.
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The Nerdy Optometrist: Technology, Curiosity, and the Next Era of Eye Care with Dr. Ukti Vora
The Power Hour
Description What can optometry learn from today’s entrepreneurs and innovators? In this episode of The Power Hour, Eugene sits down with Ukti Vora (The Nerdy Optometrist) to explore how innovation, technology, and mindset are shaping the future of the optometry. Ukti shares her journey from India to the U.S., offering a global perspective on how optometry is evolving — from independent practices and patient communication to the growing role of AI and wearable tech. They discuss: ◼️ The rise of entrepreneurship in optometry and lessons from other industries ◼️ How cultural...
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Behind the Scenes at the Heart of America Eye Care Congress with Dr. Suzy Lake & Dr. Jeff Gerson
The Power Hour
What makes a conference more than just a meeting? For over six decades, the Heart of America Eye Care Congress has been one of optometry’s most enduring traditions — bringing together thousands of professionals, students, and industry partners for education, innovation, and community. In this episode of Power Hour, recorded live in Kansas City, host Eugene Shatsman sits down with Dr. Susan Lake, Optometrist at Eyecare Specialties, and Dr. Jeffry Gerson, Director of Education at PERC, to take listeners behind the scenes of this remarkable event.
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Managing Managed Care, Capture Rates and the Missing Middle for Practice Growth with Todd Lossone
The Power Hour
Navigating managed vision care can be complex. Between reimbursements, benefits, and patient expectations, finding the balance between patient satisfaction and profitability is no small feat. But what if the key isn’t fighting the system, but understanding lesser-known opportunities that exist within managed care? In this episode of Power Hour, host Eugene Shatsman sits down with Todd Lassone, Senior Manager for Strategic Partners at EssilorLuxottica, to unpack how practices can optimize their relationship with managed vision care plans. With over 30 years of industry...
info_outlineWhat makes a conference more than just a meeting?
For over six decades, the Heart of America Eye Care Congress has been one of optometry’s most enduring traditions — bringing together thousands of professionals, students, and industry partners for education, innovation, and community.
In this episode of Power Hour, recorded live in Kansas City, host Eugene Shatsman sits down with Dr. Susan Lake, Optometrist at Eyecare Specialties, and Dr. Jeffry Gerson, Director of Education at PERC, to take listeners behind the scenes of this remarkable event.