How to launch a successful career in optometry

Excerpted from page 50 of the Spring 2025 edition of AOA Focus. 

Ready to take the first steps toward career success?  

An all-new benefit exclusively for AOA members, the New Practitioner Catalog was designed to fuel new practitioners’ professional and personal growth. This essential new resource can be accessed in the AOA’s EyeLearn Professional Development Hub.  

“The New Practitioner Catalog is a comprehensive, tailored educational program specifically designed for optometry graduates and new practitioners. It provides a structured pathway for continuing education, helping them transition from school to professional practice with confidence,” says Robert Morgan, O.D., member of the AOA’s Education Center Committee. “The catalog covers essential skills, updates on the latest industry practices, and practical knowledge to ensure new optometrists are well-prepared to excel in their careers. 

“As a recent graduate of UAB School of Optometry myself, I often found myself looking through online resources or back at notes I had taken while in school to better meet the needs of my patients,” Dr. Morgan adds. “I wished for a place where I could get a quick refresher on topics that I hadn’t reviewed since the first year of optometry school to help build my confidence. I hope this resource can do the same for other new graduates.” 

New Practitioner Catalog: What’s inside 

Designed for new and early career doctors of optometry, this collection offers essential guidance tailored to your journey. It is grouped into four learning plans: 

• Start strong with Clinical Foundations. Build the knowledge and skills needed to deliver exceptional patient care.
• Excel professionally with Professional Enrichment. Learn to overcome challenges and grow your career with confidence.
• Build a sustainable practice with Practice Management. Get the tools you need to manage and grow your practice effectively.
• Find balance and resilience with Personal Enrichment. Focus on well-being strategies to enjoy a long, rewarding career.

A ‘comfort blanket’ for new grads 

Mahsa Masoudi, O.D., member of the AOA’s Education Center Committee, likens the New Practitioner Catalog to a “comfort blanket” for new grads to easily navigate things they might not have prepared for. 

“It walks through tricky ethical dilemmas, business smarts, and cognizant social and work-life balance scenarios,” Dr. Masoudi says. “I highly recommend my externs take that time in their final rotation before graduation, when boards are behind them, to go through it. Segueing the didactics they grew all too comfortable with into exploring the New Practitioner Catalog, they’ll put on their soon-to-be-autonomous ‘doctor hats’ to prepare for their future clinical careers with a new perspective.” 

Dr. Morgan also recommends the New Practitioner Catalog to new optometry school graduates, because, he says, it offers a focused and comprehensive approach to continuing education, which is crucial during the transition from academic learning to real-world practice.  

“It helps bridge the gap by providing relevant content, structured learning, professional development, networking opportunities and, lastly, convenience and accessibility,” Dr. Morgan says. “Overall, it’s an invaluable resource that supports continuous growth and helps set the stage for a successful career in optometry.”