Alumni Focus on Doug Bosner (OD'02)

DR. BOSNER'S STORY

Hometown

I was an Army BRAT, so everywhere. I was born in Ft. Huachuc, AZ but lived in eight cities by the time I went to college. I loved Heidelberg, Germany, Gurnee, IL, and Newport News, VA. I have now lived Columbus, OH for 20 years and have put down significant roots.

Which degree(s), related to optometry, did you earn at Ohio State?

OD'02

Who were your mentors at the College of Optometry? Who had a positive effect on your education?

I really appreciate Dr. Greg Nixon (OD’96) during optometry school. After I graduated, I worked as an instructor in the contact lens clinic for a year with Dr. Karla Zadnik - those four quarters working with such a dynamic and fun doctor pushed me in ways to grow beyond the somewhat limited view I had for myself.

DR. BOSNER'S CAREER IN OPTOMETRY

Name of your employer(s) and title, including location.

Northwest EyeCare Professionals Owner/CEO Upper Arlington, Ohio

Give us a glimpse of your typical day as an optometrist.

I love spending time and getting to know my patients. All the while doing some refractions, some OCTs, some Visual Fields, and some contact lenses.

Which optometric issues concern you the most?

Vertical integration of insurance plans and consolidation of private practices is a major challenge for what is the historic core of the optometric profession, the independent practice. I enjoy working with my wife and Chief Operations Officer, Deborah, and our leadership team and staff to continually work to provide the best experience for our patients.

Why did you choose a career in optometry?

I knew that I always wanted a career that would help people, but I wasn’t exactly sure how I would achieve that goal. Early in my junior year at Marquette University, I went to a program put on by the College of Health Science “Intro to Medical NON-MD Careers.” An Optometrist spoke and what she said just clicked … and the rest is history.

Where do you hope to see your optometric career in five years?

I hope to continue to run a successful private practice. My wife and I have worked non-stop the last eight and a half years since we bought our practice, growing it significantly by adding four new doctors to our original three, implementing new technology, developing an amazing professional staff, buying a new building, and creating a state-of-the-art clinic and optical. Ideally, now is the time to really enjoy the hard work we have put in and maybe just maybe cut back to three days of patient care a week!

What is one piece of advice you can give OPT IV students as they prepare to graduate and begin their optometric careers?

Realize that your one single perfect job may not be waiting for you when you graduate. Optometry has so many great modes of practice that you should look at the first several years after graduation as an opportunity to figure out what kind of OD you want to be. I worked six days a week across in an ophthalmology practice, a private optometric practice, at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, and in a Sam’s Club during my first three years. They all helped me grow into the career that I love now.

DR. BOSNER'S OHIO STATE EXPERIENCE

What were your most memorable moments at Ohio State?

The back row of Room 33; skipping a class or two on a warm afternoon to play golf with my roommate Dr. Chris Wallace (OD’02); losing Lyle Gassman to cancer; parties at the Eye House; studying hard and passing boards; graduating in the 'Shoe and getting front row seats to see the President speak - THANK YOU DEAN HILL!!!

What does Ohio State and the College of Optometry mean to you and your family?

It will always be the place where I met great friends and learned how to save vision. It is also where my best friend and classmate, Dr. Kathryn Richdale (OD’02, MS’05, PhD’11) , set me up on a blind date at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Café with my wife/business partner (THANK YOU FISHER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS), Deborah.

How do you stay connected with the College of Optometry?

I served as a clinical instructor after graduating and Northwest EyeCare Professionals has had countless student externs and employees who attended the college in the years since.

DR. BOSNER'S FUN FACTS

What are your current hobbies, volunteer work, interests?

My family loves to travel, and with an eight-year-old, I would have to say Disney is a bit of a hobby. Also, our office recently completed our 50th year in business serving the people of Upper Arlington, and in honor, we performed 50 good works for our community, many of them proposed by our staff and patients. “Northwest EyeCares” is always looking for ways that we can continue to give back.

What was the first concert that you attended / most recent? 

My first Concert was U2’s Zoo TV tour in Frankfort Germany. My wife shares my enjoyment of U2 and they are the band that we’ve seen most often. My most recent was John Legend’s Christmas Show in Columbus.

What is your favorite activity during the holiday season?

Making cookies. I like my Grandma Marie’s old recipes, and my son and I love making pressed cookies, too. I never have enough time to make all the cookies I want to make.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

It would be fun to ACTUALLY save vision!