Photos courtesy of IDOC
Structured peer engagement, expert guidance and hands-on workshops that move ideas from planning to practice growth
April 22, 2026
Independent optometric practice owners don’t lack ideas. What they lack is the time, structure and support to turn those ideas into action.
That’s where IDOC becomes a partner in execution.
IDOC is built to make independent ownership easier—not by simply connecting doctors, but by creating a system that helps them move forward with clarity and confidence. Through structured peer engagement, expert guidance and intentionally designed experiences, IDOC turns conversation into real business progress.
This is not passive networking. It’s an active framework designed to help independent owners prioritize what matters, make better decisions and implement change in their practices.
VISION FORWARD–REGIONAL WORKSHOPS AND BUSINESS PLANNING
Vision Forward workshops are IDOC’s key regional events, expanding across the U.S. and continuing to build strong momentum. Designed as highly curated, hands-on experiences, they give practice owners dedicated time to learn, plan and take meaningful action, equipping them with the tools and clarity needed to move their practices to the next level.
Content is refreshed each year to reflect current business needs, yet it remains grounded in core pillars: financial planning, marketing strategy and operational management. This ensures both consistency and easier application into the office.
Arthur Reginald Dampier, OD, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, recently attended a Vision Forward event. “My most valuable takeaway was to actually take time for myself and for planning yearly,” he says. “I need to use my metrics to create the practice that I desire. It is all in my hands!” Practices leave with defined plans and next steps they can implement, not just ideas to revisit later.
CONNECTED CONVERSATIONS AND LOCAL STUDY GROUPS (PEER-TO-PEER IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL)
Finding the motivation to take action often begins within conversations with colleagues. Thomas Moore, OD, of South Charleston, West Virginia, finds great value in the conversations, particularly in his local IDOC study group. “The intimate setting allows for meaningful conversations with my colleagues that are not always possible at other meetings and conferences. The scheduled topics are always relevant to the issues we face in private practice, and the flexibility to address additional topics as needed ensures that our discussions remain timely,” he says.
The practical, relevant discussions prompt him to take action. “I regularly leave these meetings with practical ideas that I implement in the office the next day,” Dr. Moore adds. He invites his associate OD and the management staff so they can hear about new ideas first-hand, and the team returns to the office on the same page.
IDOC also facilitates ongoing virtual roundtables, “Connected Conversations,” where ODs and staff come together around specific topics like staffing, training, operations and growth. With a focused and defined challenge, participants walk away with practical ideas they can bring back and test immediately.
These shared experiences help create clarity, as doctors and managers identify what’s worth acting on before investing time or resources elsewhere. It helps them be confident to move forward with each change.
THE CONNECTION–A NATIONAL EVENT WITH STRUCTURED PEER EXCHANGE
That clarity deepens at The Connection, where engagement becomes more intentional.
Alongside education and team training, peer roundtables are thoughtfully structured across practice type, geographic mix and role. More casual conversations move into more applicable, real-world discussion.
Kerry Giedd, OD, of Eola Eyes in Orlando, Florida, says that The Connection meeting is a highlight of her year. “Professionally, it’s a chance for me to connect with colleagues who really align with my goals in practice, who share the challenges and pitfalls and pains of practice ownership. I always walk away with a renewed energy and passion for independent eye care and a renewed commitment to that.”
Dr. Giedd attends The Connection each year with a list of what she hopes to learn and improve. Yet there’s always an element of the unexpected that also makes a lasting impact. “I walk away with things that I didn’t even know I needed to learn, but learned along the way.”
As doctors and staff gain exposure to new ideas, they can connect peer insight with expert guidance to better understand what will work within their own business. It’s empowering to connect with other optometric professionals who share a passion for improving their businesses.
READY TO MOVE FROM ENGAGEMENT TO EXECUTION
As a business owner, you are intentional in the choices you make. IDOC is just as intentional in how it supports those decisions.
“Independent eye care is amazing, but sometimes it can feel like you’re on an island,” says Juawana Hall, OD, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “It’s helpful to hear from others who struggle with the same challenges you face ‘in the trenches.’ The collaboration is so powerful.”
That collaboration is not a passive benefit, it’s part of a larger system designed to help independent practices move forward with clarity and confidence.
And that system continues to expand.
Recently, IDOC has extended this same intentional approach beyond community and planning into operational support, including the continued evolution of the IDOC Labs network. Because insight alone isn’t enough—practices need the infrastructure to act on it.
IDOC is building both.
The IDOC community is not just a place to connect. It’s a system designed to support better decisions, stronger execution and long-term growth for independent practices.
This article is sponsored by IDOC
Learn how IDOC is expanding its lab network while still keeping a personal approach here.
Read more on how IDOC makes an impact in its members’ practices here.
