The San Diego View

May 2023

THE MISSION OF SDCOS IS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND ITS MEMBERS
THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP.

Happenings of the Society

The month of April was busy!!!
April 16th we had our 5 hr CE at the Del Mar Hilton. It was a homerun event!! Speakers Jay Binkowitz
and Justin Kwan, OD, FAAO hit it out of the park. We learned about the latest trends in the industry and
heard an informative lecture on myopia control. Great education, fresh berry pancakes, and mimosas…
we couldn’t have asked for anything more!

Next 2 hr. CE: July 20 with Marc Bloomenstein, OD
Theme: Hawaiian Nights

April 18th was Legislative day. The fight is not over! Society members from across the state lobbied in Sacramento for our new expansion bill. We also advocated for higher reimbursements and the freedom to choose our lab for Medi-Cal patients. If you have never been to a legislative day, I encourage you to attend
next year!

OD Relations Liaison

Please contact Dr. Judi-Anne Perez, Society Optometrist Relations Liaison at odjobs@sdcos.org to be put on an official list for the following:

fill-in/part-time work
full-time work
purchase/partner in/sell a practice

This service is offered free of charge to SDCOS members.

Upcoming CE Meeting

July 20, 2023, 2-hour Meeting

Location: Hilton San Diego Mission Valley – 901 Camino del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108

https://bit.ly/HiltonMissionValley

Speaker: Dr. Marc Bloomenstein
Topic: TBD

2023 CE Schedule

Featured Sponsors

gordon-schanzlin-new-vision-institute-gsnvi

Volunteer Opportunities

The pandemic in 2020 and 2021 as well as health issues prohibited SDCOS board member Dr. Bob Meisel from volunteering his services at the LionsinSight Vision clinics....something he had regularly done for years. Last month he was able to finally resume his passion for serving others by offering his talents in Monterrey, the second largest metro area in Mexico with LIS. A team of 6 ODs partnered with 9 techs to provide vision exams and matching eyewear as closely as possible for 1002 patients. Over 150 specialty Rxs for significant astigmatism and anisometropia were fabricated by local opticians and dispensed. Several thousand pairs of donated glasses were sent to Monterrey prior to the clinic and the remaining Rxs will remain there for future clinical use.

Contact Dr. Meisel at rmeisel47@gmail.com if interested in more information on volunteering opportunities.

Canal Santa Lucia provides delightful boat rides in an urban setting

Dr. Meisel with a patient and interpreter

New BVAA Estadio seats over 53,000 and will be used in World Cup games in 2026

Patients on the right waiting for an auto refractor evaluation. Very efficient patient flow was needed for 500 exams each day

Welcome New Members

Jay Mashouf
Rachel Niskanen
Sheiva Pousti
Emily Sandoc
Catherine Soriano

Meet a Member

Garrett Pennell

1. What Optometry school did you attend?
UMSL

2. When did you graduate and how long have you been practicing?
Class of 2017, practicing almost 6 years.

3. What is your favorite specialty?
Research/Clinical Trials

4. What do you like doing for fun?
Exercising, spending time with my family, and trying different restaurants/food.

5. What is your favorite thing to do in San Diego?
Anything outside, especially taking my dog to Fiesta Island.

6. What is something people don't know about you?
I could eat dessert for every meal.

Pearls of Wisdom from an OD

Kevin Reeder, O.D.

Dr. Reeder is a San Diego native and a graduate of UC Berkeley. He has practiced optometry in San Diego and Imperial Valley since 1988. He has been a member of the AOA, COA, and SDCOS all these years.

His interest has been in corneal reshaping and myopia control most of his career. Dr. Reeder did the FDA clinical trials for Paragon in 1999 and 2000. One of the highlights of his professional life was the approval of CRT in 2002, with no age limits, all due to the safety and minimal adverse events over the two-year period of the study. The youngest patient allowed in the clinical trials was 12 years old. This would have significantly affected the ability to treat our increasingly younger myopic patients today.

Pearls:

It's very important to differentiate our practice and the services we provide. Choose a specialty or two and become an expert, using additional training and certificates. Let patients know you have these special skills.
Stay competitive using state of the art technology, while maintaining your high touch relationships with your patients.
Be careful not to undervalue or give away our services. Raise your fees 3-5% every year, the patients who value your care won't have any issues with these necessary changes.

Sponsor Spotlight

Dave Halverson

Where do you Work?
PECAA based out of Lake Elsinore

How many years have you been in the industry?
40 years

What are your favorite activities?
Chasing my Grandaughter/Motocross (now retired)

What is your favorite quote?
“The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible” – Arthur C. Clarke

Richard Rex Memorial Fund

Richard Rex practiced optometry in San Diego for 13 years prior to his death in an airplane crash in 1989 at age 42. He was a member of SDCOS and specialized in contact lenses at Kaiser Permanente.

In 1991 some of his family, and colleagues established the Richard Rex Memorial Fund in his honor. This fund is used to assist patients in need to obtain eyeglasses, contact lenses, or low vision aids from SDCOS optometrists that have donated their exam time. Children are given high priority, as are patients needing contact lenses for medical purposes.

If you wish to contribute to this fund, please make checks payable to:

Dr. Richard Rex Memorial Fund
C/O SDCOS 11835 Carmel Mountain Rd. Suite 1304-211
San Diego, CA 92128-4601

Optometrists may apply for payment of a maximum of $100 to cover material costs for such patients. If you have questions or would like to request an application, please contact the SDCOS office at 619 663-8439.

All contributions are tax-deductible.

