Melanie Denton Dombrowski, O.D., cold-started Salisbury Eyecare & Eyewear in Salisbury, NC, in 2015. Today, Dr. Denton leads her practice, creates content for more than 6,000 subscribers on YouTube, and still manages to make balloon animals for her young patients.

As for this inspirational optometrist’s advice to fellow O.D.s right now?

“I always encourage other O.D.s to follow their dreams,” she says. “Start the practice, build the building, create your dreams. The best time to start was yesterday. The second best is right now.” 

Your most distinctive characteristic?

I always wear dresses!

Inspiration to pursuing a career in eye care?

My great-uncle was an O.D. and served North Carolina as a board member, clinical examiner, and state society president during the years when the state passed diagnostic and therapeutic laws. I liked the possibility of owning a business, providing medical care, and also having a retail eyewear component to my office.

Greatest source of inspiration?

My husband recently retired from the Army after 23 years. He’s an incredibly inspiring person (read: a total badass, LOL) and works harder than anyone I know. Also, my daughter. I live for her.

Best activity to find calm?

5 a.m. workouts and 8 p.m. hot tub time keep me sane!

Your most rewarding professional accomplishment?

My great-uncle and I were awarded the Jack Robinson Clinical Excellence Award together last year. I was so honored to receive it, period, but to be awarded together was a dream.

Your eyecare heroes?

There are those that helped me learn such as Olee Olsen, O.D., (my uncle), Bill Rafferty, O.D., Jack Robinson, O.D., (North Carolina greats), and Mark Dunbar, O.D. And now, my friend Brianna Rhue, O.D., (Doctor Contact Lens co-founder), who is killing it as a practice owner and advocate for independent optometry and tech startups.

Most likely to splurge on?

Techy gadgets (think drone), home decor, and pretty dresses.

Pivot during Covid-19 to follow your dreams?

I have never been metaphorically “hungrier” and more inspired than during the shutdown. I set serious goals for my practice during that time. We have since invested in dry eye diagnostics and therapeutics and launched a successful dry eye specialty center that has helped many moderate to severe dry eye patients in our area. I also worked on my YouTube strategy and have exponentially grown the channel as a result!