Most practice owners think growth is about doing more.

More patients, more staff, more lanes, and more locations.

But the truth is, scaling a practice is about building the right structure underneath it.

In this week’s episode of Power Hour, host Eugene Shatsman sits down with Dr. David Moore, President of Moore Eye Center, and Dr. Julia Zyrina, Founder of Pine Vision Care, two doctors who are both building exceptional practices, but in fundamentally different ways. 

They meet for the first time on the show, and what unfolds is a fascinating look at how two high-performing doctors can pursue growth through completely different philosophies.

They both prioritize patient experience. They both use technology to advance patient care. They’re both focused on building something bigger than themselves.

But the way they think about execution – exam flow, pace, trust-building, team consistency, hiring, and scale – is where the real contrast appears.

Two Approaches to the Same Goal

Both doctors are deeply intentional about how they practice, but they answer key questions very differently:

• How long should an exam be?
• What does a “great” patient interaction actually look like?
• How much should technology shape the experience vs. support it?
• What builds trust fastest with patients?

As they walk through their approaches, you begin to see that there are core principles for growth, but how you apply them can vary dramatically from practice to practice.

The Exam Isn’t Only Clinical, It’s Experiential

One of the most powerful parts of the conversation centers around the exam itself. Not just what happens clinically, but how it feels to the patient.

Dr. Moore and Dr. Zyrina break down:

• How they each structure the flow of the exam
• The role of conversation vs. efficiency
• How technology becomes part of the patient journey (not just a tool in the background)
• How small moments inside the exam build (or break) trust

At the end of the day, trust is what drives treatment acceptance, and trust is built in the details most practices overlook.

Technology as Part of the Experience

Both doctors leverage technology. But what’s fascinating is how differently they think about it.

This conversation isn’t about buying more devices. It’s about:

• How technology shapes perception
• How it influences communication
• How it reinforces credibility
• How it integrates into the story you’re telling patients

Used correctly, technology can heighten the entire patient experience. 

Consistency, Hiring, and Scaling the Right Way

As the conversation expands, it moves beyond the exam room and into the business itself. From the perspective of both ODs, building a great practice involves repeatability and scale.

They unpack how to think about hiring and bringing on associates, the challenge of maintaining consistency across providers, and what it really takes to grow beyond a single-doctor model.

At the same time, the discussion highlights how culture and expectations shape outcomes across the entire team.

And perhaps most importantly, they explore what starts to break when growth happens too quickly, or without the right foundation in place.

The Mindset Behind It All

Underneath all the tactics and strategies is something deeper:

How you think about building a business.

Dr. David Moore and Dr. Julia Zyrina met for the first time on this show, and while they share an obsession with advancing care through technology, their core philosophies on business, pace, and entrepreneurship are fascinatingly distinct.

Whether you are a “grinder” looking to scale into a multi-location CEO role or a “boutique” visionary focused on extreme patient intimacy and lifestyle freedom, this conversation provides a rare, honest look at the mindset required to win in today’s market.

Today’s Sponsor | Advancing Eye Care

Today’s episode is sponsored by Advancing Eye Care as part of their Practice Spotlight initiative. This effort is dedicated to highlighting the stories of extraordinary independent optometrists who are achieving remarkable success through innovation and high-quality care. By providing a platform for practitioners like Dr. David Moore and Dr. Julia Zyrina to share their unique journeys, Advancing Eye Care fosters a community of learning and professional excellence within the industry.

Advancing Eyecare is a partnership of leaders in the eyecare instrumentation marketplace established to offer the best products and service solutions in the ophthalmic equipment industry.

Click the following link to learn more: https://www.advancingeyecare.com/ 

• The Power of Visual Education and “Wow” Moments: Understand how high-tech tools transform the patient experience from a standard check-up into a visual journey. By showing patients their own anatomy in real-time, you learn how to build immediate trust that naturally leads to significantly higher treatment acceptance rates for specialties like dry eye and myopia.
• The High-Touch Philosophy: Relationship Building as a Clinical Moat: Learn the “boutique” approach of slowing down to dig deeper, seeing only two patients per hour to ensure every lifestyle need is uncovered. You’ll discover how performing your own pre-testing and workups creates a seamless, non-fragmented flow that maximizes patient trust and drives an 80% contact lens conversion rate.
• The High-Volume Philosophy: Standardizing Excellence Through Systems: See how a “CEO strategist” manages a multi-location practice by treating every lane as a standardized engine for care. You’ll learn the efficiency of seeing three patients an hour plus progress visits by offloading technical tasks to staff while maintaining a deep commitment to high-tech diagnostics across all locations.
• The Nine-Month Rule for Technology Implementation: Learn why successful technology integration requires a “preparation over reaction” mindset. 
• Hiring for Personality to Protect the Practice’s Team Dynamic: Discover why both owners prioritize personality and relationship-building skills over clinical credentials alone when adding associates. You’ll learn how to ensure that as you step back from the exam room, your team continues to deliver a consistent, high-touch experience.
• The “Neural Connection” of Early Associate Hiring: See how Julia’s lightbulb moment flipped her mindset from being a “doctor with a job” to a true business owner. You’ll learn how early delegation provides the mental “zoom out” necessary to improve systems and grow the business without being tied to the chair 40 hours a week.
• Strategic Selection of Equipment Partners: Understand why the relationship after the purchase is the real differentiator when choosing vendors. By hearing how David and Julia select partners like Marco and Advancing Eye Care, you’ll learn the value of “butler-style” service, fair financing, and long-term support that keeps your technology from becoming a “dust collector.”

Connect with Dr. Julia Zyrina

Dr. Julia Zyrina, OD, is the dedicated and highly skilled optometrist behind Pine Vision Care. With a passion for enhancing vision and a commitment to patient well-being, Dr. Zyrina provides top-notch eye care to the Philadelphia and Main Line communities. Before establishing Pine Vision Care, Dr. Zyrina gained invaluable experience working in various private practices. Her extensive background ensures that patients receive the highest quality care, tailored to their unique needs.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-zyrina-8662a260/ 
• Website: https://www.pinevisioncare.com/ 

Connect with Dr. David Moore

A Texan at heart and by birth, Dr. Moore brings that big heart and passion to providing the best possible vision care for each patient. It’s what led him to create the CLEAR concept and its welcoming environment truly befitting of Texas hospitality. Dr. Moore and his staff continuously strive for improvement of every process, service and technique to ensure CLEAR patients receive the best eye care anywhere.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-moore-1a875759/ 
• Website: https://www.cleareye.com/ 

Connect with Eugene Shatsman 

Eugene Shatsman is Host of Power Hour, Managing Partner of National Strategic Group, and a TEDx Speaker. A growth strategist and consultant to hundreds of optometric practices nationwide, Eugene specializes in scaling independent eye care businesses through structured strategy, marketing science, and operational clarity.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugeneshatsman/ 
• Website: eugeneshatsman.com