Ophthalmology off the Grid by Eyetube
Open. Outspoken. It's Ophthalmology off the Grid - an honest look at controversial topics in the field.
Episodes
Inside Residency Training at the Moran Eye Center
In this episode of Ophthalmology Off the Grid, hosts Blake K. Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, continue their residency-focused season with Rachel G. Simpson, MD, and Ayesha Patil, MD, MPH, of the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. They discuss what medical students should know about applying to ophthalmology, the importance of mentorship and culture during training, how residents
How to Succeed in Ophthalmology Residency
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, return for a new season of Ophthalmology off the Grid! This season, the hosts dive into the basics of training and education at the most prestigious programs in ophthalmology across the United States. In this episode, they invite Pavlina Kemp, MD, residency program director at the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and
Improve Refractive Planning and Decision-Making With Clinical Tools
In this episode, Gary Wörtz, MD, invites Damien Gatinel, MD, PhD, to share insights into online ophthalmic simulators and tools to help surgeons improve refractive planning. They explore tools for corneal ablation depth predictions, IOL rotation optimization, and more. Dr. Gatinel explains how these simulations can be applied to real-world patient counseling and help ophthalmologists understand wh
Advantages and Outcomes of Epithelium-On Crosslinking
In this episode, hosts Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, invite Kenneth Beckman, MD, to discuss the recent FDA approval of Epioxa (Glaukos), an advancement in corneal crosslinking for the treatment of keratoconus that does not require the removal of the corneal epithelium. Dr. Beckman shares insights into the benefits and outcomes of this procedure and details from clinical trials.
A Conversation on Lens Selection and AI in Ophthalmology
In this episode, Joaquin De Rojas, MD, and Priya Mathews, MD, MPH, join hosts Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to discuss how the Tecnis Odyssey IOL differs from previous presbyopia-correcting lenses and how they approach lens selection for their patients. Dr. De Rojas also shares his experience with coding and the use of AI in his practice for digesting significant amounts of data t
A New Era of Presbyopia Drop Therapy
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, invites Steven Dell, MD, to discuss the recent release of a new presbyopia drop—VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution, 1.44%; Lenz Therapeutics). Dr. Dell outlines why this drop represents a game-changing option for presbyopia therapy. The once-daily drop lasts for 10 hours and results in a sub-2-mm pupil size to achieve significant gains in near vision. They also review
Ushering in the Future of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, sit down with Robert Weinstock, MD, to reflect on the field of ophthalmology and how to improve things for the next generation of physicians. They discuss pioneers in the field and how they shaped the cataract and refractive subspecialties into what they are today. Dr. Weinstock also shares perspectives into the fellowship match process and gives advi
Potential Implications and Benefits of Direct SLT Technology
Morgan Micheletti, MD, joins hosts Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to review the evolution of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and direct SLT (DSLT), highlighting Dr. Micheletti’s experience as an early adopter of DSLT. Dr. Micheletti shares how DSLT can increase efficiency, improve surgeon comfort with the procedure, and help guide patients in the interventional glaucoma treat
Breaking Down the enVista Voluntary Recall
Cathleen McCabe, MD, and Brent Saunders, chairman and CEO of Bausch + Lomb, join the podcast to break down details of the recent voluntary recall of enVista Aspire, enVista Envy, and certain enVista monofocal IOLs. Hosts Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, invite discussion on how the Bausch + Lomb team identified an issue, prioritized patient safety, and dove into the data to bring thi
The Highs and Lows of Turning an Idea Into a Business
John Berdahl, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share insights into the journey of turning an idea into a product. Dr. Berdahl highlights his experience with the research and development of pressure-equalizing goggles, a nonsurgical, nonpharmacological treatment to lower IOP by creating a small vacuum to relieve pressure on the optic nerve. He describes the positives and
Innovative Technologies to Revolutionize Practice
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, invite Inder Paul Singh, MD, to the podcast to discuss the technology and innovation he uses in his practice, focusing on laser floater removal. Dr. Singh reviews 1-Step vitreous removal technology (Vista Ophthalmics) for treating symptomatic floaters and how it has revolutionized his practice and provided great outcomes for his patients. He also revi
Managing the Learning Curve as an Early Adopter
William Wiley, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share his early experience with the VisuMax 800 (Carl Zeiss Meditec) for SMILE. The three surgeons also share experiences with other technologies and highlight the importance of embracing the learning curve to lead the way as an early adopter in ophthalmology.
The Current State of Multifocal and Trifocal IOL Technologies
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, invite William Plauché, MD, to review a presentation he recently delivered at the Caribbean Eye Meeting about his experience with PanOptix (Alcon), enVista Envy (Bausch + Lomb), and Tecnis Odyssey (Johnson & Johnson Vision) IOLs. The presentation compared similar amounts of patients and determined nuances between the three different kinds of lenses. D
The ICL Guru Project
This year, the theme of our podcast will feature discussions of foundational equipment and emerging technology in ophthalmology. In the first episode of 2025, Roger Zaldivar, MD, MBA, joins Gary Wörtz, MD, to discuss the ICL Guru project and how its complex algorithm integrates with ultrasound biomicroscopy platforms. Dr. Zaldivar shares his experience with ICL surgery, and how he leveraged that e
Managing the Disappointment of Poor Surgical Outcomes
Rounding out this season’s theme of ‘Surgical Horror Stories,’ Jeffrey Whitsett, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to discuss his approach to managing the disappointment of poor surgical outcomes. He also shares a case example in which he encountered a complication during combination MIGS and cataract surgery, which resulted in a significant vitreous hemorrhage.. Drs. Whitse
Keeping Calm During Quicksand Moments
Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, invite Nicole Fram, MD, to share a surgical horror story in which a patient experienced light arcs, starbursts, and halos after silicone IOL implantation. Dr. Fram describes her approach to IOL exchange using a Collamer lens with a larger optic to manage the positive dysphotopsias. She reviews the complications she encountered during the procedure, in
Cataract Surgery in a Severely Kyphotic Patient
For the Halloween episode of this season’s surgical horror stories, Cathleen McCabe, MD, joins Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, to share two uniquely challenging cases. In the first case, Dr. McCabe describes the time she performed cataract surgery on a kyphotic patient who was unable to lie on his back for the procedure. She explains her approach to positioning the patient and how s
Performing a Family Member’s Cataract Surgery
Sebastian Heersink, MD, joins to contribute to this season’s theme of surgical horror stories. He talks with Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, about his experience performing cataract surgery on his father and former guest of the podcast, Marnix Heersink, MD. Dr. Sebastian Heersink recounts how he managed the stress of operating on a family member, and how he approached a less-than-pe
Lensectomy Gone Awry
Arsham Sheybani, MD, joins the podcast to continue this season’s theme of surgical horror stories. He shares a case example with Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, in which he performed lensectomy in the eye of a 60-year-old woman who presented with angle-closure glaucoma and very high IOP. Following routine phacoemulsification, the anterior chamber began to shallow, eventually resulti
Expulsive Hemorrhage During Penetrating Keratoplasty
Continuing this season’s theme of surgical horror stories, Neda Shamie, MD, joins Gary Wörtz, MD, to share an experience from early in her career when she faced an unexpected complication. While performing penetrating keratoplasty on a well-known patient, Dr. Shamie encountered an expulsive hemorrhage. She highlights the value of mentorship in these situations and having a trusted colleague to hel
When Lightning Strikes Twice
William Trattler, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share a story in which a referring optometrist’s family member presented with dark brunescent cataracts in both eyes. He describes his initial approach and technique for managing these advanced cataracts, including the unexpected complication of a dropped lens and capsular bag tear in the first eye. Weeks after referring
Mitigating Potential Surgical Horror Stories
Paul Walton, MD, continues the discussion with Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, on approaches to anesthesia and nuances to manage potentially difficult patients during cataract and refractive surgery. Dr. Walton shares pearls to ensure a smooth day in the operating room, mitigating potential ophthalmology ‘horror stories.’
The Benefits of a “Boring” Day
Paul Walton, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share concepts to help cataract and refractive surgeons avoid horror stories in the OR. He says the goal should always be to have a “boring” day, emphasizing the importance of communication and understanding with patients. The surgeons also detail their approaches to anesthesia and how to best comfort patients before, during,
Management of Advanced Glaucoma
Nathan M. Radcliffe, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share his experiences managing complex patients with advanced-stage glaucoma. He shares a specific case of an 83-year-old man with a cataract and exfoliation glaucoma with an IOP of 56 mm Hg. Dr. Radcliffe walks through how he managed complications he encountered during the combined cataract and glaucoma surgery, incl
Learning From Challenging Situations During Surgery
John Doane, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share his experiences for this season’s theme of “Horror Stories” in cataract and refractive surgery. Dr. Doane reviews a few examples from his career in which he had to manage uniquely challenging situations and discusses what he learned from them. Listen to gain insights into his experiences using early surgical technology a
Horror Stories: Complicated Ophthalmic Cases
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, kick off the latest season of Ophthalmology off the Grid. This season focuses on the subject of ‘Horror Stories,’ where surgeons will highlight their toughest, most complicated surgical cases and how they managed them. In this episode, Drs. Williamson and Wörtz start the discussion by sharing their own uniquely challenging cases. Learn how Dr. William
Maintaining Company Culture During Expansion
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, invite Matt Jensen to round out the year of episodes dedicated to building a business and brand in ophthalmology. Jensen shares insights he gained early in his marketing career, highlighting how he adapted to variabilities in different markets and learned to grow the business at home. The trio also discusses the value of having strong, trusted partner
Overcoming Challenges When Switching Practices
Cathleen McCabe, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to discuss the challenges of moving across the country from an existing practice and referral network and starting in a new state. She shares insights into the dynamics of changing ownership and having a clear outline for the type of practice to join. Drs. McCabe, Williamson, and Wörtz further discuss the pros and cons of di
Successful Practices Adapt to Change
Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, joins this episode to speak with Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, about his experience building his practice and working with industry. He shares insights into how he grew from a small private practice by constantly adapting to a dynamic specialty. Dr. Donnenfeld stresses the value of resisting stagnation, and he explains why it is crucial to incorporate new t
Navigating Business Decisions in Ophthalmology
Tom Tooma, MD, founder, owner, and medical director for NVISION, joins Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, to continue this season’s topic of building a business and brand in ophthalmology. Dr. Tooma shares insights into his early days of building his refractive surgery practice, touching on the risks taken and lessons learned over the years. He further shares advice for surgeons to nav
Business in Ophthalmology, Philanthropy, and More
Marnix Heersink, MD, joins Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and shares his experiences and philosophy behind building his business in ophthalmology, philanthropy, and more. Dr. Heersink breaks down his career path, from his first practice to his growth in business ventures beyond medicine. He shares advice for young physicians just getting started in practice, and comments on his out
Keys to Successful Growth in Ophthalmology
Joseph Gira, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, to share his experience with building and growing a business in ophthalmology. He outlines his career history, commenting on his skills for working and collaborating with other doctors and the benefits of working with optometry as a backbone for success. Dr. Gira also describes his experience working in private equity, sharing p
Successful Strategies for Practice Expansion
Farrell “Toby” Tyson, MD, FACS, joins the podcast to speak with Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, about the lessons he has learned from expanding his practice. Dr. Tyson shares critical elements to success in expansion, including the value of location visibility, the pros and cons of having an optical shop, and strategies to manage cash flow, drive more revenue, and attract top talent
Practical Tools for Building Your Brand on Social Media
In the next installment of how to build a business in ophthalmology, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, speak with Rupa Wong, MD, about her experience building her personal brand and business through social media. Dr. Wong shares insights into evaluating how to invest in one’s social media marketing efforts and gives advice for creating engaging, authentic content that resonates with a
Defining Business Success
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, continue this season’s theme of how to grow a business and welcome Brent Saunders, chairman and CEO of Bausch + Lomb, to discuss his experiences in ophthalmology. Mr. Saunders touches on how he defines business success, emphasizing the value of having a great mentor and encouraging young ophthalmologists not to shy away from taking risks.
