Join Woo University’s Future Eyes Summit — a high-impact, half-day virtual event designed exclusively for 3rd/4th year optometry students and new grads. No fluff. Just real-world strategies, candid advice, and clinical + career clarity to help you launch a new chapter with confidence.
Date: Sunday, March 15th, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time
Moderator: Ukti Vora, MBA, MOptom, FAAO
Time: 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Title: Find Your Circle: Mentors, Networks & Professional Growth
Description: Build meaningful relationships that support and shape your career. Learn how to find mentors, gain confidence, and draw on the experience of seasoned ODs. Explore opportunities to join professional organizations, develop leadership skills, and expand your professional network. Attendees will gain practical insights to cultivate connections with mentors, peers, and colleagues that will provide guidance and support throughout their careers.
Speaker: Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS
Time: 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Title: Choose your OD Adventure
Description: Discover the variety of career paths in optometry—from corporate and private practice to academic and multidisciplinary settings. For those aiming to start a practice, learn practical strategies for cold starts, subleasing, and getting everything off the ground. Discover how every opportunity can serve as a stepping stone to your ideal career and help you land your dream job!
Speaker: Jasdeep Singh Soni, OD
Time: 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM: Promotional Presentation #1
Time: 9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
Title: “Show Me the Money”: Loans, Lifestyle & Long-Term Freedom
Description: Get savvy with the business side of optometry. Explore the essentials of personal finance and student loan repayment. Learn about paying taxes, business structures, malpractice coverage, and key contract negotiation tips. Build your business literacy and awareness from day one to make confident decisions and set yourself up for long-term financial freedom.
Speaker: Evon Mendrin, CFP, CSLP
Time: 9:45 AM – 10:00 AM: Promotional Presentation #2
Time: 10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Title: You’re the Doctor Now: Growing Clinical Confidence
Description: Transform your clinical knowledge into confident, compassionate patient care. This session emphasizes effective patient communication, empathy, and collaboration with optometric team members. Participants will learn strategies for managing diverse patient populations and handling challenging patient encounters with professionalism and care. Attendees will leave equipped to navigate the nuances of real world patient care with confidence and competence.
Speaker: Todd Peabody, OD
Time: 10:45 AM – 11:00 AM: Promotional Presentation #3
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Title: Licensed, Legit & Ready to Lead!
Description: Kickstart your career by mastering the essentials, from securing licensure in your desired state, to staying on top of continuing education, and meeting credentialing requirements. Explore whether a residency is right for you and learn how completing one can strengthen your competitiveness, open doors to diverse career paths, and build a strong foundation for long term success.
Speaker: Eric Harris, OD, FAAO
Time: 11:30 AM – 11:45 AM: Promotional Presentation #4
Time: 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Title: Balance, Boundaries & Burnout: Designing a Career You Don’t Need a Vacation From
Description: Set yourself up for a thriving career by prioritizing work-life balance and preventing burnout. Learn practical strategies to protect your time, manage stress, and maintain flexibility as your career evolves. Attendees will gain actionable tools to build resilience, maintain balance, and thrive both personally and professionally. Your optometry career is a marathon, not a sprint. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Speaker: Kaleb Abbott, OD, FAAO