VIEWPOINT
Lessons Learned in 2001

The year of the one-two punch. Those are the words that first come to mind when I try to describe 2001. In the midst of the whirlwind that was the LASIK market, we began feeling the effects of an economic downturn. As we struggled to adjust our practices and personal lives accordingly, the tragedy of Sept. 11, the unthinkable, hit.

I think I can speak for many of us when I say that on that day, and the days that followed, we paused, looked around us, and re-evaluated what was important. Eventually, out of that soul-searching, came some realizations about our professional plans and priorities, or lack thereof.

By midyear, it was crystal clear why it wasn't a good idea to put all of our eggs in the LASIK basket. We'll know better next time than to allow our practices to become overly dependent on a segment of patient care that is subject to shifts in the economy. And now, at the end of the year, most of us are a lot more focused on how we'll take on the future. We'll plan more solidly than we had been, for the sake of ourselves, our employees, our families and our patients. We'll take with us the lessons of 2001 by "reading the fine print" and counting the costs of new ventures before jumping in, even if they seem like sure bets. We'll continue to grow our practices by trying new things, but we'll do so with eyes wide open and not at the expense of what are and have been our strengths.

REFLECTING ON THE YEAR AS A WHOLE

Also, we shouldn't let the events of the latter part of the year overshadow the positive developments that also materialized. With that in mind, I encourage you to read this month's cover story, "Ophthalmology's Year in Review," for a fresh perspective on what transpired in 2001 in our wonderful profession.

Read it in the new light that this year has shined upon us. Reflect on the positives and the negatives, which will both help shape the years to come.