Classroom to Clinic— resources for Your Career Success.
Issue: May 2026
You are part of the next generation of eye care professionals, and you bring valuable contributions to the industry through your most-current education, cutting-edge training, and overall technical awareness and aptitude. That said, you still have more to discover when you begin actual practice alongside the experienced professionals who have been practicing before you arrived; they are just as valuable. Consider these veteran colleagues indispensable resources that help you further hone your knowledge and shape your expertise. This is the space where the new OD and the seasoned doctors collaborate to deliver the very best patient care.
To the Class of 2026… Congratulations on this extraordinary milestone. After years of hard work, you have arrived at this moment.
Before your next chapter begins, I encourage you all to take a meaningful break. Rest, travel, reflect, and celebrate. You’ve earned it and the profession will be better for doctors who begin their careers renewed and grounded.
You are entering a profession at a moment of remarkable transformation. Advances in AI and technology will expand what’s possible, allowing you to deliver more precise, personalized, and impactful care than ever before. With that opportunity comes responsibility: that you remain curious, flexible, and committed to lifelong learning.
Dr. Quy Nguyen, VSP Senior Director of Doctor Relations
Interview readiness (even without full-time experience) You have built a big network and meaningful relationships during your journey—classmates, faculty, and industry partners like VSP—don’t forget to lean on them for support as you begin the next chapter. And of course, don’t forget to leverage programs and resources available to you as you continue your lifelong journey to be the best doctor you can be.
Again, congratulations! Quy H. Nguyen, OD Sr. Director, Doctor Relations
“When I graduated from optometry school in 2023, I stepped into a profession I loved—along with significant student loan debt and all the uncertainty that comes with being a new doctor. What I didn’t expect was how profoundly VSP would support me, both financially and as a developing leader.”
Recently, Dr. Siddiqi shared how two VSP® programs helped her build confidence and find success. She explains how VSP’s Student Loan Repayment program helped her tackle student debt, while VSP’s Future Leaders Academy helped her chart a path to leadership. Applications for the 2027 Future Leaders Academy cohort are open June 5–21. Together, these programs helped her focus on patient care instead of finances and gain mentorship that strengthened her practice every day.
Read Dr. Siddiqi’s full story | Explore Student Loan Repayment and Future Leaders Academy
In 2025, VSP Vision™ invested more than $350,000 in scholarships and grants to help optometry students and new graduates reach their career goals. This is just one of the many highlights from the VSP Vision 2025 Impact Report.
The VSP Vision Impact Report regularly spotlights key initiatives undertaken and achieved with the support of network doctors, community partners, and employees. The key efforts highlighted in the report demonstrate VSP Vision’s commitment to social responsibility and are divided into three focus areas:
Take a moment to read the full report, where you’ll find stories from people who received life-changing eye care services from VSP network doctors, children who no longer struggle to see, and first-generation college students pursuing a career focused on helping individuals see every possibility.
Read the full VSP Impact Report
Your assignment: develop a strategic approach that can help you jump start a professional and personable presence among a practice’s current patient base, establish and grow your reputation, and boost your impact along the way. Your best move before you arrive is to create a clear onboarding and marketing plan for yourself.
At a glance, here are the key tenets of Shelby’s personal marketing checklist:
Your goal will be to establish a relationship within the practice and among its patient base. You’ll foster a healthy familiarity when you make a concerted effort to integrate yourself at the outset. Plus, you’ll continue to adapt yourself to make the greatest possible impact on people's lives—those you’ll work with and those you’ll treat.
Read Shelby Wade’s full article
Congratulations to Roheena Malik, OD—a VSP® network doctor and 2025 VSP Future Leaders Academy graduate—on being named the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Stephanie Kirschbaum Living in Purpose Award.
This annual program honors the legacy of longtime VSP Ambassador and Eyes of Hope® advocate Stephanie Kirschbaum.
This year, Dr. Malik will partner with Parker Family Health Center to host a mobile clinic in New Jersey. The center will also receive a $10,000 VSP Vision grant to support its mission
Read the full story | Learn more about VSP Eyes of Hope
One of the biggest optometry events is just around the corner. Will you be there? Read more about the American Optometric Association (AOA) annual event, coming to Phoenix, AZ, June 17 – 20, 2026.
Learn more & register to attend
Find hot OD job opportunities in a variety of career settings, from private practice to corporate to medical hybrid settings and more. Find the career opportunity that suits you. Visit the VSP Careers Page today!
Retail Opportunities
Total Vision Full-Time Optometrist – Santa Clara, CA Total Vision is hiring a full-time Optometrist to join our Santa Clara practice and make a real impact in a thriving patient-centered environment. Enjoy a competitive compensation package, strong support team, and the opportunity to practice full-scope optometry. To sweeten the offer, we’re providing a $10,000 signing bonus for the right candidate. If you’re ready to grow your career with a respected organization, we’d love to connect.
