Welcome to Tiny House Tales, a podcast about the experiences of people who have joined the tiny house movement. Join your hosts Zack Giffin and John Weisbarth, known from the popular show "Tiny House Nation," as they give listeners a behind the scenes glimpse into the absolute joys and inherent challenges of living tiny. Together they seek to unlock the successful strategies for minimalist living and learn more about how tiny living has made a big impact on people's lives while being enterta ...
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Sandbox Stories are delivered to the eye care industry by Dr. Scott Jens, whose career as a Doctor of Optometry, then Software Founder/CEO, has led him to create "The Sandbox" - a playful, thoughtful executive business coaching service. Through Sandbox Stories, Dr. Jens aims to give anyone involved in eye care a provocative, insightful review of perspectives of, and people in, the industry.
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Dori Carlson
54:41
54:41
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Dr. Dori Carlson’s accomplishments in Optometry are stupendous, including a decade-plus of service to the American Optometric Association which culminated with her serving as the first female President of the AOA. Dr. Carlson has leveraged the values of her early days along with a commitment to continual personal and professional improvement to bec…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Steven Lee
1:11:59
1:11:59
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Dr. Steven Lee grew up in Toronto, studied at the University of Waterloo, and attended the Illinois College of Optometry. A self-described “nerdy gadget guy,” he quickly became interested in disruptive technology that might support patients. He co-founded the company, Opternative, that eventually became quite controversial for its direct-to-patient…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Linda Casser
1:01:34
1:01:34
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Dr. Linda Casser has had a career of service — to three Colleges of Optometry, the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, and the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. Her career concluded with being granted Professor Emerita status in August 2022 from Salus Univ…
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Surfboard design and tiny houses with Dan Mann
54:18
54:18
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In this episode, John and Zack sit down with Dan Mann to talk about the creative process and the similarities between shaping surfboards for Kelly Slater and designing highly functional tiny houses. We'll hear about Dan's own tiny house in Costa Rica and what traveling the world with his family taught him about minimalism. Follow Zack: https://www.…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Alan Glazier
56:07
56:07
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A 1993 graduate of NECO, Dr. Alan Glazier has spent a career in Optometry as an entrepreneur. He worked in his dad’s practice in his early days along with many other roles that found him starting businesses. He learned business insights along the way, and credits his height for his accomplishments. He self-taught to become a marketing expert, which…
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Incredible Tiny Homes with the Incredible Randy Jones
1:16:34
1:16:34
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Sit down and strap in, on this episode of Tiny House Tales John and Zack talk to the dynamic and energetic Randy Jones of Incredible Tiny Homes. We'll hear Randy's inspirational story of drive and determination that ultimately lead to a tiny home construction business that employs more than 100 people today. This is a can't miss episode! Follow Zac…
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Think "Outside" the box by getting in one with Will Johnston
50:45
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In this episode, John and Zack sit down with Will Johnston, the executive director of the Microlife Institute, and hear how a three month wine bender in New Zealand and the "Freedom of Nothing" lead to the development of the most diverse square mile in America...The Cottages on Vaughn in Clarkston, GA. Follow Zack: https://www.instagram.com/zackgif…
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Bringing Veterans and Wolf-Dogs together with Drew Robertson
53:08
53:08
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What do Tiny Houses, Wolf Dogs and Veterans all have in common...Drew Robertson! In this episode John and Zack chat with Drew about his inspiration for starting "Mattersville", a non-profit that serves our military veterans, and the unique program that brings wolf-dogs and veterans together in a novel program to promote what Drew calls "Pack Healin…
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Sandbox Stories - Interview of Ed Buffington
45:59
45:59
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Raised on a rural farm in Maryland, Ed Buffington learned the lessons of hard work. These lessons translated into a tremendous career in the eye care industry, where he was the founder of OfficeMate software and today serves as CEO of GPN Technologies, the company that brings the EDGEPro data dashboard to eye care professionals. In March 2024, he w…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Ann Hoscheit
55:32
55:32
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Dr. Ann Hoscheit is owner of EyeBridge Consulting Associates, after a long career in which she built two separate iconic eye care practices. She’s a graduate of the University of Houston College of Optometry. Dr. Hoscheit has been a trailblazer in women’s leadership in Optometry. She finds true joy and prosperity in Optometry, and through these man…
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Sandbox Stories - Interview of Dr. Rick Weisbarth
