Eye Care Insider

In this second episode of a three-part series, John B. Pinto discusses the job market for early-career professionals and new graduates, his perspective on what ophthalmologists have learned from the pandemic and the role telemedicine will play in the future of ophthalmology.

• Intro :14
• What is the current negotiation position in the market for early-career and new graduate ophthalmic practice physicians? :41
• I’d love to hear your perspective on what we have learned about our practices after a year of this pandemic 3:35
• How is the telemedicine trend going now? Is telemedicine here to stay? 11:09
• Tell us about your upcoming book and your insight into it? 12:59
• Stay tuned for the next episode of this special three-part miniseries 17:38

John B. Pinto is president of J. Pinto & Associates, Inc. He is also a practice consultant and the author of several books on ophthalmic practice management, including John Pinto’s Little Green Book of Ophthalmology, UP (with Corinne Wohl), Simple, and Ophthalmic Leadership.

UP: Taking Ophthalmic Administrators and Their Management Teams to the Next Level of Skill, Performance and Career Satisfaction, Second Edition is a powerful, practical workbook by Corinne Wohl, MHSA, COE and John B. Pinto designed to take ophthalmic administrators and practice managers to the next level of their careers, offering practical tips, concrete advice, and a step-by-step guide for any hurdle they face. Available now for purchase at slackbooks.com/management. Receive 20% off with promo code PINTO20.

We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to Dr. Mali at [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter @Healio_OSN.

Disclosures: The Wyanoke Group is the parent company of Healio and SLACK Books. Mali reports he is founder and CEO of Mali Enterprises; retina medical director at Macular Degeneration Association; grant/research support from Alimera Sciences, Allergan/AbbVie, Chengdu Kanghong Biotechnology, Genentech, Notal Vision, Regeneron and Santen; consulting for Alimera Sciences, Allergan/AbbVie, Eyepoint Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Macular Degeneration Association, Notal Vision, Novartis, Regeneron and Sun Pharmaceuticals; speaker bureau for Alimera Sciences, Genentech, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Macular Degeneration Association, Notal Vision, Novartis and Sun Pharmaceuticals; and stock/shareholder with AbbVie and Regeneron.

In this episode, Ashlie Leal, director of ophthalmology at FundamentalVR, discusses their fully immersive surgical training products, how virtual reality plays a role in training surgeons and more.

• Intro :38
• Welcome to another episode of Eye Care insider :52
• About Ashlie Leal 1:00
• Give me a little bit of your background – how you got into this industry and your role at FundamentalVR? 1:33
• Can you give our listeners some background about FundamentalVR as a company, and why should eye care professionals start paying attention to your company? 2:56
• Do you target training programs? ... Is there a certain focus to your company in regards to demographics? 4:12
• Is there any way you can describe [your virtual reality products] or any current product offers that you have that apply to eye care professionals? 7:30
• You’re using a headset and the two arms. Is that all you would need, or would you need some sort of base mannequin head with an eyeball simulation? 9:25
• You can do it anywhere, theoretically? And you can simulate different MIGS equipment and different ocular lens implants based on the tech simulating that equipment? 10:59
• So, the simulation is able to carry out these multiple, intricate steps? 12:03
• Is there current gene therapy that is utilizing your technology? Do you have a relationship with them in the sense that you provide the surgeons with the virtual reality simulations? 12:49
• Do you have any sort of data or any procedure done with virtual reality improving complication rate and efficiency? 14:02
• What does the future look like for virtual reality? What would you say is the major challenge, or what does your company hope to accomplish in the next few years or the decade? 15:30
• What’s that process look like for a company to approach you for virtual reality offering to train on a new device? How long does that process take, and what are the steps to assimilate their product into your technology? 17:14
• If someone wants to learn more, how can they contact you or your company for more information? 19:13
• Congratulations Ashlie and FundamentalVR 19:39
• Any final words to our listeners? 20:02
• Outro 20:39

Ashlie Leal is director of ophthalmology, FundamentalVR.

We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to Dr. Mali at [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter @Healio_OSN. Leal can be reached on LinkedIn or at www.fundamentalsurgery.com.

Disclosures: Mali reports he is founder and CEO of Mali Enterprises; retina medical director at Macular Degeneration Association; grant/research support from Alimera Sciences, Allergan/AbbVie, Chengdu Kanghong Biotechnology, Genentech, Notal Vision, Regeneron and Santen; consulting for Alimera Sciences, Allergan/AbbVie, Eyepoint Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Macular Degeneration Association, Notal Vision, Novartis, Regeneron and Sun Pharmaceuticals; speaker bureau for Alimera Sciences, Genentech, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Macular Degeneration Association, Notal Vision, Novartis and Sun Pharmaceuticals; and stock/shareholder with AbbVie and Regeneron. Leal reports she is director of ophthalmology at FundamentalVR.

In this episode, Allisa Song, a medical student and the CEO and co-founder of Nanodropper, discusses the inception of the device, how it can benefit the eye care industry and more.

