What first inspired you to start blogging about your life as a physician, wife, mother and entrepreneur?

Initially I saw it as a way to educate lay people and other doctors about pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. You’d be surprised how many times my patients have been told by physicians—even by ophthalmologists!—that strabismus surgery is not an option for them. But as I started posting, I realized I could share even more about my journey.

Being at an academic center throughout my training, there was very limited exposure to the private practice side of medicine—how to run a business, manage staff, secure a loan, build your patient base, deal with insurance companies—all things I never learned in training but learned quickly through experience. There’s such a large group of millennial physicians who now turn to social media for advice about these topics.

With these posts, though, came something unexpected. I started receiving a lot of messages from young women who were craving a mentor. They look at my profile and feel reassured that it’s possible to be a surgeon, a mom, a wife and a business owner. So it’s part education, part mentorship, part inspiration, part girl power!

You’re also an influencer with nearly 30,000 Instagram followers and counting. How has this medium impacted your business?

Social media has deepened my connection with my patients and added another layer to our relationship. Patients who I’ve been seeing for years, long before my IG account, will tell me they liked my post on “mom guilt” or that that they learned something from my post about premature babies’ eyesight.

How much of your time and focus is devoted to producing content and engaging with your followers?

I spend a lot of time returning direct messages and producing content for IG, YouTube and my blog. I think of my IG account as a micro blog, and I spend time editing my posts to reflect that. I don’t outsource the work. This is my authentic voice, and I think for it to remain authentic, I have to be the one to do it. It’s a balancing act, of course, between engaging with my followers and being present for my family, since almost all of this stuff is done after work hours.

Tell us about AHSM. How did the idea come about and what role did you play in its launch?

The Association for Healthcare Social Media is the first 501(c)(3) nonprofit association committed to positively influencing public health and health care through social media. A group of us saw a rise in people turning to social media for answers regarding their medical conditions, and we wanted to provide a forum to dispel misconceptions and inaccurate health information while also teaching healthcare providers how best to utilize social media in medicine.

What other projects do you have in the pipeline?

My husband would say too many! I’m organizing a conference in December called Pinnacle, which seeks to address the challenges facing women physicians in private practice. The conference will provide women physicians with practical advice and strategies in an era of continued gender pay disparity and discrimination in the workplace.

I’m also starting a mommy-and-me clothing boutique with two friends called Aryana Clothing. We’re sourcing block-print fabrics from India and aim to create coordinating clothes that moms actually want to wear. We will be launching in mid-July at the Surfjack!

“Social media has deepened my connection with my patients and added another layer to our relationship.”

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received or a lesson you learned the hard way?

My father always says, “The worst thing someone can say is no.” People have an aversion to the word “no” and will sometimes shy away from situations to avoid hearing it. But so what if they say no? I just take that as an opportunity to move on and explore other options.

Shooting for the stars has served me well in negotiations in my personal life and business. (I got The Royal Hawaiian to throw in my wedding cake for free.) If you don’t ask, then you’ve said “no” for them.

Your husband and business partner is originally from Hawai‘i, which explains the decision to move here and start a private practice. What were some of the adjustments you faced in terms of your medical practice or professional life?

I was not prepared for the feeling of community that I encountered here, personally and professionally. I’m used to patients coming to see me because of my pedigree—where I went to college, med school and residency. Here, things are more personal. Patients will get referred because you saw their auntie or their neighbor’s wife. That can make it tough for outsiders to become established, but once you are part of the community, there’s nothing better.

What’s something your followers don’t know about you?

I was a pageant queen in my formative years!

What’s your favorite part of your job?

I love being able to make a difference in people’s lives. Sometimes it’s performing surgery to straighten a misaligned eye. Sometimes it’s prescribing glasses or patching therapy or diagnosing a rare condition. That privilege of someone entrusting me with their or their child’s vision is humbling.