57:33
57:33
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An Ohio guy who thought he would remain there forever, Dr. Rick Weisbarth became an internationally respected Doctor of Optometry who supported the profession through his role in professional relations for Alcon Laboratories (and formerly CIBA VISION) as well as a lecturer on a variety of contact lens topics. He graduated from The Ohio State Univer…
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In this episode, John and Zack sit down with legendary Tiny Home builder, Jay Shafeer, who is also known as the "Godfather of Tiny Homes." Jay opens up about his philosophy and discusses the complexities of Tiny House codes that greatly impact the community at large. Follow Zack: https://www.instagram.com/zackgiffin/ Follow John: https://www.instag…
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In this episode, John and Zack sit down with adventurer, writer, and podcaster, Fitz Cahall. They discuss the culture of being a "Dirt Bag," a life of adventure, and the impact of living tiny as a concept. Follow Zack: https://www.instagram.com/zackgiffin/ Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/johnkweisbarth/…
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Sandbox Stories Perspective - Building a Life Well-Lived
5:20
5:20
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Scott shares four pearls to building and enjoying a life well-lived, which is aspirational and to which we will be judged by others some day in the futureBy sandboxstories
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In this episode, John and Zack sit down with veteran Alan Peak to discuss starting over in society, mental health, and how living tiny gives Alan freedom. Follow Zack: https://www.instagram.com/zackgiffin/ Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/johnkweisbarth/By Zack Giffin & John Weisbarth
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Learning HOW to Go Tiny with Lindsay Wood - The Tiny Home Lady
44:20
44:20
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In this episode, Zack and John sit down with Lindsay Wood, who is known as the Tiny Home Lady. She has built a business as being a Tiny Consultant and discusses her first tine going Tiny and what she has learned along the way. Follow Zack: https://www.instagram.com/zackgiffin/ Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/johnkweisbarth/…
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Blast From The Tiny Past with Jeremy Weaver
50:41
50:41
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In this episode John and Zack sit down with Tiny House alum Jeremy Weaver to discuss building on the show, living in a tiny house with his family, and their adventures in the tiny culture. Follow Zack: https://www.instagram.com/zackgiffin/ Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/johnkweisbarth/By Zack Giffin & John Weisbarth
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In this episode, John and Zack sit down with Tiny House activist who is fighting for rights in the Sacramento area that will affect and benefit communities who want and desire to live tiny. Follow Zack: https://www.instagram.com/zackgiffin/ Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/johnkweisbarth/By Zack Giffin & John Weisbarth
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Quitting Hollywood to Go Tiny with Jenna Kausal
52:46
52:46
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In 2014, Jenna Kausal quit her Hollywood job and built a Tiny House with the help of her friends and family. She then embarked on a giant journey with her Tiny Home in tow, traveling more than 25,000 miles and documenting her trip on YouTube, her blog, and on social media. In 2015 and 2016, she was featured on HGTV's "Tiny House Big Living" several…
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In this episode, John and Zack sit down with Joshua Fields Millburn, Ryan Nicodemus, and T.K. Coleman from The Minimalists. They discuss everything from...you guessed it...going tiny and being minimal. They also discuss the problems with competition around minimalism and how going minimal can and should different for everyone. Follow Zack: https://…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. John Potter
1:17:44
1:17:44
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Dr. John Potter is a true treasure to the profession. A graduate of the Indiana University School of Optometry, he has been at the forefront of every major evolutionary step in Optometry over the last fifty years. After all of his time in Optometry, he used his intellectual basis to move into an entirely different career as an educator - now servin…
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In this latest episode of Tiny House Tales, Zack and John sit down with Tiny House legend Abel Ziyl, who is master craftsman at constructing the most unique and beautiful tiny homes. They discuss how he got involved in building tiny houses and the art of making a perfect home. Follow his work here: http://www.zylvardos.com https://www.instagram.com…
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John and Zack sit down to discuss how they got into the Tiny House Movement, what brought them to the show Tiny House Nation, and what to expect out of this podcast. Follow Zack: https://www.instagram.com/zackgiffin/ Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/johnkweisbarth/By Zack Giffin & John Weisbarth
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A Rockstar’s Tiny House with Asha Mevlana
48:20
48:20
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In this episode, John and Zack sit down with Asha Mevlana, who you might remember from the show Tiny House Nation. Asha speaks about her life on the road, living tiny, and finding her way to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Follow Zack: https://www.instagram.com/zackgiffin/ Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/johnkweisbarth/…