Learn More / Apply Now
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Total Vision Full-Time Optometrist – Riverside, CA Total Vision is hiring a full-time Optometrist to join our Riverside practice in a supportive, patient-focused environment. This role offers a great work-life balance with no weekend hours, allowing you to focus on your career without sacrificing personal time. You’ll work with a strong clinical team and an established patient base while practicing full-scope optometry. If you’re looking for a rewarding weekday-only opportunity, we’d love to connect.
Optical Outlets
Optical Outlets Full-Time Optometrist Zephyrhills, FL Eye Doctor’s Optical Outlets, a VSP Vision company, has supported the eye health of Central Florida communities for more than 35 years. Our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and quality eyewear at an affordable price. Enjoy a fun, inclusive work environment while helping patients bring their best vision to life.
Visionworks Opportunities
Visionworks — Employed Full-Time Optometrist Oswego, NY Visionworks is seeking an ambitious Optometrist dedicated to excellent patient care. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, this role offers a fresh start with a fast-growing organization focused on helping patients see, feel, and look great.
Visionworks – Employed Full-Time Optometrist Springfield, PA Optometrists with an entrepreneurial spirit dedicated to patent care who strongly desire to help grow the business long-term. Candidates should have excellent clinical and people skills. Must be committed to providing patients with the highest level of care and a wide range of services to ensure optimal eye health and vision for a lifetime. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, this opportunity can take your career to the next level. This location qualifies for additional incentives, apply for details.
Visionworks - PC Full-Time Optometrist Johnstown, CO – Sowash Optometry Group Sowash Optometry Group is a family-owned optometry practice that started in 2000 in Denver, Colorado. We are a doctor-owned, patient-centric group that provides convenient, caring, and personalized eye care to our patients. You can enjoy the benefits of practicing without the hassle of running the business. We handle all the insurance filing, credentialing, staff hiring, and training, without on-call or after-hours work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and bonus incentives. You’ll enjoy access to modern equipment and technology, healthy work-life balance, and the support of a collaborative, patient-centered culture that values you and your expertise.
Visionworks - PC Full-Time Optometrist Sacramento, CA Visionworks is seeking a dedicated Optometrist who is passionate about delivering high-quality, patient-centered eye care in a supportive and well-equipped practice environment. As part of a nationally recognized organization at the intersection of healthcare and retail, you’ll focus on what matters most—your patients—while Visionworks handles the operational and administrative support.
Visionworks — Employed Full-Time Optometrist Annapolis, Maryland Up to $50K in Total Incentives If you are an outstanding Optometrist, whose primary goal is to provide excellent patient care, we are interested in talking to you! Visionworks is seeking an ambitious and passionate Optometrist who would love a fresh start with a fast-growing company dedicated to helping patients see great, feel great, and look great. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, this opportunity can take your career to the next level.
We offer excellent compensation and comprehensive benefits package:
Corporate Opportunities
Optometrist (Palm Eye Care) Full Time Niceville, FL, US Palm Eye Care brings expert eye care to Florida's beautiful Emerald Coast. With its laid-back atmosphere and proximity to popular beaches like Destin and Navarre, the practice offers a unique blend of lifestyle and opportunity. The fast-paced, high-demand practice serves a diverse patient base, including families and professionals from the nearby military base. It provides comprehensive eye care, including specialty contact lenses and treatment for a range of ocular diseases. As the area continues its rapid growth, Palm Eye Care is committed to expanding access to high-quality eye care by welcoming another doctor to its friendly team.
Private Practice Opportunities
Dr. Anacleto “Nick” Gutierrez, O.D. Full-Time Optometrist Sacramento, CA The professionals at Dr. Anacleto "Nick" Gutiérrez, O.D. go above and beyond to offer unparalleled service in a comfortable, friendly, professional practice setting. The practice offers full-scope optometry, specializing in ocular disease treatment and management, specialty contact lenses, post-surgical care for cataracts and LASIK refractive surgery, and partners with local ophthalmologists.
Onsite Clinics
Full-Time Optometrist Newport News, VA This exciting contract opportunity enables you to serve a large member base for one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the United States. You’ll have the opportunity to provide comprehensive vision exam services to employees and dependents in a modern, health and vision center equipped with state-of-the-art automated optical equipment and behind-the-scenes functional technology—plus you'll have access to optical supplies and a highly-trained support staff.
Medical Opportunities
Aran Eye Associates Clinical Optometrist Miami, FL Join a growing medical/surgical practice dedicated to preserving and improving vision. Aran Eye Associates is seeking a medically trained Optometrist committed to comprehensive patient care and long-term professional growth in a rewarding clinical environment.
Career Support Resources
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