Classifieds

Part-Time OD wanted for busy private practice in North Coastal County. We offer competitive pay and bonus opportunities. We have an easy patient base. Please email your resume to marineeyecare@gmail.com (06/23).

West Sound Well is an Established Optometry practice with 35 years of goodwill and an adjusted net profit of 350K High-Profit Port Hadlock Optometry Practice. Contact Frank Sciabica at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com. (WAO107) (05/23).

Very Busy Optometry Practice inside a large busy retailer. Busy Optometry practice inside a major big box retailer in Eastern Washington. Very Profitable! For more information contact Frank Sciabica at frank@omni-pg.com or call 425-985-8390. (WAO104) (05/23).

Part-time or Full-time OD needed – Competitive pay with bonus opportunities and a flexible schedule. Hours are available at both Target Opticals in Encinitas and Balboa. Email resume to drkellykeane@gmail.com to find out more. (05/23).

Fill-In Optometrist needed for 2 ½ weeks in June – Location Lake Murray Optometric Center. Please contact Robert Gonzalez at 619-464-2076. (06/23).

Revenue $800,000 on 36 total OD hours. This opportunity includes two practices co-located in one location—huge potential with more efficient operation under one owner. Recently relocated to terrific buildout in a new location next to the hospital; 4 lanes in 2200 square feet. Long-term employees include a bilingual optician. Photos available. Offered at only $295,000 plus sellable goods inventory estimated at $100,000. Seller financing may be available. Contact info@PracticeConsultants.com (05/23).

Full-Time OD needed for busy private practice in North County. We offer competitive pay, bonus opportunities, and medical benefits and utilize the latest equipment and technology. Please email your resume to hrlecompte@gmail.com (05/23).

Practice for sale: Long-time established practice for sale in La Mesa–seller wishes to retire–Seller has set a very low purchase price to facilitate an immediate sale—don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity to own your own practice. Contact Dr. Levy at 619-743-1442 or email at drlevy@pacbell.net (05/23).

Optometrist needed for Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at the Mission Valley Costco. If interested please contact rslikker@san.rr.com or text 619-977-7703 (05/23).

Build Ownership in a Growing Optometry Practice, Even as a New Grad. Growing Practice at the Heart of San Diego with a 25+ Year Veteran of the Optometry Profession, with a successful history of growing multiple practices, is seeking a motivated, self-starter, entrepreneurial optometrist to join a growing optometry practice in City Heights. Practice is in a custom modern office setting, with great visibility and a proven track record of success for medical practices. Working knowledge of Spanish is preferred. Opportunity to get involved (even as a New Grad) in a growing eye care practice from the ground up, earning equity toward part or full ownership. Please email your resume to spousti@live.com (05/23).

Part-time/Full-time OD needed - competitive pay with bonus opportunities. Hours are 10-6:30 pm. Location Chula Vista. Send resume to dr.sheck@rdreyecare.com (05/23).

Part-time OD is needed 2-3 days/week at the Vista Costco. If interested contact kmichel@vistaoptometry.net or text 760-415-9500 for more information. (06/23).

Part-time OD is needed for Fridays 10-6 and Saturdays 9:30-5 at the San Marcos Costco. Exams every 30 minutes. $550 base pay. Please email Dr. Frimtzis at vfrimtzis@icloud.com (05/23).

Former Optometrist office space built out in Carmel Valley for lease -1755 sq feet available immediately in Trader Joe’s anchored center. Prior tenant merged practices and space is in “Move-In” condition. For Information please contact Reg Kobzi at 858-546-4604 reg.kobzi@cbre.com (05/23).

Grand Vision Optometry (independent family private practice in North County San Diego) with 2 locations in San Marcos is looking for a Part-Time Associate OD for Fridays (8:30 am – 5:00 pm) and Saturdays (8:00 am – 3:00 pm). $500-$525/day base pay with a production bonus of up to $625/day. Exam appts are booked every 30 minutes, an optical technician will pre-test and pre-chart for the doctor. Please email drmikafu@hotmail.com with your resume to apply (05/23).

Price Reduced!! High Visibility High Traffic Optometry Practice Near Google Price Reduced!! Long-established, growing practice in close proximity to Google. This practice grosses approximately 650K/year and is still growing. Nicely appointed pleasant, high visibility location. This one won't last long. For more information contact Frank Sciabica at frank@omni-pg.com or call 425-985-8390. (CAO107) (05/23).

Orange County Optometry Practice Orange County Optometry Practice. Ideal merger candidate. $340,000 gross. 30+ years of goodwill. Great location! Good visibility. Contact Frank Sciabica at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com. (CAO105) (05/23).

Comprehensive Ophthalmology and Eye Care Services Office in Growing Coastal Community with Great Quality of Life. Well-Established Comprehensive Ophthalmology practice grossing approximately $1.4MIL Very profitable. Contact Frank Sciabica for more information at frank@omni-pg.com or 425-985-8390. (WAO106) (05/23).

Busy Portland Optometry Practice Well-established 2-lane optometry practice. Great location in Portland. All the latest and greatest equipment. Very busy! Contact Frank Sciabica for more information at frank@omni-pg.com or 425-985-8390. (ORO101) (05/23).

Nicely Appointed Optometry Practice in Bellevue’s Tech Corridor Nicely appointed optometry practice in Bellevue tech corridor. Annual collections are $420,000. Adding additional procedures will increase revenue. Lots of parking available. Patient care hours are just 24 hrs/per week. Performing CRT/ortho K for over 20 years. The selling doctor is willing to train buyers on the overall concepts of CRT care to allow seamless continued care with ongoing patients. Contact Frank Sciabica at 425-985-8390 or frank@omni-pg.com (WAO102) (05/23).