Technology is no longer a “nice-to-have” in optometry — it’s the edge that separates growing practices from stagnant ones.
In this episode of Power Hour, Eugene Shatsman brings together two leading innovators transforming how care is delivered and experienced: Grant Schmid, VP of Business Development at Altris AI, and Steven Marinkovich, Sr. Director of Sales at Adit. Together, they unpack how AI and automation are already reshaping clinical decisions, patient communication, and what the fully tech-enabled practice will look like by 2028.
Many practices still rely on outdated workflows that feel “good enough” until they aren’t. From missed pathology to unreturned calls, inefficiencies quietly chip away at patient trust and practice growth.
That’s where Grant Schmid from Altris AI step in. By transforming traditional OCT scans into color-coded, patient-friendly visuals and identifying over 70 pathologies, their AI isn’t replacing the doctor — it’s supporting sharper decisions and stronger patient understanding. When patients can see what’s happening inside their eyes, they’re more likely to trust your care and stick to it.
But, clinical precision alone doesn’t drive retention. As Steven Marinkovich from Adit explains, communication breakdowns are one of the biggest culprits behind churn. Adit’s platform solves that by combining texts, emails, and even automated voice calls using the doctor’s own voice to boost recall rates and reduce no-shows, without piling more work on your front desk.
Still hesitant? You’re not alone. As Grant puts it, adopting new tech is a bit like switching from a Blackberry to an iPhone — familiarity can keep you stuck, but those who make the leap don’t look back. And as Steven emphasizes, automation isn’t about replacing people; it’s about freeing your team from the grind, improving morale, and letting them focus on what really moves the needle: patient care.
Technology doesn’t erase the personal touch, it amplifies it. This episode is your glimpse into the future of optometry, and a practical guide for what to implement now so you’re not left behind later.
Key Takeaways
- AI That Empowers, Not Replaces: Use clinical AI to support smarter decisions and simplify patient education.
- Voice Tech Is Coming: Hear how AI will soon be calling patients using your doctor’s actual voice.
- Autopilot That Works: Learn what communication automations actually save time without losing personalization.
- Churn Reduction = Growth: How to identify and re-engage inactive patients using targeted recall campaigns.
- Tech ≠ Disruption: Discover how lightweight, browser-based tools eliminate friction in adoption.
- The “Blackberry Syndrome”: Why clinging to old workflows could quietly cap your practice’s growth.
In This Episode
- 00:00 – Introduction
- 04:32 – Why optometry is finally embracing innovation
- 08:18 – AI in the exam lane
- 12:00 – What gets patients to show up and stay loyal
- 15:08 – Reactivation strategies that work
- 20:12 – Overcoming objections
- 23:53 – The power of positioning
- 34:41 – What practices will look like by 2028
- 37:58 – The role of trust, Netflix… and your dentist
- 46:22 – Managing change without overwhelming your staff
- 48:22 – Lightning round: Tech myths, key metrics & lessons
Contact Information
Connect with Steven Marinkovich
Steven Marinkovich has spent the past 11 years in medical sales with a software focus, specializing in sales leadership, business development, and strategic growth. His career began as an SDR fresh out of college, and has since advanced through roles as an Account Executive, Sales Manager, Director of Sales, and Vice President of Sales.
Throughout his career, he has consistently been a top-performing sales professional, frequently holding the #1 spot and always ranking within the top three at every company he’s contributed to. Beyond individual sales success, he is passionate about business development and forging strategic partnerships that drive sustainable company growth.
Currently, Steven serves as the Senior Director of Sales for Adit’s Eye Care Division, which he helped launch in September 2024. This has been Adit’s fastest-growing industry launch to date, and is committed to amplifying its momentum and continued success.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmarinkovich/
Website: https://adit.com/
Connect with Grant Schmid
Grant Schmid is an award-winning and Innovative Global Sales Leader with a 20+ year track record of exceeding financial goals by driving company revenue strategy and sales performance in Enterprise and Early Stage Healthcare companies.
In these roles, he has capitalized on positioning Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform technology to ignite GTM (Go to Market Strategy), revenue expansion, profit, sales effectiveness, productivity, brand recognition and account growth against established competitors.
He currently serves as Vice President of Business Development at Altris AI, a standalone AI platform for OCT scan analysis that improves diagnostic decision-making for eye care specialists.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-schmid-9587185/
Website: https://www.altris.ai/
Connect with Eugene Shatsman
Website – https://www.eugeneshatsman.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugeneshatsman