When Michele Andrews, OD, first began her career at the VA hospital in Huntington, West Virginia, she had no idea how much those early experiences would shape her professional journey. As a young optometrist, she worked alongside medical students, rotating between the eye clinic and general medicine. This unique exposure to systemic health care, particularly in managing complex disease states, provided her with a holistic view of eye care that continues to inform her work today. “When you have something like that so early in your career,” Dr. Andrews recalls, “it puts the possibility of more right in front of you.” Now, as the recently named Vice President, Marketing and Professional Affairs-Americas, CooperVision, she’s still seeing the possibilities in front of her.
After completing her residency at the VA, Dr. Andrews’ career spanned various sectors of optometry, including clinical care, LASIK co-management and leading roles in managed vision care and retail optometry. Her time in these diverse settings gave her a broad understanding of the field from multiple angles. Her move to CooperVision in 2015, where she celebrated her ninth anniversary this past August, felt like a natural progression. “I had been responsible for contact lens strategy at For Eyes Optical, and I met the CooperVision team through that role,” she says. It was her experience and relationships in the industry that brought her to the company.
ALIGNING INITIATIVES
At CooperVision, her roles have combined her deep knowledge of optometry with her passion for advocating on behalf of eye care professionals. One of her most meaningful contributions at CooperVision has been the development of the Best Practices recognition program. Launched in the summer of 2015, the program sought to elevate outstanding eye care practices that might otherwise go unrecognized. “The most exciting part was meeting people we would never have known about, the hidden gems of optometry. We wanted the marketplace to value these practices, and the response exceeded our expectations,” she shares.
But for Dr. Andrews, it wasn’t just about the accolades. The relationships that formed among the Best Practices honorees were transformative. “They found energy not just in the recognition but in each other,” she explains. These practitioners, from different corners of the country, began collaborating in ways that extended beyond the awards. “Some of them completed master’s degrees, while others went on mission trips together. These were people who didn’t even know each other before.”
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
This emphasis on community and collaboration is a recurring theme in Dr. Andrews’ career. From her early days at the VA to her current leadership at CooperVision, she has always recognized the power of bringing people together. “Everyone needs someone,” she says. “Sometimes it’s about asking a friend or a colleague to help you see things differently. That’s how we grow as a profession.”
One of her biggest initiatives at CooperVision now involves the Myopia Collective, a collaborative effort from CooperVision and the American Optometric Association focused on raising awareness and driving action around the global myopia epidemic. “We know myopia is critical. The goal is widespread adoption and accessibility of myopia management, particularly for children,” Dr. Andrews says. The collective aims to bring together educators, health care providers and organizations to tackle this growing concern. “The ecosystem of a child is huge. It’s not just about the eye care professional—it’s about education systems, health agencies and beyond.”
MINDSET SHIFTS
Looking forward, Dr. Andrews sees parallels between the early days of CooperVision’s myopia focus and her experience with Best Practices. “In the beginning, it didn’t feel like much was changing, but now it’s a fully evolved entity,” she says. She envisions the same trajectory for the Myopia Collective, growing into a large-scale effort that improves the well-being of children everywhere. “I’d love it if there were no more -5.00D myopes ever,” she says. “The outcomes are what matter.”
Even with her many accomplishments, Dr. Andrews remains humble, focused not on the personal recognition but on the work itself. “It’s easy to get attracted to the scope, the title, the salary—but at the end of the day, you have to love the work,” she says. “When the energy fades, what keeps you going is the purpose behind what you do.”
As she steps into this new leadership role, Dr. Andrews is excited about the possibilities. “I’m lucky. The leadership team at CooperVision is so open to thinking differently. It gives me a bigger platform and a bigger team to make an impact.” With an eye toward the future and a deep understanding of the profession’s needs, Dr. Andrews continues to push boundaries—just as she did all those years ago at the VA, where she first learned to see the big picture in eye care.
Read articles from WO about other women who have built their careers in the eye care industry.
Photos courtesy of CooperVision/Dr. Andrews
