Building a Modern Practice - Justin Nguyen & Alyssa Pack - Optometrists Building Empires - Ep # 087
How do you grow 30% year-over-year while building a marriage, a team, and a brand in the same office? On this week’s episode of Optometrists Building Empires, host Ankit Patel sits down with Dr. Justin Nguyen and Dr. Alyssa Pack, co-owners of Eyecare at the Cove Optometry in La Jolla, California. They break down how farmers’ markets, local events, and boots-on-the-ground outreach translated into a lot of new patients per year, and how 100+ organic Google reviews strengthened their reputation. You’ll also hear how they navigated staffing struggles, leveraged virtual support, optimized insurance reimbursements, and leaned into specialty services like myopia management, sclerals, and emerging technology to future-proof their practice. If you’re refining your systems, strengthening your team, or looking for smarter ways to grow, this conversation is filled with practical takeaways and real experience.
Takeaways:
- Mindset drives momentum. Viewing obstacles as opportunities helped them navigate facility issues, staffing gaps, and early growing pains.
- Community builds empires. Farmers' markets, art festivals, and door-to-door introductions planted seeds that turned into long-term referrals.
- Organic reviews matter. They strengthen credibility and influence how new patients choose your practice.
- Systems create scale. Free up time and strengthen team autonomy by documenting processes and insurance protocols.
- Leverage virtual team members. A trained virtual receptionist and scribe improved flow and reduced burnout.
- Go all-in on specialty care. Offering full-spectrum myopia management and specialty lenses creates differentiation and sustainable growth.
- Technology is the future. AI, personalized care, and wearables are reshaping optometry, and early adopters will lead.
Quote of the Show:
- “ We're stronger together. We're great clinicians separately, but we're even better business partners together.” - Alyssa Pack
Links:
- LinkedIn:
- Facebook:
- Company website: https://www.eyecareatthecove.com/index.html
- Email:office@eyecareatthecove.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eyecareatthecove/
- Book a Meeting with Ankit: https://meetings.hubspot.com/ankit98/optometry-redefined?uuid=e5cd456c-9db4-42c7-b106-2b6e250a6d01
- Optometry Redefined Book: https://www.amazon.com/Optometry-Redefined-Master-Resourcing-Performance/dp/B0FKJTZGJ3/ref=monarch_sidesheet_image
Ways to Tune In:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5w1H9BBwRXvBSSkexePYxG
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optometrists-building-empires/id1762685070
- Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/689a039b-54ce-4f04-b641-66d8640d93d0
- Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/optometrists-building-empires-5812208
Creators and Guests
