Beyond Success: Dr. Melissa Barnett on Giving Back and Uplifting Others
Of all the fantastic optometrists I've met through my creative work, Dr. Melissa Barnett certainly stands out as one of the most respected and successful. She's a world-renowned expert in scleral lenses and specialty contact lenses who has authored over 300 articles and delivered 500+ lectures world-wide.
But recently, she discovered even more fulfillment from something different:
Empowering other optometrists to reach their full potential.
Her core belief in work and life is helping others, and recently she took another step towards coaching by becoming a professional credentialed coach (ICF-ACC) for eye doctors. She joined Riyad and I on our podcast to share her journey.
The Ripple Effect of Scleral Lenses
Early in her career, Dr. Barnett was working in a practice with four corneal specialists, but they didn't have scleral lens technology at the time.
She reached out to several people for help, and Craig Norman came to her practice and taught them how to fit scleral lenses with their own patients. She credits this hands-on, in-practice training as completely life-changing.
"This little piece of plastic is completely life changing," she explains. "I believe that scleral lenses don't just change the lives of our patients. It changes their family's lives. If someone's able to work, or go to school, or travel, or be independent, it changes their partner, their kids and their family and communities."
Paying It Forward
Now, Dr. Barnett does for others exactly what Craig did for her. "I am so fortunate to be able to go into practices now just like Craig did all those years ago," she says, "and I've been doing that for many years."
Dr. Barnett emphasized that having someone come into your practice is advantageous because what works for one office might not work in another.
Finding Joy in Optometry
As much as she believes in the impact of specialty contacts, she believes that specialty work isn't the only path to finding joy in optometry.
"You can work in primary care, and can be doing great work. Maybe it's how you communicate with patients that is your strength. Maybe it's about how to train your staff and how to elevate them. You can fit multifocal contact lenses—this is primary care work, but that can completely change people's lives. And what about seeing a kid and giving them their first pair of glasses so that they can see?"
Her advice? Remember your why.
"Think about all those years ago when you were thinking about applying to optometry school—what is your story? Why did it bring you here? And bring that to your day to day."
From Mentoring to Coaching
Dr. Barnett's transition into professional coaching emerged naturally from decades of mentoring. She spoke of having been involved in a number of mentoring program over the years, which eventually got her into coaching.
She launched Alpine Blue Coaching which leverages her extensive eyecare experience, helping practitioners navigate everything from clinical efficiency to reconnecting with their purpose.
On our Monday Fuel segment, she spoke of helping a client transition successfully to a more fulfilling position. Despite being a global leader who presents to thousands of people, I could see that her biggest joy in work comes from uplifting the individual in front of her.
Giving Back and Uplifting Others
When asked what work happiness means to her now, she said:
"Work happiness to me means giving back. My goal is to share all the knowledge and make it easier for all of you to succeed. I've had a wonderful career. I have been so fortunate to be able to travel the world and meet the most amazing people and help so many people, but right now it's having the most impact and helping the most people in the greatest way possible."
True to her words, right after recording our podcast, she left to catch a plane for a VOSH optometry volunteer trip to Nicaragua with her two sons who would help translate Spanish.
Whether through her clinical guides, speaking engagements, or Alpine Blue Coaching, Dr. Barnett continues to give back—one patient, one practitioner, one community at a time.
To learn more about working with Dr. Barnett, visit Alpine Blue Coaching or find her on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
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