Meet Selvin

We had the good fortune of connecting with Selvin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Selvin, what do you want people to remember about you?
Owning my own business allows me to practice at the highest level allowed by my profession. In my practice we get to provide primary eye care to patients and also manage chronic eye conditions. We also want to be able to connect with the local community and local businesses to be an integral part of the community. Owning my business allows me to do these things and focus on building relationships and care for patients at the same time.

People don’t realize the importance of annual eye exams. Most people neglect eye exams because they seem to have adequate visual function, however, the health of the eye is more than just the vision itself. There are many things that we examine besides vision during an eye exam. This could prevent both minor and major problems that go undetected by just getting an annual eye exam to maintain proper vision and eye health.

The business model that I have is risky because of the large financial investment required for the equipment and tools to diagnose and treat everything I want to manage and treat. Starting a practice in an underserved area hoping to make a difference is risky because there is a lot of energy that goes into educating the community on the importance of eye care and what we provide for them. There has been an overall level of acceptance that we see as a good fundamental change in thinking when we interact with patients during their visit to our office. There is still a chance that the investment may not pay off, but I think with time there will be a reward for this risk.

Besides working for myself the other most important decision is how much I continue to invest in continuing education both in my field and my other interests. I attend conferences every year to keep up with the advancements in eye care and try to learn the most up to date treatment modalities. I also have a MBA so I spend my time learning about the business environment and how to keep up with the changing environment. I don’t always change to the latest trend unless it suits my business. Thinking through and methodically navigating the changes has helped me to stay true to my business goals and intentions.

The most important factor to succeed in business is to be consistent and be reliable to our patients. Now that we have been in business for a little while, patients count on us to provide them with the appropriate care, recommendations on their eye wear, the design of their lenses, treating them to get relief from any ailments they complain about during their visit and answer the phone when they call or have someone greet them as they walk into the office. Our patients know they can stop in anytime or call to ask questions so that we can address them promptly, these relationships help us stay in business and promote organic growth.

I had to make a very difficult decision to merge my practice in Maryland with a big group. I travel between Maryland and Arizona since I live and work in both places. There has been a doctor shortage since COVID, so providing care between the two states has become more complicated. I had to merge my practice with a larger practice to have more doctor hours in the office. Providing care as a small practice is more challenging when there are limitations to doctor hours, so I’m hoping that this was the right choice.

I chose to become an Optometrist because of my interest in eyes and how closely it is connected to the brain. I have a general curiosity and I’m driven to solve problems when patients present them in clinic. When I’m at work I find it very fulfilling to solve problems and engage with patients, so I find my work rewarding and fun. Even though I work long hours and travel between states, I continue to enjoy work and find time to do other things like attending NFL games, travel, and spend time with family and friends.

Raplph Waldo Emerson’s quote from self-reliance : “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.” This was a great read during high school. It teaches you to continue to trust in yourself even though you make so many mistakes along the way. Self-reliance helps you strengthen your mind and continue to build but learning to trust yourself is difficulty since there are so many distractions and noise. I like this quote for that reason.

I want people to remember me a person who listened to them and tried to help them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Bella Vista Eye Care is located in old town Glendale where there is a lot of history and there is also a bit of isolation from the rest of the Glendale and Phoenix communities. There are some renovations happening in the area by private investors but the city of Phoenix, and the city of Glendale has focused on expanding and improving the west part of Glendale while ignoring the old town area. There are residents that have lived in the area for many years, and the community has continued to live in the area with little support from small businesses and the city. We are serving an underserved community that is diverse and in need of eye care and other specialized health and social services. A majority of our patients come from the local area and appreciate our integrated approach of providing eye care, vision care and optical services. Our prices are set at an affordable range, and we try to help anyone that needs our care and services. We have up to date technology to diagnose, manage and treat most acute and chronic conditions. We also work closely with other practices that provide surgical and invasive treatments when appropriate. We are excited that people have come to know about the business, its location, the continuity of care that we can provide those in need of it, and the reciprocal support we are receiving from the local community.

It took us a long time to earn the confidence from the local community since most of our patients only seek care when they are in desperate need of it. We have established good relationships with the patient base by constantly educating them about the need for continuity of care and monitoring to avoid major problems. We have also been able to establish preventative treatment methods to help diagnose and treat chronic conditions from progressing into conditions that are irreversible and could potentially cause severe vision loss and visual function. Our efforts have managed to teach us that when we can communicate and answer questions, the patients also become active participants who listen and start caring about maintaining good health. We want people to know that the focus of Bella Vista Eye Care is provide the best care with a long-term partnership for those in the community and the surrounding communities. We will continue to invest and keep up to date as the business continues to grow.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The city of Glendale and Phoenix have a lot of fun things to do. Depending on the time of year, there are different activities and places to see. We would definitely go to the Cardinals stadium to watch some football and also catch a basketball game and watch the Phoenix Suns Play. I would also take them to local restaurants such as Haus Murphy’s to get a taste of German food, LA Crab Shack in Peoria to taste some Louisiana seafood, Sakana Sushi & Grill in Glendale to enjoy some of the best Sushi, Ta Carbon Mexican Grill to enjoy tacos, Joe Farmer’s grill in Gilbert to enjoy local steak and burgers, Pho Laveen to enjoy the Vietnamese cuisine and also go for a hike on the Mormon trail on 24th St & Baseline to work up an appetite before the meal, take them to desert ridge but hike the Piestewa Peak trail before grabbing a meal in the desert ridge area.

I would also take them to downtown Phoenix to visit the science museum and also show them around mid-town phoenix and the Biltmore area. There is some great shopping and grab a sandwich at Duck and Decanter. There is a lot more to do, but this would be a week itinerary for anyone visiting the valley.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents who have supported me through every aspect of my life. I get unconditional love and support from them in every effort I make.

Website: https://www.bellavistaeye.com