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Behind the Scenes of Tiny House Nation with Gavin Brennan
38:47
38:47
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In the first episode of Tiny House Tales, John and Zack sit down with Tiny House Nation favorite, Gavin Brennan, to talk about the tiny house movement, experiences on the show, and some of his stories being a filmmaker in the wild. Gavin is also a filmmaker and world renown director of photography. Follow Gavin's works: https://www.gavincamera.com …
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Vince Brandys
39:26
39:26
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Dr. Vince Brandys has translated a Chicago upbringing in a family that served the community into a career in Optometry that has included deep involvement in professional advocacy. His words of encouragement to his colleagues to step up their support of the profession are to be heard by all.By sandboxstories
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Welcome to Tiny House Tales, a podcast about the experiences of people who have joined the tiny house movement. Join your hosts Zack Giffin and John Weisbarth, known from the popular show "Tiny House Nation," as they give listeners a behind the scenes glimpse into the absolute joys and inherent challenges of living tiny. Together they seek to unloc…
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Sandbox Story - Perspective on Similarities between Optometry and Building a Spec Home
7:50
7:50
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In semi-retirement, I built a spec home in Orlando to get away from Wisconsin's winters. In this Sandbox Story, you'll get perspective of how my experiences taught me something about how optometry might better manage its business to focus on the expectations of its customers. Run time: 7 min 30 secBy sandboxstories
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Araba Otoo
54:40
54:40
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54:40
Dr. Araba Otoo received the 2022 Student of the Year Award from the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA.) She has started her practice career in a residency in the VA system, and is motivated to drive a global ocular wellness mindset into the profession. As a child in Ghana, she malingered to get glasses when she was very young. Her impre…
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Sandbox Story - Interview with Jay Binkowitz
34:58
34:58
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Jay Binkowitz has used deep business acumen to drive a number of differentiated businesses into the eye care industry. His path into the optical business led to building the most powerful data dashboard in the industry, EDGEPro. The Stories within the Story include: 1:01 The Upbringing Story 5:45 The Hustle Story 8:30 The Optical Story 14:28 The So…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Lynn Lawrence
34:45
34:45
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Lynn Lawrence is a career Optometric Technician, starting that role as part of a thirty-plus year career in the Air Force, and has built a consulting business for the eye care industry which teaches leadership. His commitment to the profession is to drive advancement through learning, certification, and thoughtful leadership. The Stories within the…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Bob Layman
28:23
28:23
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Dr. Bob Layman has been the AOA President from June 2021 through June 2022. This interview is the first one done with a sitting President of the AOA, and some of his best views are shared about how optometry must be politically thoughtful and mindful to stay successful. Most importantly, Bob’s true humility and drive toward service shines through. …
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. NateLighthizer
26:55
26:55
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A North Dakotan, Dr. Nate Lighthizer has an incredible story about how he grew up doing fishing trips with his family, as well as participating in sports as a kid. After graduating from Pacific University College of Optometry, he advanced his career to his current position on faculty at Northeastern State University College of Optometry in Tallequa…
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Simply put, Lex is a deeply caring human being. I've never met anyone, young or old, who is as able to connect with others as Lex does. He's autistic, transgender, and loving. This Sandbox Story has life lessons in it for every one of us. The Stories within the Story include: 1:11 The Disney College Program Story 3:33 The Kentucky Upbringing Story …
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Sue Cotter
30:47
30:47
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Dr. Sue Cotter is faculty at the Southern California College of Optometry, on the Board of the American Academy of Optometry, and co-chair of the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group of the NIH. This Sandbox Story covers her views on optometric education as well as gives insights on her life's joys. The Stories Within the Story Include: 0:58 Th…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Laura Periman
45:17
45:17
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From humble beginnings in Montana, to becoming a preeminent ophthalmologist on the new frontier of dry eye management, Dr. Laura Periman’s many stories are incredibly motivational. And as a human, rarely will you hear someone who is has as much empathy for others. The Stories within the Story include: 1:24 The Montana Story 3:50 The Motivation Stor…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Optical Women‘s Association
44:34
44:34
