Why I Decided to Open Stratus Eye

Why would I quit my 250K or more

Hey Everyone! 

So it has been 2 weeks since I opened my  own medical office, and I am loving every aspect of it. 

I’m happy… finally. 

And do you know how hard it is to say? 

From medical school, residency, fellowship - you always hear about “it’s gonna get better on the other side” 

But when I finally made it to the other side, well… let’s just say the grass wasn’t really green

I think the most imporatnt thing that every doctor needs to do is to find the right fit and be happy. 

In residency, you really only discuss a few job options out there. You have academia, you have private practice, you have large groups like Kaiser. 

But I am gonna tell you about that one last option - being a solo doctor

And this transition has been amazing. 

Be my own boss

There is nothing like being your own boss and working for yourself. 

After years of residency and following orders, I realized that old job was in many regards residency 2.0.

I think the hardest part in residency wasn’t the hours.

It was the lack of control. 

Everything was dictated for you. 

And, a large corporate job is similar to that. 

If you didnt want to work Saturday clinic, well, tough. 

Also, every decision takes so much time, and that wasn’t for me. Even requesting vacation time was a chore. 

As a solo provider, I can do my own thing. I decide WHO to work with, WHAT equipment to work with, WHEN to see patients. 

I can craft my practice the WAY I want to. 

It’s kinda of refreshing finally being your on boss. 

Even though there is definitely more hats to wear now, I love it. All of my efforts are building up my practice. 

With mental health is such a big topic, I can honestly say, man I am really really happy. 

ANd I think that re-energizes me to do what all doctors strive for

Take really good care of patients. 

Its simple really. 

Focus on patients. 

Take care of them the way you think is best, not what some MBA think is best. 

I think as doctors, we know what we are excellent at and aren’t good at. 

For example, no matter how good of a doctor you are, if your patients don’t understand what glaucoma is, or why they need to take a certain medication, I can almost guarantee they aren’t going to follow your advice. 

So, communication is a core part of excellent medical care. 

And I know that in the Atlanta area, the Vietnamese community is underserved. As someone of Vietnamese heritage, I can really make a huge impact in the community. 

And I became a doctor to make a difference. 

A solo practice is lean enough to pivot and focus your skill set and your goals. You can also have more control on your staffing and support to focus on this effort. 

As a result, I really have been doubling down my efforts to serve this underserved community. 

Imagine instead first going to a board of doctors or even corporate America to get permission to make any major changes to your clinic. It’s definitely harder. 

And equally as importantly, I want to create a legacy. 

What do I mean by that? 

Over the next 30 years, I want to have created a practice known for excellent care, ethical decisions, and devoted to patients and community. But, I don’t want my impact on the community to end there. 

In a large corporate job, when I retire, I don’t have much say on who will inherit my clinic. I can only hope that the corporation make the right choice. 

As a solo provider, I can ensure that the next generation of doctor will share the same enthusiasm, passion, and commitment to my patients. 

So in the end, its always for the Patients

Am I nervous about this whole thing? 

Absolutely

Check out my YouTube Video on the topic. 

https://youtu.be/6xRBp1FVd4s