• Intro :38
• Welcome to another episode of Eye Care insider :52
• About Allisa Song 1:01
• I want to hear your story about the history about the Nanodropper – how you came to this idea; what problem you were trying to solve; and how you got here? 2:02
• What are the major advantages of your product? Why doesn’t our standard bottle function properly like that? 5:06
• Can this go on every eyedrop bottle? 6:49
• Is there any sort of data that we can look at that shows how much volume of the prescription is saved? 7:51
• Can you talk to me about how industry has taken this? What is your take on how they feel about your product? 12:15
• How are you distributing your product to the consumers and to the masses? What are your channels to get the product out there? 15:36
• What do you think the future holds for Nanodropper? Where do you see this going in the next 3 to 5 years? 17:04
• Is there any information that you can provide to our listeners can go to and learn more about your story? 18:23
• Congratulations again Allisa 19:03
• You’ll be graduating from medical school pretty soon? 19:15
• Any final words to our listeners? 19:50
• Outro 20:26

Allisa Song, is a Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine medical student and the CEO and co-founder of Nanodropper. Song is a serial entrepreneur and inventor with a background in Clean Tech, neuroscience, and harm reduction. In addition to her proven track record of successful fundraising, she has led her teams to dozens of business and design awards, including her most recent USPTO Collegiate Inventor medal awarded by the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to Dr. Mali at [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter @Healio_OSN. Song can be reached at [email protected].

Disclosures: Mali reports he is founder and CEO of Mali Enterprises; retina medical director at Macular Degeneration Association; grant/research support from Alimera Sciences, Allergan/AbbVie, Chengdu Kanghong Biotechnology, Genentech, Notal Vision, Regeneron and Santen; consulting for Alimera Sciences, Allergan/AbbVie, Eyepoint Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Macular Degeneration Association, Notal Vision, Novartis, Regeneron and Sun Pharmaceuticals; speaker bureau for Alimera Sciences, Genentech, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Macular Degeneration Association, Notal Vision, Novartis and Sun Pharmaceuticals; and stock/shareholder with AbbVie and Regeneron. Song is the CEO and co-founder of Nanodropper and serves as an advisor for Bedo Solutions.

In this interview with Joseph Nezgoda, MD, MBA, we discuss young ophthalmologists – or YOs – and the most important challenges this group faces. Nezgoda also provides his insight and advice for YOs embarking on their career.

• Intro :13
• In this episode :15
• About Dr. Nezgoda :23
• The interview :54
• Who is Dr. Nezgoda? 1:29
• “Ah-ha” moments 4:13
• What is a young ophthalmologist, or YO? 8:07
• What is the most important topic or challenge currently facing YOs? 9:57
• What’s the ideal path – academic, private practice, or a hybrid? 11:41
• How did you get involved in advocacy? 16:24
• What do you think will be the biggest challenge for YOs in the future? 22:42
• Any last advice for YOs starting their career? 26:53
• Thanks for listening! 29:35

Joseph Nezgoda, MD, MBA, is an ophthalmologist and retina specialist in private practice at Retina Macula Institute in West Palm Beach, Fla. He is also vice president of education at Florida Society of Ophthalmology; editor of ONE Network Retina, American Academy of Ophthalmology; and delegate to the AMA, American Society of Retina Specialists.

Disclosures: Mali reports he is founder and CEO of Mali Enterprises; retina medical director at Macular Degeneration Association; grant/research support from Alimera Sciences, Allergan/AbbVie, Chengdu Kanghong Biotechnology, Genentech, Notal Vision, Regeneron and Santen; consulting for Alimera Sciences, Allergan/AbbVie, Eyepoint Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Macular Degeneration Association, Notal Vision, Novartis, Regeneron and Sun Pharmaceuticals; speaker bureau for Alimera Sciences, Genentech, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Macular Degeneration Association, Notal Vision, Novartis and Sun Pharmaceuticals; and stock/shareholder with AbbVie and Regeneron. Nezgoda reports no relevant financial disclosures.

We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to Dr. Mali at [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter @Healio_OSN. Dr. Nezgoda can be reached via www.retinamacula.org

In this episode, I sit down with Kester Nahen, PhD, as we discuss the use of artificial intelligence and telemedicine among retina specialists. Nahen will also discuss Notal Vision’s ForseeHome device for monitoring and the company’s Home OCT artificial intelligence-enable platform for monitoring AMD.

• Intro :14
• In this episode :21
• About Dr. Nahen 1:24
• The interview 1:42
• The background of Kester Nahen 2:00
• Nahen’s thoughts on the current state of telemedicine and artificial intelligence 5:10
• Will artificial intelligence replace the clinical aspect of what we do? 7:42
• About Notal Vision’s ForseeHome Device 9:30
• The AMD criteria required for use of ForseeHome 11:54
• As a result of COVID-19, has there been an increased interest in using ForseeHome? 13:15
• What is the best way for ophthalmologists and eyecare providers to get more information about the ForseeHome program? 14:40
• More details on Notal Vision’s Home OCT and will it really change and revolutionize the way retina specialists monitor patients? 16:00
• What’s the status of the FDA approval process for the Home OCT? 21:10
• What does Nahen think is the most important topic facing the ophthalmology industry today and what will be in the future? 23:05
• Nahen’s final thoughts 25:30

Kester Nahen, PhD, is the chief executive officer at Notal Vision.

Disclosures: Mali reports he is founder and CEO of Mali Enterprises; retina medical director at Macular Degeneration Association; grant/research support from Alimera Sciences, Allergan/AbbVie, Chengdu Kanghong Biotechnology, Genentech, Notal Vision, Regeneron and Santen; consulting for Alimera Sciences, Allergan/AbbVie, Eyepoint Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Macular Degeneration Association, Notal Vision, Novartis, Regeneron and Sun Pharmaceuticals; speaker bureau for Alimera Sciences, Genentech, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Macular Degeneration Association, Notal Vision, Novartis and Sun Pharmaceuticals; and stock/shareholder with AbbVie and Regeneron. Nahen is the CEO of Notal Vision.

We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to Dr. Mali at [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter @Healio_OSN.