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This Sandbox Story is an interview of some of the leaders of the Optical Women’s Association, OWA. Guests include Deb Bulken, Janelle Pauli, and Dr. Lorie Lippiatt. Despite their long-standing history, they are a “best-kept secret” in the industry, and they deserve to be well-known and supported because of their powerful impact. To join OWA: https:…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Janene Sims
27:12
27:12
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Dr. Janene Sims is on Faculty at the University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry. She works with the Community Eyecare Initiative, an outreach service of the School, and has a tremendous commitment to humanity. The Stories within the Story include: 1:00 The Farming Story 8:22 The Eyecare Motivation Story 10:00 The Advanced Education Story …
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This short Sandbox Story sends a message of thanks for life's many inspirations. Included is a wish for us to take control of our lives from the negative effects of social media. Happy Thanksgiving!By sandboxstories
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In this Sandbox Story perspective piece, I review the key takeaways from the book, “Why We Sleep”, by Matthew Walker, PhD.By sandboxstories
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Kelly Nichols
29:12
29:12
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Dr. Kelly Nichols is Dean of the School of Optometry at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and the current President of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. Hear her many stories including advice for ODs to implement management of dry eye disease care in their practices.By sandboxstories
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Sandbox Story - Dr. Richard Mangan, on the topic of Provider Burnout
18:07
18:07
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Richard Mangan, OD, FAAO, is a 30-year industry clinician who now does medical liaison work for Sun Pharma, and is also on the editorial board of ModernOD. As someone who has studied the research on physician burnout, Dr. Mangan gives insights on his experiences with burnout, as well as potential methods to deal with it. As October winds down the r…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Moes Nasser
48:17
48:17
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48:17
Dr. Moes Nasser is a philanthropic, globally-minded Optometrist. From his family history, starting in India and then in Africa, to his successful practice in Houston, to his contributions to Optometry Giving Sight, Dr. Nasser’s stories are sure to inspire. The Stories within the Story include: 1:04 The Tanzania Story 6:04 The Childhood Vision Story…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Pierre Bertrand
41:49
41:49
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41:49
Pierre Bertrand is an industry veteran and has an incredible ability to tell meaningful stories. His current role is with Neurolens. Learn about his upbringing in Montreal, as well as what his grasp of fear has taught him.By sandboxstories
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Brittany Ammerman
58:05
58:05
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This Sandbox Story features Brittany Ammerman, a fourth year student at the Penn State College of Medicine. Her story is shared to show my Optometry colleagues the path of an enterprising young woman who was influenced to pursue medicine. Brittany’s stories are compelling - some are very relatable - and others are simply fascinating, including the …
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Howard Purcell
46:23
46:23
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One word describes Dr. Howard Purcell - passionate. In this Sandbox Story, you will learn about his passion for optometry, fellow optometrists, music, and family. I caught up with Dr. Purcell earlier in the summer when his schedule at the College became lighter, and we covered a variety of his views on optometric education, as well as his efforts i…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Justin Bazan
44:37
44:37
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Dr. Justin Bazan is a recognized optometry leader on topics of disruptive, insightful business operations and social media strategies for eye care businesses. In this Sandbox Story, he shares insights about his life experiences that have led him to where he is today, and also pearls of advice about how to contemplate the future of practice. The Sto…
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Stephanie Johnson-Brown
48:45
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Dr. Stephanie Johnson-Brown practices in Chicago, IL. She joined the practice of her late father, who had the foresight to build a clinic that not only served the community through primary eye care services, but also via a not-for-profit entity that assured that all children could be given the opportunity to vision therapy. She talks about her time…
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Sandbox Story - EHR Thoughts from an EHR Guy
14:08
14:08
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EHR vendors are not eager to more deeply integrate with important third-parties that eye care businesses want to utilize. That is shameful, and it's time for it to change. Here are my thoughts, along with a little history of how I got involved in EHR during my career.By sandboxstories
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Sandbox Story - Interview of Dr. Brianna Rhue
54:02
54:02
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Dr. Brianna Rhue is the Co-founder and CEO of DrContactLens, an emerging practice performance software system. Her commentary includes a review of her practice of myopia management, as well as personal stories including how yoga has transformed her. Dr. Rhue and Sandbox Stories host, Dr. Scott Jens, take turns pointing out the critical need for EHR…
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