An Ohio guy who thought he would remain there forever, Dr. Rick Weisbarth became an internationally respected Doctor of Optometry who supported the profession through his role in professional relations for Alcon Laboratories (and formerly CIBA VISION) as well as a lecturer on a variety of contact lens topics.  He graduated from The Ohio State University College of Optometry and became connected with friends with whom he would provide career-long support of the American Academy of Optometry.  One of his unique contributions was involvement in the National Academies of Practice, which is a multidisciplinary group working to support each other’s approach to caring for patients.  Dr. Weisbarth has been a leader since his days in the optometry fraternity at OSU, and that has carried through to his retirement during which time he has helped advance the Alcon Children’s Vision Center in Fort Worth, TX.  His many stories are compelling because he consistently challenged himself to move out of his comfort zone, and the lessons that come from his experiences can be of value to all.  And - it’s very important for the audience to know that Dr. Weisbarth was put on the spot when talking about mentors, so if he didn’t mention you, please forgive him!   The Stories within the Story include: 1:08  The Cleveland Upbringing Story 2:58  The Advice Story 4:07  The Introduction to Eye Care Story 6:42  The OSU Optometry Story 9:40  The Leadership Journey Story 11:04  The Early Career Story 16:56  The Contact Lens Industry Story 20:23  The International Lecturer Story 22:01  The Industry Support Story 27:04  The Optometrist Insight Story 29:11  The Commitment to the Academy Story 32:50  The Volunteering Advice Story 35:50  The Lifelong Learning Story 37:55  The Mentor Story 40:12  The National Academies of Practice Story 44:35  The Alcon Children’s Vision Clinic Story 52:42  The Hobbies Story 54:05  The Family Story   Run time:  57 min