The Polls
Every two weeks, Women In Optometry (WO) readers have a chance to weigh in on a topic with the WO Pop-up Poll. Designed to be quick and easy, the polls provide a finger on the pulse of some question.
Some issues are serious; of women ODs who responded to the #metoo-related poll, 29 percent said that they’ve been sexually harassed by a professional colleague, and 62 percent said they’ve experienced gender bias. In exchanges with patients, the numbers were even higher: 51 percent of women ODs said that they have experienced sexual harassment from a patient, and 64 percent have experienced gender bias from a patient.
In a recent poll, asking respondents to react to a survey that found a persistent income gap, 55 percent of women ODs who responded said that they have personally experienced the income gap. Another 31 percent weren’t sure if they had. The leading factor in why this might be true, said 69 percent of respondents, is that women do not negotiate as well or as much as their male colleagues. The second-leading factor, cited by 62 percent of women OD respondents, is that women’s incomes don’t progress at the same rate because of family duties. Half of the women OD respondents said that employers offer female candidates less.
Many polls also provide some fodder for interesting conversation or self-reflection. For example, in a poll from July 2019, 47 percent of the respondents said that they eat well most of the time. Another nearly 21 percent that they do about half of the time, and 15 percent they eat well less often than they’d like to. Just about 17 percent said that they eat well all of the time. Overwhelmingly, 65 percent said that their work schedule demands were an interference to good intentions. Other top responses were that participants were too tired to cook (44 percent), lack of inspiration (38 percent) and their kids’/family schedule (28 percent).
For the 60 percent of respondents to a September 2018 poll who said that their office temperature is either too hot or too cold, the charts at the top right show how that discrepancy comes to be.
The Podcasts
Since the launch of the WO Voices podcast series in the fall of 2018, thousands of listeners have tuned in to these 20-minute podcasts with women ODs. Topics include leadership with recognized leaders, including Dori Carlson, OD, FAAO; Millicent Knight, OD, FAAO, FAARM; Laurie Sorrenson, OD, FAAO; and Carol Alexander, OD, FAAO.
They’re inspirational; Sally Halim, OD, began training for triathalons after the birth of her second child and likens the focus required to running a successful practice. They’re practical, like the video training series for staff that Theresa Colonna, OD, created. They’re strategic; Rachael Wruble, OD, FAAO, shares ideas for young ODs knowing their worth before heading into negotiations. They’re advisory; hear from Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, on incorporating scleral lens fittings, Whitney Hauser, OD, on adding dry eye services and Caroline Guerrero Cauchi, OD, FIAO, on myopia management. Listeners can subscribe to WO Voices on iTunes and other podcast players or find the channel on the bit.ly/WO_Podcasts.
The Inspiration
WO’s website content continues to become even more robust and worth repeated visits as web-only articles and stories are added every week. Recently, The Physical Space pages hit more than 200 design stories. Readers who are looking for ideas on color, design, décor or displays can use these pages as a look-book for inspiration. Viewing the pages on a desktop or tablet will showcase more photos than viewing it on a phone. Visit bit.ly/WO_Designs.
