The Independent Advantage S02 E01: Implementing AI into your practice: It's not why, it's how

To kick off the second season of The Independent Advantage, the first episode sets the stage for a discussion on how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping independent optometric practice, particularly from the perspective of a practice owner. Hosted by Diana Canto-Sims, OD, a long-time practice owner in Chicago, Illinois, the video series is positioned as a practical, peer-to-peer resource for independent ODs who are looking for realistic ways to grow their practices and improve patient care. The tone is educational and grounded, targeting optometrists who may feel curious yet overwhelmed by rapid changes in technology and practice management.

Canto-Sims introduces the season’s premise: rather than promoting specific products for AI implementation, the goal is to focus on what is actually working in real practices, what is changing in the field, and what strategies are worth implementing. She notes that AI appears to be “everywhere” — conferences, webinars, LinkedIn — but that for many independent practice owners, the real question is not whether AI is important, but where to start.

The guest, Maria Sampalis, OD, is presented as both a clinician and a leader in the profession. She practices in Rhode Island, graduated from the New England College of Optometry, founded the Corporate Optometry community, and serves on the Board of Directors for Carrot, as well as on committees for the World Council of Optometry and the American Optometric Association. Her role in the episode is to offer practical, early-adopter insights into integrating AI tools in clinic workflows.

Sampalis frames AI’s current momentum as a response to concrete pressures in healthcare: staffing shortages, staff turnover, billing and cost challenges, increasing patient expectations, and declining reimbursements. She suggests that after trying many conventional solutions, doctors are now exploring AI as a way to “work smarter.” She briefly mentions some early implementations in her own setting, including AI for appointment scheduling and an AI scribe that helps with documentation during busy clinic days. These tools, she notes, help reduce the need for staff to be in the exam room at all times, freeing team members to support other areas of the practice, such as the optical. Overall, the conversation introduces AI as a set of emerging, practical tools aimed at efficiency, documentation support, and better patient service in independent optometry.