Essential Lessons from Optometry Mentors Not Covered in Optometry School

Optometry is a collaborative industry, and with that in mind, AOAExcel asked experienced doctors of optometry to share stories about the mentors who have influenced them throughout their careers and explain why mentorship is so valuable.

Dr. Breanne McGhee of Louisiana listed Dr. Chris Wroten as a key influence in her optometry career. “I saw the work Dr. Wroten was doing with AOA advocacy and the scope expansion legislation, and it taught me to appreciate and know my own worth as a doctor of optometry,” she said. “I decided to do a residency with Dr. Wroten. I drove over an hour every day because I wanted to get that knowledge—it really helped me transition from a student mindset to a doctor mindset.”

Dr. Stephen Montaquila of Rhode Island remembers Dr. David W. Ferris, AOA President from 1986 to 1987, as a trusted leader and longtime mentor. “I knew Dr. Ferris from when I was a child, and as I became interested in optometry, he never wavered in supporting me with everything from deciding to apply to optometry school to volunteering at the state and national level,” said Dr. Montaquila. “He showed me what it takes to ensure that we keep all of the ground that those who came before us has gained for us as a profession and also to continue to grow as a profession to ensure that we are able to provide the best possible care for our patients.”

For Dr. Joe Sugg of Arkansas, optometry was a family affair. He chalks up his decision to pursue optometry to the influence of his uncle, Dr. Dean Gurley, and cousin, Dr. Jeannie Stone. He also named Dr. Patricia Westfall as an important mentor at the start of his practice career. “Dr. Westfall was the doctor who first hired me, and helped me as I started practicing,” Dr. Sugg said. “She later helped me get my start as a practice owner, too, when she sold the practice to me.”

Dr. Amy Puerto of Kentucky lists Dr. Betty Harville as one of her most influential mentors: “Dr. Harville was one of the first professors I had at the Southern College of Optometry, and she had a huge impact on my training.” Dr. Harville was recognized by the NAACP-Memphis Branch as the first black woman optometrist in Tennessee and the first black woman to achieve the full rank of Professor at any of the nation’s optometry schools. Dr. Puerto keeps a quote of Dr. Harville’s close at hand:

As optometrists, our goal is to make sure all of our patients receive the best care possible—and that’s not just eye care—that’s the best care possible out of all the services they need, and we need to make sure that those resources are available to patients.

This quote still resonates with Dr. Puerto, and it inspires the way she thinks about practicing optometry. “All of the doctors I have worked with have given me something that I take with me into practice,” she said. “It’s important to be willing to give back to the profession.”

Overall, whether you’re a student or an early-career doctor, seeking out a mentor can be a great way to build connections and develop your career. And if you’re an experienced doctor, think about the ways that you could serve as a mentor to those entering the field. Remember—optometry is a profession that works best when it works together.

For more stories and advice from doctors of optometry, visit the AOAExcel Career Center. In addition to informative resource updates, the Career Center hosts an optometry-exclusive job board that makes searching for the right opportunities simple.