Classroom to Clinic—Resources for Your Career Success.
Issue: October 2026
As the future of eye care is evolving, so are the opportunities available to you. Rather than go it alone, take a moment to hear what actual insiders—ODs working in different modalities today—want you to know about the many options that await you in practicing eye care. Through their open and honest insight, you’ll be well grounded and well informed as you move your career forward.
As you make your way to becoming a practicing OD—or perhaps you’re already practicing—understanding your career options helps you find the setting that best fits your needs and goals, personally and professionally. The Future in Focus Virtual Career Exploration event on Thursday, October 15 is designed to heighten awareness of the many opportunities available to you, delivered to you by practicing ODs who are eager to see you succeed. It’s a free event and it only takes a minute to register:
Future in Focus is an interactive virtual event—you can attend from wherever you are. During the event, you’ll be able to speak with ODs actively practicing in a variety of geographies and modalities across the VSP® ecosystem—and they’ll be answering your questions to help you find the practice setting that best suits you. It happens Thursday, October 15, from 3–5 p.m. PT | 6–8 p.m. ET. Register now, and we’ll see you there! Learn More | Register Now
“When I took ownership of three rural Iowa practices just one month after graduating from optometry school, I quickly realized that school had taught me how to be a doctor, but not necessarily how to run a business.” Roman Somogy, OD, candidly shares the many lessons he learned while establishing, managing, and growing his practice. From business operations, staffing, and plotting a long-term growth plan, Dr. Somogy admits that he was learning as he went along. And his need and desire to learn is what paved the way to success.
“The more I learned, the more I realized there were opportunities we weren’t fully leveraging. Instead of relying on assumptions, I decided to educate myself. That decision changed everything.” When Dr. Somogy discovered the no-cost education, training, and development resources available from VSP, including UUniversity™ and Future Leaders Academy, he jumped in enthusiastically and brought his staff along with him. “The no-cost resources have helped my team grow while giving me confidence that we're all moving in the same direction. My first year of ownership has taught me that success isn’t about having all the answers… and graduating from optometry school is only the beginning of your education.” Read Dr. Somogy’s complete blog post.
Emerging technology is not only driving innovation in eye care methods, but also changing expectations from both patients and practitioners, reshaping eye care practice from end to end. Artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, new models of care, and evolving patient needs and wants are creating new possibilities across nearly every part of the practice. For optometry students and new ODs entering the field, these changes could influence how care is delivered and how practices operate. Your opportunity here is to keep pace with innovation that is driving the physical footprint and layout of the practice of the future so you’ll be able to thrive in the new world of eye care.
Today, optometry practices are often organized as a series of separate rooms with seemingly separate functions within the practice’s walls. The practice of the future, however, leverages AI and emerging technologies to unlock new efficiencies, enabling providers to see more patients while delivering more exceptional, highly personalized experiences across the care journey. Here’s why it matters: Insights from the GIC’s previous Patient of the Future Futurist Report underscored that patients are seeking more connected, whole-body health experiences and will prioritize providers and practices that meet those rising expectations. Read the full report: Explore the Practice of the Future | Discover the GIC
Scholarship winner Lindsay Cox
VSP Vision™, in collaboration with the University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO), announces Lindsay Cox as the recipient of the 2026 VSP Vision of Hope Scholarship. This $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming KYCO student who plans to provide care for underserved patient populations in Appalachia during their optometric career. The recipient is selected by the KYCO Faculty Scholarship and Awards
To date, VSP Vision has invested more than $4.3 million in scholarships designed to support the future of optometry. These investments reflect VSP’s ongoing commitment to the long-term success of the profession. Learn more about VSP Scholarships
Build your network and explore career opportunities at upcoming school and local state optometric association events. View the Recruitment Event calendar, then make plans to attend in person where you can meet our talent acquisition team, discuss your career goals, and pick up some great swag, too! Visit the Doctor Careers page for more
Find hot OD job opportunities in a variety of career settings, from private practice to corporate to medical hybrid settings and more. Find the career opportunity that suits you. Visit the VSP Careers Page today!
RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES Eye Doctors Optical Outlets Employed | Full-Time Optometrist Lake City, FL Learn More / Apply Now
Golden Vision Employed | Full-Time Optometrist Cupertino, CA $20k sign on bonus Learn More / Apply Now
Visionworks® Employed | Full-Time Optometrist Plattsburgh, NY Learn More / Apply Now
Visionworks – PC NC Doctors of Optometry Private Practice | Full-Time Optometrist Asheville, NC 20K sign-on bonus + relocation assistance + student loan assistance Learn More / Apply Now
PRIVATE PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES Hoffman Optometry Private Practice | Full-Time Optometrist Folsom, CA Learn More / Apply Now ONSITE CLINICS Onsite Clinics Sublease | Full-Time Optometrist San Antonio, TX Learn More / Apply Now
MEDICAL OPPORTUNITIES
Aran Eye Associates Employed | Full-time Clinical Optometrist Miami, FL Learn More / Apply Now
Career Support Resources
Previous Career Connections Newsletter Issues: August/September 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 February/March 2026 January 2026