Discussion of Practice Leadership Philosophy From the YMDC Live Meeting
In this special live episode, recorded during the YoungMD Connect Live meeting in Austin, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, sit down with Shannon Wong, MD, to discuss his leadership philosophy and how he models his practice. Dr. Wong describes challenges he has faced regarding his practice and explains how he overcame them, citing how to learn from mistakes and grow the business by bu
Discover Opportunities for Business Growth
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, invite friend and mentor James Loden, MD, to the podcast to discuss his experience building his practice and brand. Dr. Loden shares insights for young surgeons by explaining the best decisions to grow his business and potential pitfalls to avoid. The three physicians further discuss how to discover opportunities for expanding a business and determini
Building Your Brand in Ophthalmology
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, begins the first episode of the 2023 season of Ophthalmology off the Grid by bringing back the podfather himself—Gary Wörtz, MD—as co-host. The theme for the 2023 season examines the business side of ophthalmology. Drs. Williamson and Wörtz share insights as practice owners and discuss the key questions one should address when building a brand.
Ownership Positions in ASCs
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, is joined by Jorawer Singh, MD; Jeffrey Whitman, MD; William Rabourn; and John Blanck to further discuss the intricacies of owning an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). In this episode, Dr. Whitman shares his experience as an ophthalmologist who has found success with an ASC and selling shares to younger partners. Dr. Singh addresses several challenges young ophthalmologis
Survive & Thrive: Making Smart Choices With Debt and Investments
In this special collaboration of YoungMD Connect and Survive & Thrive, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, invited Caroline Watson, MD; Rupa Wong, MD; and financial advisor Victoria Consoles, CFP, EA, to share insights into how to make smart choices with debt and investments in three different career scenarios. Don’t miss the information shared during this workshop and learn answers to real-world questions
The Roadmap to Building Your ASC
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, continues the topic from a previous episode about ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). In this episode, Taylor Strange, DO, discusses his career journey from starting a new practice, increasing surgical volume, and eventually building an ASC as a long-term business strategy. Stephen Sheppard, from Medical Consulting Group, shares insights into the most appropriate road map
Survive & Thrive: Academia Versus Private Practice
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, sits down with Priyanka Sood, MD; Sahar Bedrood, MD, PhD; Cristos Ifantides, MD; and Brent Kramer, MD, to compare the differences between private practice and an academic setting. Dr. Sood shares her career experience working in both settings and explains why she found academia to be a better fit. Dr. Bedrood discusses how her personal goals more closely aligned with pri
Survive & Thrive: To Fellowship or Not to Fellowship?
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, hosts a new installment of Survive & Thrive with guests Arjan Hura, MD; Usiwoma Abugo, MD; and David Felsted, DO. The panel addresses a key question for surgeons in training and early years of residency: Should you pursue a fellowship? Listen as Drs. Hura, Abugo, and Felsted share their experiences and discuss how they arrived at their decisions based on individual passi
Defining a Path to ASC Ownership
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and cohost Michael Patterson, DO, invite Andrew Maller, MBA, COE, from BSM Consulting, to discuss critical information for young surgeons about the potential to buy into an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). The trio shares insights into the value of being business-minded to maintain a successful practice and address common questions to determine opportunities to find a pa
Survive & Thrive: Approaching the Match
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, hosts another installment of Survive & Thrive with guests Brenton Finklea, MD; Rahul Tonk, MD; Camila Albo, MD; and Mike Zein, MD, to share advice for ophthalmology resident applicants as the match approaches. Drs. Albo and Zein share advice as PGY-1 ophthalmology residents who have recently gone through the match process, commenting on what to look for when researching
Are You Working to Live or Living to Work?
Cohosts Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Darrell E. White, MD, invite guest Karl G. Stonecipher, MD, to the podcast to discuss the relationship between his work in ophthalmology and his personal life. The trio of surgeons discusses how to incorporate personal activities into a busy professional schedule and the importance of taking time to focus on family and friends.
