It's January 2026 and time to focus on your 2026 practice goals. What do you want to accomplish and where do you want to take your business this year? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jenn DenHartog, founder of Premier Vision Clinic in Clive, IA to ask her tips for success in growing a dry eye and aesthetics practice.

Key Takeaways:

1. Own your role in medical optometry. Most patient cases don't need a referral out to ophthalmology until surgical intervention.
2. Medical v. Vision doesn't have to be all or nothing - give the vision exam patient a nugget of their medical diagnoses and treatment options and then bring them back for their medical follow up visit.
3. You can never put processes and systems in place too early. Even if it doesn't feel like it's needed, there will come a time when you needed those systems in place.
4. Beginning with the dry eye conversation addresses the most significant issue the patient is facing. Highlighting the additional impacts certain treatments like IPL, RF, LLLT, etc. have additional benefits that the patient may also experience. This opens the door for the patient to experience them and wanting to continue the treatments for cosmetic reasons.
5. Celebrate wins with your patients and with your team. Only the patient gets to determine what their wins are.

What Dr. DenHartog is reading:

1. Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer

Practice Advantage Reading List

**Don't miss out on an extra $15 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams throughout all of 2026! Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Connor Smallwood, owner of Smallwood Eye Associates in Gahanna, OH. Dr. Smallwood has built a practice that empowers his life outside the business. His story is a powerful one.

Key Takeaways:

1. Buying an established practice gave him a head start with the patient base especially a base that was loyal. Spending time in the practice by himself allowed the practice to slowly transition before the founder retired.
2. Staff is the engine that makes the practice run. Retaining the staff following the transition was critical. Bringing the staff along on the changes over time made a difference.
3. Despite how successful the practice was, there was significant opportunity to improve aspects of the business. Taking it slow, getting one change right at a time was key to bringing staff and patients along on the journey.
4. Building a business doesn’t mean you have to grind all day, every day. While that’s certainly an option, building a successful business should empower you to live the life you want to live within and outside the business.
5. Prioritizing opportunities outside the office requires prioritization of processes and efficiency within the office such that you’re maximizing both the people and time in the office.

What Connor is reading:

• Wild At Heart by John Eldredge

Practice Advantage Reading List

** Don't miss out on an extra $15 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year - with $15 extended through June of 2026, and $10 thru the end of next year! Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**

In today's episode, our guests are Saul Alvarez, found of Midbrain, and Dr. Chantel Garcia, founder and owner of Carolina Eye Doctors in Harrisburg, NC, talking about the power of marketing and how your website and external marketing drives the experience your patients will have in your practice.

Key Takeaways:

1. While websites feel like old hat, they shouldn't. Your website should tell your story, evoke an emotion from your patients, and set them up for the experience they'll have in your practice before they actually step foot through the door. Language tone, colors, fonts, photos, and videos matter significantly.
2. Your brand is all encompassing. Your decisions. Your patient experience. Your physical space. Your lighting. Your technology and equipment. A good marketing partner will take all those into consideration to build a strong foundation.
3. Setting your processes and procedures to set your practice up for the success you want. Make the bold decision. Stick to it while it's tough. It will lead to the outcomes you want.
4. Your personal story is a critical component of your brand. Tell it and tell it often. Offloading your marketing prevents you from telling that story effectively.
5. To continue to grow, your strategy must evolve over time. As your strategy changes, invest in your marketing to support the specific goals you have for that time period.
6. In the grand scheme of things, the basics of marketing are the most impactful.

Dr. Garcia's Practice

What Saul is Reading:

• Letters from a Nut by Jim Nancy

Practice Advantage Reading List

** Don't miss out on an extra $15 rebate for all commercial VSP Eye Exams this year - with $15 extended through June of 2026, and $10 thru the end of next year! Visit www.pecaaexamrebate.com now!**