How Optometrists Are Redefining Career Shifts, Parenthood, And Mental Health Defocus Media Podcast Network podcast

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How Optometrists Are Redefining Career Shifts, Parenthood, and Mental Health

2d ago 45:20

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In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, career shifts in optometry are becoming more common and more necessary. As the industry adapts to changing patient needs, technology, and work-life expectations, eye care professionals are rethinking what it means to grow in their careers. For many, these shifts are driven by more than ambition—they reflect a deeper alignment with values, family priorities, and personal well-being.

Dr. Kate Hamm’s journey illustrates how modern optometrists can successfully transition across multiple practice settings while staying grounded in purpose. From exploring private practice and consulting to becoming a mother and prioritizing her mental health, Dr. Hamm shows that navigating change with strategy and heart is not only possible—it’s empowering. This article explores how her story can inspire fellow optometrists to embrace their own evolution with confidence.

Dr. Kate Hamm, Optometrist and Podcaster

Topics Covered

Lessons from an Unconventional Career Path

Dr. Kate Hamm’s career journey is a powerful reminder that there is no single “correct” path in optometry. Her interest in the profession didn’t start with a clinical dream—it started with physics. An optics course in college sparked a passion that led her to change majors, shift her focus from teaching to health care, and ultimately enroll in optometry school. This academic pivot, though unconventional, became the foundation for a career built on curiosity, adaptability, and bold decision-making.

Throughout her journey, Dr. Hamm explored nearly every corner of the profession. She has worked in private practice, corporate optometry, consulting roles, and rural clinics. Each move was based on a thoughtful evaluation of her goals and lifestyle at the time. Her career story highlights several important takeaways for professionals considering a change:

Transitions should be driven by internal motivation. When the desire to shift comes from within, it’s more likely to lead to satisfaction and growth.
Community and mentorship matter. Kate’s “wise council” of trusted friends and mentors played a key role in helping her make difficult decisions.
Core values guide the way. Staying connected to what matters most—like patient care, personal well-being, or family—provides clarity when evaluating new roles.
Curiosity is a strength. Whether it was an unexpected optics class or a move to rural practice, following her interests led Kate to meaningful opportunities.

Kate’s story is proof that embracing detours can lead to an even more fulfilling destination.

Navigating Career Transitions with Confidence

One of the most daunting aspects of a career change is deciding whether or not to make the leap. For many professionals, especially those in health care, the fear of losing stability or facing uncertainty can be paralyzing. Dr. Hamm knows this feeling well—but she also knows the power of preparation and self-trust.

Rather than letting fear dictate her decisions, Kate approached each career shift with intention. She and her husband created a “do and don’t” list for every major opportunity they considered. This list included everything from location preferences and time commitments to cultural values and support systems. It gave her a practical framework for evaluating fit—and it ensured she didn’t settle for roles that didn’t align with her long-term goals.

Networking also played a major role in her transitions. When she realized a role was no longer serving her, Kate didn’t keep it to herself. She reached out to colleagues, mentors, and friends in the profession who helped her explore new possibilities and offered encouragement along the way. This network of support made each shift less of a jump and more of a strategic next step.

Kate’s approach to change teaches a valuable lesson: successful transitions don’t require impulsive decisions. With planning, honest reflection, and a strong community, career evolution can be steady and empowering.

Balancing Parenthood and Professional Life

Parenthood is a transformational experience—and for eye care professionals, it introduces new dimensions of identity, responsibility, and time management. After navigating infertility and welcoming her daughter, Kate found herself reevaluating what fulfillment looked like in both her personal and professional life. The experience shifted not only her schedule but also her sense of self.

To accommodate the demands of motherhood while maintaining her passion for patient care, Kate adjusted her work week to four days and blocked time for family routines. She focused on being present in moments that mattered most—whether it was cleaning the house with a podcast on or picking up her daughter early from daycare. These changes were not just logistical—they were intentional steps toward building a life where both roles could thrive.

Importantly, Kate emphasized the need to be confident in your choices. She acknowledged that not every day will be perfect, and some days will come with guilt, doubt, or fatigue. But clarity comes from knowing your priorities and honoring them. Whether it’s staying home to care for a sick child or showing up fully in clinic, each decision should align with what feels right in that moment.

Her example underscores a vital message: you don’t have to choose between being an engaged parent and a successful optometrist. With clear boundaries, supportive systems, and self-awareness, both identities can coexist—and even enhance each other.

Protecting Mental Health in Optometry

Amid the many hats optometrists wear, mental health often gets overlooked. Yet it’s one of the most critical elements of long-term career success and personal fulfillment. For Dr. Hamm, postpartum depression served as a wake-up call to take her mental health as seriously as any professional obligation.

Kate speaks openly about how therapy, medication, and community helped her regain balance after giving birth. She also talks about the pressure many new parents and healthcare providers feel to “do it all.” That pressure, she argues, is unrealistic—and counterproductive. Instead, she urges colleagues to normalize seeking help, setting boundaries, and prioritizing rest and nourishment.

One of the most powerful realizations she shares is that being a great doctor requires taking care of yourself first. If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or emotionally drained, it becomes much harder to care for others. Mental health isn’t a luxury—it’s a professional necessity.

Dr. Hamm’s honesty helps destigmatize these conversations in the eye care space. Her message is clear: it’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to slow down. And it’s absolutely necessary to create space for your own healing and growth.

Redefining Growth and Fulfillment

In a traditional sense, career growth often meant climbing the ladder—staying in one position for years, taking on more responsibility, and eventually reaching leadership. But today’s optometrists are redefining growth on their own terms, and Dr. Kate Hamm is a prime example of that shift.

Her journey has included private practice, consulting, rural care, podcasting, and mentorship. Rather than chasing titles or prestige, Kate pursued alignment. She sought out roles that allowed her to show up as her full self—whether that meant seeing a wide range of clinical cases in a rural setting or mentoring new graduates through contract negotiations.

Her podcast, Lunch Date with Rachel and Kate, provides a platform to share lessons, insights, and support with fellow eye care professionals. Through candid conversations, she’s helping others understand that fulfillment isn’t one-size-fits-all. For some, it’s running a bustling practice. For others, it’s working part-time while raising children or volunteering in the community.

Growth, as Kate sees it, is about evolution—not just in your role, but in your mindset and your impact. It’s about doing what feels right in each season of life and being open to what’s next.

Final Thoughts and Takeaways

The modern optometrist is not just a clinician—they’re a parent, a leader, a partner, a mentor, and an advocate for their own well-being. As the industry continues to evolve, so must our definitions of success. Career shifts in optometry are not detours—they are deliberate decisions that reflect who we are and what we value.

Dr. Kate Hamm’s journey reminds us that growth can be strategic, intentional, and deeply personal. Whether you’re exploring new opportunities, adjusting to parenthood as an optometrist, or learning to protect your mental health, the key is to stay rooted in your purpose.

Let this be your reminder: change is not something to fear. It’s something to design—one thoughtful step at a time.

18 episodes

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