Survive & Thrive: Research in Private Practice
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, hosts another installment of Survive & Thrive with guests John P. Berdahl, MD, and Robert J. Weinstock, MD, to discuss the topic of clinical research in private practice. Drs. Berdahl and Weinstock share pearls and insights for those who have a research interest but are unsure how to get started outside of academia. Listen to learn more about the types of research one ca
Ever-Changing Perspectives in Ophthalmology
Darrell E. White, MD, joins Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, as cohost for this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid. They invite Maria C. Scott, MD, and Lisa K. Feulner, MD, PhD, to share unique experiences with their career paths in ophthalmology. The panel discussion touches on how each surgeon balances personal and professional goals and how their individual goals have evolved over the course of th
Ophthalmology in a War Zone
This special episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid was screened during the 2022 MillennialEYE Live meeting in Austin, Texas. Andriy Kovalov, MD, PhD, joined Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, from Kyiv, Ukraine, and discussed how he and his family have supported the civil defense efforts of his home country. Dr. Kovalov, with a 40-year established career in ophthalmology, explains how the Russian invasion
The Case for Going Private
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Darrell E. White, MD, welcome guest Preeya K. Gupta, MD, to discuss the benefits and challenges of running a private practice. Dr. Gupta, who recently became a private practitioner, discusses her decision to leave academia, why she decided to take a leap of faith and bet on herself, and the importance of setting expectations when first starting out in private practic
Getting Started With the EVO Visian ICL
Hosts Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, invite Erik L. Mertens, MD, FEBOphth, and Gregory D. Parkhurst, MD, FACS, to share their experiences with the recently FDA-approved EVO Visian ICL (STAAR Surgical). The surgeons discuss the excitement surrounding this technology, and Drs. Mertens and Parkhurst provide insights into the ideal patient candidates for this procedure and how ophthalm
Ophthalmology Down Under
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Gary Wörtz, MD, welcome Ben LaHood, MD, MBChB(dist), PGDipOphth(dist), FRANZCO, to learn his perspectives on the similarities and differences in ophthalmology from his side of the world in Adelaide, Australia. Dr. LaHood shares his path from medical student in New Zealand to his current position as an ophthalmic surgeon, his passion for achieving optimum outcomes in
Challenging the Old Adage in Ophthalmology
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, welcomes Gary Wörtz, MD, and Keith Walter, MD, to discuss and challenge some of the dogmas commonly faced in everyday practice. The trio reconsiders some of the traditional methods and timetables used within their practices to avoid stretching themselves too thin in the clinic and to push the ophthalmic practice forward.
Death, Taxes, and Presbyopia
Presbyopia is inevitable for all patients, but with new products hitting the market and coming down the pipeline, it is becoming increasingly easier to manage. Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and his cohost, Neda Nikpoor, MD, welcome Karl G. Stonecipher, MD, for an in-depth discussion about how they currently treat presbyopia and how they expect the management of this condition to evolve as new mechani
Refractive Answers Lie in the Genes
In certain clinical cases, there is a blurred line regarding the proper direction to take when diagnosing and treating patients with refractive errors. Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Neda Nikpoor, MD, welcome William B. Trattler, MD, to the podcast for a deep dive on keratoconus and a discussion on how the AvaGen Genetic Eye Test (Avellino) can provide a clearer path to meet refractive goals.
Assessing the Evolution of Refractive Surgery
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and his co-host, Neda Nikpoor, MD, welcome Guy Kezirian, MD, MBA, FACS, to the podcast for an open look at the evolution of modern refractive surgery. The trio discuss the factors that led to the globalization and modernization of refractive surgery, the roles of organizations like ASCRS in this evolution, and much more.
Survive & Thrive: Achieving Financial Freedom
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, is joined by Shehzad Batliwala, DO; Leti Alto MD; Kenji Asakura, MD; and Dixon Davis to discuss financial freedom for physicians. The panelists explain how to utilize investment properties to create passive cashflow, the steps to achieving financial freedom, and how extra income can change the way physicians practice.
Ophthalmology in the UK’s NHS
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Tal Raviv, MD, welcome Allon Barsam for this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid. Allon Barsam is the director and founding partner of OCL vision—a bespoke private ophthalmic surgery practice in London—and joins the show to share what it’s like to operate a private practice within the UK’s National Health Service. The trio also discusses practice growth strategies,
Designing Your Own IOL Formulas
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Tal Raviv, MD, are joined by Graham Barrett, MD—a world-renowned ophthalmologist and professor from Australia—to discuss his autonomous set of IOL formulas, the Barrett Suite, and his process for designing his own IOL.
Establishing Your Private Practice
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and his new co-host, Tal Raviv, MD, welcome Jennifer Loh, MD, to another episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid for a discussion on the challenges faced when opening a private practice. Dr. Loh walks through the process of opening her practice in Miami, some of the common challenges faced when opening your own practice, as well as the changing landscape for women in ophth
Survive & Thrive: Balancing Personal and Professional Responsibilities
Blake Williamson, MD, hosts a panel of fellow ophthalmologists, including Shani Esparaz, MD; Allison Early, MD; David Felsted, MD; and Gary Wortz, MD, on the keys to a balanced life outside the clinic. They discuss a wide range of topics, including the importance of hobbies, finding time for family, managing maternity leave, and more.
Finding a Niche With LASIK
Andy Corley and Blake Williamson, MD, welcome Louis Probst, MD—a renowned, board-certified LASIK surgeon—for this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid. They discuss Dr. Probst’s decision to ditch cataract surgery and exclusively perform LASIK, how he manages unhappy patients, and his choice to step away from the podium.
Survive & Thrive: Private Practice vs. Academia
Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, welcomes a panel of ophthalmologists with diverse professional backgrounds to try and tackle a common question for those looking for jobs after finishing their residencies and fellowships: private practice or academia? The panelists discuss the driving forces behind the professional direction they chose, compare the day-to-day and longer-term aspects of their jobs, weigh
The Pioneers of Phaco
In this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Andy Corley welcome two pioneers of phaco—Chuck Williamson, MD, and Jim Little, MD. The quartet discusses the origins of phaco in cataract surgery, the subsequent learning curve within the OR, and how those initial cornerstones compare to today's usage.
Survive & Thrive: Sharpen Your Surgical Skills
In this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid: Survive & Thrive, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, welcomes Nandini Venkateswaran, MD, Nicole Fram, MD, and Arsham Sheybani, MD, to discuss the best practices for gaining and sharpening surgical skills. The group chats about visualization, adding MIGS techniques to your repertoire, and the benefits that come from visiting other surgeons in the OR.
Technology's Role in Individualized Medicine
In this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, and Andy Corley are joined by Eric Topol, MD, to discuss the changes technology brings to health care. Together, they share their thoughts on how doctors can synonymously embrace technological advancements and provide a more empathetic approach with patients.
Survive and Thrive: Maximize Your Practice With Social Media
In this episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid: Survive and Thrive, Dr. Blake Williamson is joined by Nick Sideris, Dr. Valentina Lozano, and Dr. Luke Rebenitsch to discuss their experiences using social media. They touch on social media’s networking benefits, how they’ve used it to grow their practices, different methods for different platforms, and how to optimize algorithms for visibility.
Myth Busting
In the latest episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid, Ashley Brissette, MD, MSc, FRCSC, is joined by Ruth Williams, MD, to dispel some of the most common myths in ophthalmology. The pair break down cannabis as glaucoma treatment, blue light filtering glasses, the efficacy of laser vision correction, and how to gracefully dismiss misinformation to patients.
Coping Through Comedy
In this episode, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, is joined by cohost Ashley Brissette, MD, MSc, FRCSC, and guest Will Flanary, MD—famously known as Dr. Glaucomflecken on Twitter and TikTok—to discuss the value of being a physician with a sense of humor. They discuss how humanity can break down barriers between physicians and patients, and the fine line between humor and professionalism.
New Options in IOLs
In this episode, Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, is joined by cohost Ashley Brissette, MD, MSc, FRCSC, to discuss the IOLs that have recently become available in the United States. Francesco Carones, MD, joins the conversation to lend his insight into these latest technologies.
