Women in optometry: 50/50?

Optometric Management, Dec 2002 by Rodemich, Karen, Levoy, Bob

Dr. Summers has always maintained a rigorous schedule and multiple locations, but regrets only taking off three weeks after her son was born. Her family helped a lot when he was young.

Dr Ross didn't have to worry about the family/career balance. She explains, "My dedication was to the profession of optometry."

Proof that hard work pays off

Dr. Kamons established her first practice in 1992 and just purchased a building, which she plans to renovate and open as a satellite office in the spring of 2003. She plans to hire an associate to help maintain both practices. Recently, she was awarded Optometrist of the Year by the Western Pennsylvania Optometric Society, for which she has served as a board member for the past three years.

Dr. Newsome now sees roughly 8,000 patients each year, yet she started out solo cold - or as she calls it, solo hot. "I wasn't going to just sit around," she says. "I needed to generate enough patients to pay my bills."

Dr. Ross served on the Michigan Optometric Association (MOA) board of trustees for 12 years and became its first female president in 1972. After serving her term at the MOA office, someone suggested that she run for the AOA board of trustees, which she did and succeeded.

Dr. House is most proud of the fact that she started her practice cold and is successful with it.

Dr. Summers currently owns five practice locations but is divesting herself from three. "After 25 years in practice, I'm ready to go back to school or teach," she explains. The locations she'll keep are close to home so her son can walk to and work in the office after school.

These women have come a long way and are happy with their profession. They offer their insights in the following section.

Reflecting on life choices

"All things said and done," comments Dr. Kamons, "it's clear now that where I am today personally and professionally is very much where I envisioned being as a young woman deciding to enter optometry."

Says Dr. House, "I can't imagine a better job - this is great."

The idea of women in optom

etry is old news to Dr. Summers. "I would like to see more women own the drug companies and the business that supply our practices." she admits.

Dr. Ross offers similar advice to new female O.D.s: "Become involved in the affairs of your state, as well as the national organization and work to build and keep a strong, vital and evergrowing profession." She thinks that women today who are willing and able to take their place in the optometric political arena are often discouraged. "We've

fought long and hard for recognition and our rightful place in the field of optometry," she adds. "To carry on and expand further, the young women of today must have the opportunity to move into the political arena."

Says Dr. Summers, "Delayed gratification is not the way I operate any more. I've spent the last 20 years of my life rushing and there have been many times that I missed the baseball game or forgot to block out some time for Halloween. I've reorganized my priorities now." On a final note, Dr. Summers comments: "I've always wanted to pave the road for female O.D.s by my own example." And she still has a goal of putting together a national network of outstanding O.D.s who just happen to be female.