Dr. Bill Rafferty has dutifully committed much of his career to the critical issues of regulatory activities that govern Optometry, both in his home state of North Carolina but also nationally through ARBO. He is a 1977 graduate of the UAB School of Optometry, and has had many professional roles in addition to clinical practice, including serving as faculty at Duke University and Wake Forest. His stories include those who influenced him into health care, his family’s citrus groves in Florida, and his service to our country through the National Guard. He spent his early years in the VA and supported scope expansion efforts for Optometry. Today he is Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Optometry where he cares passionately to support the profession and the public.

The Stories within the Story include:

1:03 The “What I Thought Optometry Would Be” Story

3:18 The Early Years Story

8:21 The Service to Country Story

10:04 The Optometry Training in the 1970’s Story

13:01 The Mentors Story

16:57 The Early VA Efforts Story

18:50 The Duke University Story

21:12 The Educator Story

22:55 The Regulatory Affairs Story

30:53 The Optometry-Ophthalmology Story

39:20 The Joy Story

40:58 The Words of Inspiration Story

Runtime: 46 min.

Dr. Masoud Nafey is a technology expert who brings a wide array of views about how Optometry might utilize the tools at their discretion to best connect with the 21st century health and eye care consumer. He provides an excellent insight to how we might advance as a profession while the patients advance toward more of a consumerist approach to consuming their eye care. From a family of Afghan refugees, he has an incredible sense of the importance of education and shares why that has shaped his path in Optometry, following a wandering career of entrepreneurism that started in his youth. He’s a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Optometry and achieved an MBA to demonstrate his commitment to being a business person as much as a Doctor of Optometry.

The Stories within the Story include:

1:11 The Patient Mindset Story

4:53 The Online Shopper Story

9:22 The Professional Advancement Story

15:32 The Metaverse Story

20:04 The Afghan Refugee Story

28:06 The Athletics Story

31:23 The AI in Eyecare Story

36:03 The Mentorship Story

37:42 The Business Mindedness Story

42:13 The Hope Story

Runtime: 44 min.

Scott Harris Shapiro is a leader in the US optical business, as owner and CEO of Europa Eyewear. His parents started the business, which his father spoke of as a “people business,” and grew it from the ground up. Scott has a history of being in the public eye - spending time in his early years as a stand-up comedian and radio personality, from which he learned business insights that he still uses today. Ultimately his father’s passing brought him back to lead the family business, in which he partnered with his father’s long-time associate and best friend. This includes the work they did to begin to manufacture eyewear right here in the United States, which is highly unique in the frame industry. These stories and more are incredibly heart-warming and make this interview an instant classic.

The Stories within the Story include:

0:52 The Europa Eyewear Story

3:48 The Growing Years Story

5:39 The Stand-up Comedian Story

11:07 The Life-Changing Event Story

14:30 The Return to the Business Story

16:43 The Business Diversification Story

20:21 The Family Business Continues Story

24:20 The Family Story

27:26 The Relationships in Optical Story

31:02 The Vision Council Volunteering Story

34:53 The Great Advice Story