Survive & Thrive: Journey to Residency
In this episode of the Survive & Thrive series, Gary Wörtz, MD, is joined by Cherie Fathy, MD, and David Felsted, DO, and special guest Bilal Ahmed, BS, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Toledo School of Medicine. They each share their experiences applying for ophthalmology residency, and Bilal tells his story about finding ophthalmology and creating his podcast, Honestly Bilal, w
Survive & Thrive: The Job Hunt
In this episode of the Survive & Thrive series, Gary Wörtz, MD, is joined by Nandini Venkateswaran, MD; Dagny Zhu, MD; Cherie Fathy, MD; and David Felsted, DO, to talk about the one challenge that every young doctor inevitably faces: the job hunt. They discuss what to consider when choosing a job, how to handle contract negotiations, and navigating all of the anxieties that go along with this comp
Reflections on Gratitude
In this special Thanksgiving episode of Ophthalmology Off the Grid, host Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, invites his colleagues to join him in expressing their gratitude. Hear from Dr. Williamson; Richard L. Lindstrom, MD; Evan Schoenberg, MD; Iqbal Ike K. Ahmed, MD, FRCSC; and Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD, on what has them feeling thankful in these particularly challenging times.
Survive & Thrive: Private Practice vs Academia
In this episode of the Survive & Thrive series, Gary Wörtz, MD, is joined by Nandini Venkateswaran, MD; Dagny Zhu, MD; and guest Preeya Gupta, MD, to talk about one of the big decisions faced by young ophthalmologists: private practice or academia? They weigh the pros and cons of each career path and share their own experiences in navigating this choice.
Survive & Thrive: The First Solo Surgery
In this podcast of the Survive & Thrive series, Gary Wörtz, MD, is joined by Cherie Fathy, MD; Nandini Venkateswaran, MD; David Felsted, DO; Dagny Zhu, MD; and guest Uday Devgan, MD, FACS, to talk about performing surgery alone for the first time. Drs. Venkateswaran and Felsted share their recent experiences as first-time solo surgeons, and the others weigh in with advice for the early days of ope
A Dedicated Pioneer
Cohosts Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, invite cornea specialist Ed Holland, MD, of the Cincinnati Eye Institute to discuss his career-long passion for treating patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. Dr. Holland shares how this passion led to the development of his Cincinnati Protocol and the creation of the Holland Foundation for Sight Restoration.
Survive & Thrive: Equality in Ophthalmology
In this webcast of the Survive & Thrive series, moderators Gary Wörtz, MD, and Lisa Nijm, MD, JD, are joined by Cherie Fathy, MD; Nandini Venkateswaran, MD; David Felsted, DO; and Ashley Brissette, MD, MSc, FRCSC, for a conversation about gender equality in ophthalmology. They touch on the barriers faced by women in ophthalmology, the importance of representation across subspecialties, and how to
Comedic Relief From Dr. G
In this episode, cohosts Gary Wörtz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, are joined by ophthalmology’s favorite comedian, Dr. Glaucomflecken. Dr. G talks about how comedy started as his creative outlet and led to him becoming the comedic voice of medicine on Twitter. He also shares how he has used humor to help him cope with personal adversity.
Survive & Thrive: Networking Like a Pro
In this episode, host Gary Wörtz, MD, is joined by Cherie Fathy, MD, and Nandini Venkateswaran, MD, along with special guest Bill Trattler, MD, for a discussion about how to network in a way that is enjoyable and leads to genuine and lasting relationships.
COVID-19: Finding Opportunity in Crisis
Hosts Gary Wortz, MD, and Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, check in with Neda Shamie, MD, and Daniel Durrie, MD, to hear about practice changes they have implemented in light of COVID-19.
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Cult of Conspiracy
Dispatches from Reality
The Conspiracy Files
TechnoSnobCast
The Young and Called Podcast .
Snoop Dogg - Flash Biográfico
Deadline: White House
Thrilling Threads - Conspiracy Theories, Strange Phenomena, True Crime, Unsolved Mysteries, etc!
The Daily Conspiracy Podcast
