As a wife and mother to three daughters, Sandra Pinon, OD, has learned that work-life balance doesn’t come from finding more hours in the day. It comes from deciding what matters and having the flexibility and support to make it work.
At Texas Vision Associates in Harker Heights, Texas, Dr. Pinon can focus on caring for her patients while she’s at work, then leave work at the office and focus on being Mom at home. She has also continued to find opportunities to learn, lead and grow her career without sacrificing one part of her life for another.
“Having the right practice environment makes all the difference,” she says. “The flexibility of the National Vision network allows me to care for my patients while still being present for my family and the things that matter most outside of work.”
FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
Dr. Pinon graduated from University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry in 2015 and spent nearly a year as a stay-at-home mom before joining a private practice in Austin. Her family later moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, before returning to Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her experience in different practice settings, including pediatrics and vision therapy, helped shape her as a clinician. “Each experience taught me something different about the kind of doctor I wanted to be,” she says.
After returning to Texas, Dr. Pinon initially joined a private practice but remained in touch with Mallory Whalen, OD, whom she had met while exploring an opportunity with the National Vision network. Dr. Waylen encouraged her to reconsider and became a valuable resource as Dr. Pinon joined the network full time in May 2021.
“That’s something I truly love about the National Vision network,” Dr. Pinon says. “You have the opportunity to speak to colleagues and ask questions.”
PRESENT AT WORK AND AT HOME
Dr. Pinon sees a wide range of patients, from children and families to geriatric patients and those with ocular disease. She enjoys the variety and having another OD in the practice with whom she can discuss cases and collaborate on patient care.
Yet being committed to her patients doesn’t mean her work has to follow her home.
“You see patients, take care of them in the office and everything is said and done at work,” she says.
When Dr. Pinon asked to work four days a week, she says her Area Doctor was receptive to what she needed. “There were no hesitations,” she says.
The schedule gives her time with her daughters in the morning, including taking them to school, and allows her to come home without charting or other business responsibilities waiting for her.
“When I’m at work, I’m totally focused on work, and when I’m at home, I can be totally focused on home,” she says.
Dr. Pinon says open communication has been essential. She has felt comfortable talking with her Area Doctor, district manager, colleagues and other leaders about her needs and career goals.
“Moms need to be able to leave work at work,” she says. “You come home, take off your working hat and put on your mom hat.”
WHERE FLEXIBILITY AND GROWTH COEXIST
Having boundaries around work hasn’t meant limiting Dr. Pinon’s career. Early in her National Vision journey, she served on its Clinical Board, where she connected with other ODs and contributed to discussions within the network.
In February 2026, she became a National Vision ambassador after looking for another opportunity to develop her leadership skills. She continues seeing patients while taking on ambassador responsibilities, including creating social media content about her experience.
“I don’t feel limited, and I don’t have to buy in to grow or expand,” she says.
Dr. Pinon also values National Vision’s CE events, which give her opportunities to continue learning and connect with fellow ODs and leadership. At a recent event in Dallas, National Vision covered the education and travel expenses, she says.
Having room to grow professionally while protecting her time at home has helped Dr. Pinon build a career she genuinely loves. She acknowledges that working moms can still experience guilt when they miss an activity or simply can’t be everywhere, but her daughters also get to see their mom build a career caring for others.
“It doesn’t have to be stressful,” she says. “You don’t have to compromise time at home or being a working professional with a career or caring for patients. You can do it all and find that balance.”
This article is sponsored by National Vision.
