What if scaling your optometry practice isn’t inside the exam lane, but outside it?
In this week’s episode of Power Hour, Eugene Shatsman sits down with a legend in the industry — Dr. Gary Gerber, co-founder of Treehouse Eyes, seasoned consultant, and founder of the Power Practice, for a conversation that breaks every mold you’ve come to expect from practice growth advice.
This isn’t about KPIs, chair time, or capture rate.
It’s about you, and whether the way you’re showing up in your practice is actually aligned with who you are and what drives you.
Dr. Gerber shares his personal journey of stepping away from clinical care to pursue passions in speaking, writing, and entrepreneurship. He reveals how doing so didn’t just reignite his energy, but made him a more insightful leader, and helped him build ventures that impacted thousands of patients and practitioners alike.
Together, Eugene and Gary explore what happens when you lean into your “zone of genius” — the space where passion meets talent, and how that shift can ripple into greater clarity, productivity, and yes, even profitability.
As Dr. Gerber said, “Most burnout doesn’t come from too many patients or too many hours. It comes from living out of sync with your purpose.”
They also reflect on the legacy of Power Hour, how the show was born in a moment of frustration and opportunity, and what they both hope it will continue to mean for the next generation of eye care professionals.
Whether you’re an early-career OD questioning your path, or a seasoned practice owner feeling stuck despite your success, this episode will challenge how you define growth — and what truly fuels it.
Key Takeaways
- Redefining Success: Why traditional definitions of growth often leave ODs feeling unfulfilled, and what to focus on instead.
- Zone of Genius: How identifying your unique gifts outside of optometry can bring clarity to your role inside it.
- Burnout Recovery: The surprising link between hobbies and leadership performance, and why some “non-work” activities may be your most strategic move.
- Authentic Leadership: Why self-awareness and alignment are the real keys to sustainable success.
- The Power Hour Legacy: Behind-the-scenes stories of how the industry’s most iconic podcast was born, and why it’s more relevant than ever.
In This Episode
00:00 – Introduction
02:11 – Dr. Gerber’s transition from clinical optometry to marketing and consulting
06:46 – How pursuing your non-optometric interests can reignite your professional life
10:21 – Defining your “zone of genius”
14:51 – How hobbies make you a better leader
18:31 – When to pivot vs. push through
22:13 – What younger ODs get wrong about success (and how to fix it)
25:45 – Cultivating practice culture through authentic leadership and personal growth
29:01 – From the exam lane to the podcast mic
33:21 – Why self-awareness trumps ambition in long-term career satisfaction
36:41 – Power Hour legacy, origin story, and lessons from years of podcasting
41:03 – What optometry needs most right now
43:41 – Why chasing alignment matters more than chasing revenue
Contact Information
Connect with Dr. Gary Gerber
Dr. Gary Gerber is a pioneering optometrist, entrepreneur, and thought leader known for transforming how practices operate and grow. As the original host of The Power Practice, he has helped countless ODs boost profitability and patient care through innovative business strategies. He is also the co-founder of Treehouse Eyes, the first U.S. company solely dedicated to myopia management in children, an initiative that has redefined early intervention in eye health.
A SUNY College of Optometry graduate, Dr. Gerber ran a successful private practice for 20 years before becoming a nationally recognized speaker, consultant, and the former host of The Power Hour radio show. His work bridges clinical excellence and business intelligence, making him one of the most influential voices in optometry today.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockyourmind/
Website: https://treehouseeyes.com/
Band: https://www.thejimmysbuffet.com/
Connect with Eugene Shatsman:
Website – https://www.eugeneshatsman.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugeneshatsman