Georgia group’s paraoptometric learning program a model for success

Paraoptometric professionals: the opticians, front office team, contact lens technicians and other critical roles, are the backbone of any successful optometry practice. September is Paraoptometric Appreciation Month, when the profession celebrates and highlights the great works of paraoptometric professionals across the country and their service in elevating patient care and outcomes.

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One practice group in the Atlanta area is making waves with its PUPIL Program, designed to elevate the expertise of its paraoptometric staff. Atlanta Eye Group, headquartered in Atlanta, has grown to six locations and believes in a people-centric approach to business.

“As we grew from one office to six over the course of seven years, one of our greatest challenges was something many growing practices experience—recruiting, training and retaining great technicians,” says Anisha Haji, O.D., chief medical officer and owner of Atlanta Eye Group. “I remember looking at larger practices with incredibly skilled technicians and wondering how we could find and retain people like that.”

Professional development personified

Working in tandem with her husband and Atlanta Eye Group Chief Executive Officer, Samir Gillani, they implemented what they call the PUPIL Program. The goal: to invest more deeply in its people and their development, rather than trying to recruit new talent.

This philosophy is the cornerstone of the PUPIL Program— a program conceived by Gillani. He envisioned an internal professional development pathway that would offer the team valuable opportunities to learn, advance and pursue credentials such as CPO, CPOA and other certifications.

There is a Henry Ford quote that is synonymous with Atlanta Eye Group’s motto for learning, as shared by their senior leadership: “The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.”

Bringing the PUPIL Program to life

To ensure the PUPIL Program could be effective across the organization, they tapped the Chief Operating Officer, Angelyn (Angie) Smith. A passionate team member who has been a pivotal part of the Atlanta Eye Group for more than 8 years, Smith was the first member of the team to become CPO certified.

“Passing that exam was a personal win, but it quickly became the blueprint for something much larger,” adds Smith.

This was a practice-what-you-preach moment when the PUPIL Program kicked off in August 2021—the spark that would bring to life Gillani's philosophy that “The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice."

Each testing period, an announcement sharing the application dates is sent across the organization. Candidates then submit an internal application detailing why they want to sit for the exam, their career goals and the dedicated study time they are prepared to commit.

Those applications are reviewed by Gillani, Dr. Haji and Ashka Patel, O.D., optometrist at Atlanta Eye Group, to ensure each candidate has the requisite commitment and background to proceed. Once approved, Smith provides the technician with registration instructions, helps complete the attestation form and the Atlanta Eye Group fully funds their exam fees.

Candidates follow a structured curriculum for their prep, EyeLearn video modules and Dr. Patel hosts formal study sessions, helping the technicians master advanced optical and clinical materials.

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“Today, peer-to-peer prep is woven into our everyday culture,” explains Smith. “Our staff regularly quiz each other using custom flashcards and notes between patient-care duties.”

Several times a year, Gillani, Dr. Haji, Cynthia Noorani, O.D., optometrist at Atlanta Eye Group, and Smith collaborate to host a professional development series; these interactive, practice-wide meetings are “designed to be engaging rather than standard lunch-and-learns." Dr. Noorani works directly with the AOA to secure guest presenters’ content pre-approved for official AOA/CPC credits. Paired with independent study on EyeLearn, the team has everything they need to easily maintain their credentials.

Reaping what they sow

Since implementing the PUPIL Program in 2021, 88 team members across the Atlanta Eye Group have taken the CPO examination—one of four levels of paraoptometric certification offered by the AOA—with 55 passing and earning their CPO certification. Currently, 24 of those CPOS are employed by Atlanta Eye Group, making up nearly 33% of all active CPOs in the entire state of Georgia.

“The results have been rewarding,” shared Dr. Haji. “We are incredibly proud that such a significant portion of Georgia’s active CPO community is currently part of our team.”

Each year, Atlanta Eye Group holds a celebration to recognize the meaningful work the technicians put forth. Each CPO is presented with a certificate and special gift, as well as branded Atlanta Eye Group CPO gear, burgundy scrubs, official AOA-CPC pins, framed certificates for the office and additional PTO days, as well as financial bonuses.