A New Chapter in Independence

When I think about the word independence, I don’t only think about owning a practice. I think more about the freedom to build something meaningful, the ability to put patients first and the opportunity to shape a career that reflects your own values. These are the reasons I’m excited to serve as Independent Strong’s new Professional Editor.

It truly is an honor to join a community that celebrates innovation, resilience and the entrepreneurial spirit of independent eyecare. Whether you’ve been a practice owner for 30+ years, recently opened your doors or are still dreaming of what ownership might look like someday, I hope this publication continues to be a place where you find ideas, inspiration, encouragement and practical strategies to help you thrive.

Like many careers, mine hasn’t always followed a perfectly straight path. Along the way, I’ve found some of the greatest opportunities came from saying “yes” before I had everything figured out. Saying yes to leadership roles, business ownership and challenges outside my comfort zone have become foundational opportunities that allowed me to grow, learn and connect with incredible people. None of those experiences were part of a carefully designed master plan.

I grew up in Texas and always assumed that after optometry school (in Indiana), I would eventually find my way back home. But life had other plans. After residency, I accepted a position in central Maine with the perfect location equidistant from the ocean and mountains. It was supposed to be a one-year adventure year filled with skiing in the winter and beaching in the summer. That one-year adventure turned into something much bigger.

I quickly fell in love with Maine, its people and the sense of community that exists within independent practice. Just eight months after moving there, an opportunity presented itself that seemed both exciting and terrifying: purchasing a private practice.

Looking back, saying yes wasn’t the “safe” decision, but it was certainly the right one. More than a decade later, I still smile at the Texas girl who never imagined she would be a business owner in New England. Today, alongside two incredible business partners, we’ve been able to scale our practice while continuing to invest in our patients, community and our teams. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding.

Independent practice is certainly rooted in clinical excellence and sound business decisions, but it’s also about people. It’s the patients who trust us with their vision, the team members who help make exceptional care possible every day and the colleagues who are willing to share ideas and knowledge. Some of the best insight I’ve gained hasn’t been from a text, but conversations with fellow doctors who were generous enough to share what worked, what didn’t and what they wish they had known sooner.

This is exactly what I hope we continue to do here at Independent Strong—create a place where we learn from one another. In the months ahead, we’ll explore more than just clinical care. We will discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, business growth strategies, technology, patient experiences, innovation and the many decisions that shape successful independent practices. We’ll also celebrate the doctors behind those practices and the individuals that continue to strengthen our profession.

I’m incredible grateful for the opportunity to serve as Professional Editor, and I am excited for what lies ahead. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey. I look forward to learning from all of you, sharing your stories and helping inspire the next generation of independent practices. Here’s to a year of new ideas, meaningful conversations and the exciting future of independent eyecare.

With gratitude,

Jessilin Quint, OD, MBA, MS, FAAO