We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tammy Pham. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tammy below.

Tammy, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

I graduated from University of Houston College Optometry school in 2008, the great recession era. I’m glad that social media was not popular then, which shielded me from the jarring reality that job demand was at all time low. My colleagues and I searched for jobs on the local Yahoo optometry group forum. Many moved back to their home towns, some joined the service. Those who stayed in Houston competed for the few available openings. Graduates even had to accept per diem contract work because fulltime positions were scarce. I had two offers, one was with an UHCO alumni who practices at corporate optometry settings and another at a private practice ophthalmology clinic. I accepted to work as a floating doctor for the alumni who owns five corporate offices and turned down the higher salary ophthalmology clinic offer. Optometry school teaches me skills and knowledge to practice eyecare, however, does not offer any business management training. My long term goal was to open a private practice. So I took a lesser pay offer to gain the opportunity to learn more practice management. I commuted more than eighty miles daily floating at different offices. One day I was in Baytown, next day I was in Rosenberg or Highland Village. I worked long hours and weekends. I even added a part-time one day a week working for a mobile optometry company. I learned that patient care is beyond refraction, examining the health of the eye and planning treatments. It’s listening to patient’s chief complaint, addressing the problem, communicating with them about their visual and health needs, maintaining rapport and ultimately creating long term doctor-patient relationship. Looking back, I am glad that I took the opportunity to learn rather than focusing on financial satisfaction. “Normality is a paved road: it’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.”-Vincent Van Gogh.

Tammy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I grew up in central Florida and later moved to Gainesville, where I earned the bachelor of Life Science and Agricultural at University of Florida in 2004. Go Gators! I moved to Texas, attended the University of Houston College of Optometry and received the doctor of optometry and glaucoma specialist licenses in 2008. I perform school-aged and adult eye wellness exams, fit contact lenses including astigmatism, multifocal, rigid gas permeable, post-surgical lenses and scleral lenses. I also manage glaucoma, LASIK, cataract post-operative and diabetic retinopathy. I am a member of the Harris Country Optometric Society. I’m fluent in English and Vietnamese.

I feel that technology is advancing at the speed of light. It helps to reduce human errors, increases accuracy of diagnosing diseases and targets precise treatments. We incorporate high-technology equipment at our practice to assist pathology diagnosis and documentation. We have widefield retina camera, topographer, automatic phoropter, visual field perimeter, electronic medical records and many other applications.

Artificial intelligence helps to reduce repetition, errors and improve efficiency, however, it does not replace the human interaction. I look forward to shaking hands, greeting and in-person examination.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Our practice moto from day one was honesty. Customer’s perceived values change with fluctuations in the economy, corporate dynamic marketing strategies and influences from peers and family. We offer high-quality optical lens products and support independent frame manufacturers. I hope that through transparency and open communication patient can understand what products are being offered.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

If I could go back, I would choose optometry again, again and again. Why? Because I still find it joyful.

Contact Info:

• Website: THEWOODLANDSEYECENTER.COM

Image Credits
Matsuda, Mykita, Gotti