What ODs are grateful for: 2019 edition

It is late November. Leaves have changed and fallen from the trees, and cold weather is knocking on the door.

It is Thanksgiving, and it is time to pause for a moment of reflection.

At Optometry Times, we are grateful for family, friends, and colleagues.

We are grateful for you, our readers. Without you, we wouldn’t be here. And we are thankful for our industry partners who make Optometry Times possible.

Profound gratitude goes to our authors to graciously share their wisdom-and sometimes their wit-in print and digial form.

2019 marks our fifth annual gratitude list. Take a look back at previous editions:
• What ODs are grateful for in 2018
• What ODs are grateful for in 2017
• What eyecare providers are grateful for in 2016
• What eyecare providers are thankful for (our original story)

Find out what ODs are grateful for this year

Sherry Bass, OD, FAAO
New York City

I just received news minutes ago that a close college friend passed away from a massive cerebral hemorrhage. It reminds me to be grateful for good health, to enjoy every day, and not to sweat the small stuff.

Tracy Swartz, OD, FAAO
Madison, AL
Friends and family. And my physical therapist and massage therapist for getting me back to work in one week after my shoulder locked up.

Diana Canto-Sims, OD
Chicago
I am grateful for all the challenges I faced in 2019. These challenges taught me valuable lessons that made me wiser and stronger. They helped restructure my lifestyle for a better 2020.

Marc Taub, OD, FAAO
Memphis, TN
I am yet again grateful for modern medicine.

Pamela J. Miller, OD, FAAO, JD, FNAP
Highland, CA
So where to begin-I have lead an incredible life, full of friends, family, a terrific staff and patients and blessed with health and joy. Most of all, I am grateful that I made the decision to open my practice in my hometown and close to my family. Over the years, this decision, which was made for very different reasons, has proven to be the very best decision. It has allowed me to be there for my family when I have been needed and allowed me to explore all the opportunities that have presented themselves over the years. I am truly a very lucky woman who is blessed every day to have made the right decisions for my life.

Barbara Fluder, OD
Valdosta, GA
My health. My friends. My new job.

Stuart Richer, OD, FAAO
Chicago
I am grateful to all the volunteers at the American Optometric Association and American Academy of Optometry who give their time for all of us.

Mile Brujic, OD, FAAO
Bowling Green, OH
Kind of boring, but the older I get, the more “old school” my views get. Thankful for health, family, and friendships.

Justin Bazan, OD
Brooklyn
Everyone is always thankful for good health…I am thankful there are some unhealthy eyes out there that I can take care of!

Marta Fabrykowski, OD, FAAO
New York City
I am grateful for all the new, enthusiastic ODs who will be graduating and joining our ranks this year. We are growing in collaboration, sub-specialized knowledge, and advanced training. 2020 is our year!

James F. Hill, III, OD, FAAO
Charleston, SC
I am thankful for my loving family, honest and caring friends, and a profession that is both rewarding and challenging. Rewarding to be able to help so many people who struggle with vision and ocular health challenges, and finding ways to improve not only their vision but quality of life. We experience this every day in our clinics and due to the daily grind we can lose sight of how much we help those we care for. Challenging because optometry is a legislative profession and there always seems to be some form of disruption (technology, insurance, legislation), but these challenges bring out the best in optometry and help us to push the needle for the betterment of those we serve.

Joseph P. Shovlin, OD, FAAO
Scranton, PA
I’m forever grateful for a dedicated staff that tolerates all my flaws and continues to make us all look good.