Updates in Neuro-Ophthalmology and Reflections on Mentorship in Medicine

Vision Through Music

What if the key to unlocking a blind child's potential isn't found in a clinic — but in a music lesson? In this episode, Dr. Lisa Nijm sits down with Dr. Bradley Black, retired pediatric ophthalmologist and founder of Vision Through Music — a program of the Children's Eye Foundation of AAPOS in partnership with the Academy of Music for the Blind — to explore the remarkable neuroscience behind early blindness and music. Dr. Black explains why blind children have a significantly higher prevalence of perfect pitch than even virtuoso musicians, how the visual cortex is literally recruited for musical processing in the blind brain, and why the shift away from schools for the blind has left many families without access to the music education their children desperately need. He also walks through how ophthalmologists can reframe difficult visual diagnoses by introducing music as a path forward — and how Vision Through Music connects families with trained teachers, financial grants, and free resources at visionthroughmusic.org. Whether you're delivering a hard diagnosis or looking for ways to better support your patients, this episode will change how you think about blindness, the brain, and the power of music. 🎵 Visit visionthroughmusic.org to refer patients, find a teacher, or get involved. 📩 Questions? Contact@visionthroughmusic.org

Stop Asking Insurance for Permission: The Refractive Mindset

What if every cataract patient is actually a refractive patient? And why are we letting insurance companies decide how patients get to see? Dr. Greg Parkhurst — cataract and refractive surgeon, founder of Parkhurst NuVision in San Antonio, and Army veteran — joins Dr. Lisa Nijm and co-host Dr. Grayson Armstrong to challenge how ophthalmologists think and talk about refractive surgery. He makes the case that the most common refractive procedure today is cataract surgery, walks through exactly how his practice scripts the premium IOL conversation (including the "magic words" that eliminate sticker shock), and explains why patients — not insurance companies — should decide how they want to see. Plus, learn how his high-volume fellowship gives trainees 5–10 years of surgical experience in one year, how to get started in clinical research at any career stage, and the mission behind the Visual Freedom Foundation.

No Private Equity Required: Building a Practice that Lasts

Dr. Lisa Nijm is joined by Dr. Blake Williamson for a candid conversation on building a thriving ophthalmology practice without losing your independence, identity, or joy. They discuss private practice ownership, refractive surgery, thinking beyond compensation, bringing value to a practice, refractive touch-ups, IOL explants, work-life harmony, ergonomics, surgical longevity, and building a career that lasts.

Move Where You Excel

Join us as we chat with Dr. Ashley Brissette on her involvement in unique career ventures beyond the ophthalmology OR and clinic spaces! She shares wisdom on career decision-making and making time for passions outside of medicine.

Updates in Neuro-Ophthalmology and Reflections on Mentorship in Medicine

Welcome to Season 4! We are so excited to kick off this season with Dr. Andrew Lee and discuss the integration of AI, the invaluable role of mentorship, and much more. P.S. Check out Ethan Jung's music (highlighted in the intro and outro)! https://open.spotify.com/artist/76WVZmJYhZLU2F4RUdT0Bs?si=bnAaWGOASrWwCWsC00-OIg&nd=1&dlsi=24583dc6a3b046fb [https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fartist%2F76WVZmJYhZLU2F4RUdT0Bs%3Fsi%3DbnAaWGOASrWwCWsC00-OIg%26nd%3D1%26dlsi%3D24583dc6a3b046fb&data=05%7C02%7Cjulia.c.moore%40cuanschutz.edu%7C580269b9fb9e4ba8217a08de5ae84c34%7C563337caa517421aaae01aa5b414fd7f%7C0%7C0%7C639048152115685803%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PBWzyz4%2BpRe8Bfm1CkhhMP78Q0BO4wwydnU42Ql4BQM%3D&reserved=0] Spotify https://music.apple.com/us/artist/es-j/1787224284 [https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmusic.apple.com%2Fus%2Fartist%2Fes-j%2F1787224284&data=05%7C02%7Cjulia.c.moore%40cuanschutz.edu%7C580269b9fb9e4ba8217a08de5ae84c34%7C563337caa517421aaae01aa5b414fd7f%7C0%7C0%7C639048152115727150%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C80000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Dzm73au%2FJUc3HRy0ckVAqsBOBplBxjDy4xhGJoMMCiQ%3D&reserved=0] Apple Music