Denisa Figueroa, OD, started attending career fairs during her second and third years at Midwestern University Chicago College of Optometry. She wasn’t necessarily looking for a job just yet; she was trying to understand what kind of doctor she wanted to become and what type of environment would allow her to practice the way she envisioned.
Representatives from the National Vision Doctor of Optometry Network stood out early in that process — not because of promises about compensation or advancement, but because of the conversations she had with doctors already practicing within the network.
What caught her attention was the level of clinical autonomy those doctors described. As a student preparing to enter practice, she wanted the flexibility to make decisions based on what was best for her patients while still having support available when she needed it.
“I was able to see patients immediately without worrying about overhead or staffing. I could treat patients the way I felt was right,” Dr. Figueroa says. “There was never a feeling that I had to do something a certain way. If I want to manage a patient myself, I can. If I feel a referral is the best option, I have the ability to do that, too.”
Those early impressions were reinforced when she completed a clinical rotation at an office adjacent to an America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses location during school. Throughout her experience as a student, she found Area Doctors, preceptors and leadership within the National Vision network of optometrists approachable and willing to answer questions.
She signed her contract with National Vision at the start of her fourth year, months before graduation. “The team was willing to wait for me to complete school, sit for licensing exams and receive my license before stepping into practice. They took a chance on me as a new graduate.”
SUPPORTING THE TRANSITION TO PRACTICE
Like many new graduates, Dr. Figueroa expected the transition from student to practicing doctor to come with a steep learning curve. Instead, she found herself surrounded by colleagues who understood exactly where she was in her career and were invested in helping her succeed.
As a full-time float doctor supporting five offices in the Chicago area, she entered an environment where teams knew she was a new graduate and welcomed her accordingly. During her first several days, she worked closely with her Area Doctor on onboarding, training and introductions to colleagues throughout the region.
Patient flow increased only when she felt comfortable taking on more patients per hour, allowing her to establish confidence and routine before moving at a faster pace. She was also paired with an experienced doctor who could serve as a sounding board for clinical questions and patient management discussions. Rather than feeling as though she had been left to figure things out on her own, she says the experience resembled an informal mentorship program built into her workday.
Her role as a float doctor has created another unexpected advantage early in her career. While many new graduates experience only one office culture or workflow, she has been exposed to multiple approaches to patient care and practice operations in her first year as an OD.
“I’ve been able to see how other doctors work and how different offices run,” she says. “I’m picking up what I like — and what I don’t — very early in my career.”
PAYING IT FORWARD
Only seven months after joining National Vision, Dr. Figueroa took on another role: Doctor Ambassador.
Her first meeting with an Ambassador came while she was still a student. At the time, she appreciated hearing directly from practicing doctors rather than corporate representatives.
When applications opened for the ambassador program, less than a year after she was hired, both her recruiter and Area Doctor encouraged her to apply. They each sent her the information separately and suggested she throw her hat in the ring. She did—and got the position.
Today, she writes articles, checks in with other doctors throughout the National Vision network of optometrists and helps connect future ODs to opportunities within the network. The role has expanded her professional connections while also giving her opportunities to continue learning from more experienced colleagues. “Working with these doctors has been great,” she says. “I can run ideas by senior doctors and learn from their experiences, all while paving the way for future ODs.”
The ambassador role also allows her to share her perspective of the importance of eyecare as healthcare. Dr. Figueroa manages glaucoma patients, prescribes prism when appropriate and collaborates with specialists when additional care is needed. In many cases, she says, eye exams become the first step in identifying serious systemic health concerns.
“We’re not just doing refractions,” she says. “We are often the first doctor to see a patient and realize they have a serious underlying disease,” she says. “It’s inspiring to know we’re making a difference.”
Less than a year into practice, she is already beginning to see the long-term relationships that make the profession rewarding. Some of the patients she met while she was still a student intern continue to return for care, and others have begun bringing in family members as well.
Looking back, Dr. Figueroa credits the support she found before graduation — and the mentorship that continued after it — with helping make the transition feel less daunting and more exciting than she ever expected.
This article is sponsored by National Vision.
