From the moment she started practicing in her space next to Walmart, Priya Kaura, OD, found a place where clinical care and leadership could grow together. After graduating from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in 2019, she joined a practice located next to Walmart in Antioch, California, where she oversaw multiple locations and more than a dozen optometrists in her region. Since then, her career has been shaped by a steady drive toward autonomy and an appreciation for the support structures that have helped along the way.
THE EARLY YEARS
Early on, Dr. Kaura moved quickly from clinician to leader, gaining hands-on experience with a diverse patient base while learning the operational side of eye care. In her first role at the practice, she developed leadership traits as she took on responsibilities including professional development, scheduling coordination and performance evaluations for many ODs across Northern California. The combination of clinical work and oversight prepared her for bigger decisions down the road.
When her employer’s contract with Walmart ended in 2024, Dr. Kaura found herself at a crossroads: join a hospital setting as an optometrist or sublease the space next to Walmart as her own. She chose the latter—a decision that aligned with a long-held ambition. “Working for myself and having my own practice have always been goals of mine,” Dr. Kaura says, adding that family experience played a role in that drive. “I grew up actively involved in my family’s business. I watched my parents work hard every day, and I learned the value of timeliness, organization and resilience. It really prepared me for what it takes to run a business.”
STEPPING INTO OWNERSHIP
Taking the sublease allowed Dr. Kaura to blend the clinical freedom of private practice with the operational advantages of an established location adjacent to Walmart. “I like the balance between the support services Walmart provides,” she says. Rather than build from the ground up, she retained her existing team and preserved the continuity of care her patients had come to rely on. “There is a sense of familiarity and consistency for my patients that adds a level of comfort. We’re a great team, and we have built a strong rapport during my time employed by the previous independent OD.”
Expansion followed quickly. Leveraging Walmart’s replicable operational model, Dr. Kaura was able to scale her business seamlessly, opening a second clinic in Patterson while keeping her Antioch location. The established systems and processes she was already familiar with at the Antioch location simplified staff onboarding and day-to-day operations, allowing her team to focus on delivering high-quality, personalized care. Dr. Kaura connected with the retiring optometrist whose patients she would inherit to ensure continuity of care.
MEDICAL FOCUS WITH MODERN TOOLS
Dr. Kaura’s practice focuses on medical optometry, and she’s using the location and operational conveniences available through her lease to make those services more accessible. “Walmart provides modern equipment and technology as part of the sublease, with the option to lease specialized equipment,” she says, an advantage she was quick to act on after taking ownership by adding a fundus camera.
She is already dabbling in dry eye management and plans to expand into glaucoma care, working closely with primary care doctors and ophthalmologists for referrals and shared management. Her measured, patient-first approach mirrors Walmart’s emphasis on quality of care.
Behind the clinical side of it all is a culture that keeps both patient care and operations steady. Dr. Kaura credits her team and peer network for smoothing transitions and rallying around a shared goal. “When I was starting up, I received a lot of guidance from other ODs with Walmart subleases. I’m excited to now be in a position to support and mentor new ODs entering the sublease space,” she says. The teamwork, combined with the facility resources provides as part of the lease, gives her the freedom to roll out programs at her own pace while keeping an operational safety net in place.
REJECT THE DEFAULT AND EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS
The appeal of the sublease model goes beyond equipment and workflow. It lowers barriers to launching an independent practice and provides a practical framework she can adapt for growth. “I eventually want to open more practices and bring on quality ODs to expand my reach,” she says. “Starting this ownership journey in a space next to a retail setting, while keeping full control over my clinical work, was the right fit for my first practice.”
Her advice to early-career optometrists is this: “Don’t be nervous about private practice. There are easier ways to get started without building a practice from the ground up. You can step into ownership from subleases where that support is already established.” She encourages ODs to explore alternative entry points to ownership—such as a sublease—rather than defaulting to a cold-turkey launch, especially as a first-time owner.
Today, Dr. Kaura splits her time between patient care, clinical expansion and leadership across two clinics. Her experience proves that with thoughtful planning, mentorship and strong institutional support, optometrists can build independent practices that deliver both clinical fulfillment and growth opportunities. Above all, she remains committed to the team-based, patient-first approach that led her to making both locations a success.
