20/Happy Careers with Drs. Fred and Riyad
How can we do what we love and love what we do?
Join Drs. Fred Cho and Riyad Khamis—two optometrists who broke the mold—as they dive into the messy, imperfect, and personal journey to finding work happiness.
In this podcast, we explore burnout, bold pivots, and finding joy in our work.
Expect honest conversations, real stories, and practical insights for modern professionals who want more joy and freedom.
Redefine success & find your "20/happy".
Episodes
16 episodes
From Nigeria to Michigan: Dr. Clement Nwadozi on Cultural Diversity, Optometry Residencies, and Work-Life Balance
In this episode of 20/Happy, hosts Dr. Fred Cho and Dr. Riyad Khamis reunite with their classmate Dr. Clement Nwadozi to explore how his multicultural upbringing shaped his approach to optometry and patient care.Dr. Nzi shares his journe...
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36:28
Beyond Success: Dr. Melissa Barnett on Giving Back and Uplifting Others
Dr. Melissa Barnett is a world-renowned expert in scleral lenses and specialty contact lenses who has authored over 300 articles and delivered 500+ lectures world-wide. Today, her greatest satisfaction comes from something different: coaching a...
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38:56
From Clinic to Global Impact: Dr. Diane van Staden on Career Pivots and Finding Your Purpose
Dr. Diane van Staden joins Fred and Riyad to share her remarkable journey from clinical optometry to public health advocacy, academia, and career coaching. After practicing optometry in South Africa, Diane made a bold decision to leave clinical...
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37:56
From Dentistry to Coaching: Dr. Laura Brenner
After 10 years of practicing dentistry, Dr. Laura Brenner made a bold decision: she left clinical practice to become a certified professional coach, blogger, and speaker.In this conversation, Laura shares her journey from burnout to fulf...
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45:55
Beauty Trends Meet Eye Health - with Dr. Janice Luk
In this episode, we explore the intersection of beauty trends and optometry with Dr. Janice Luk, discussing dry eye, lash culture, collaboration beyond traditional eye care, and how curiosity and passion can shape a more fulfilling, unconventio...
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36:39
Finding Work Happiness: Dr. Sandra Chiu's Journey to a Small Ontario Town
Ever wonder if there's more to optometry than grinding through back-to-back patients? Dr. Sandra Chiu certainly did. After years of working grueling schedules in Toronto's busiest practices, the pandemic gave her an unexpected gift: time to thi...
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31:34
Burnout to Balance: Dr. Hewitt's Journey Into Mental Health Counselling
Dr. Brittany Hewitt, an optometrist turned mental health counselor, shares her personal burnout journey and how the pandemic gave her space to reconnect with forgotten passions.We discuss the silent signs of healthcare burnout affecting ...
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42:04
Hindsight is 20/20: 3 Things We Wish We Knew in Optometry School
Join optometrists Fred and Riyad as the duo shares valuable lessons the hosts wish had been learned during optometry school. Recording from Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Fred and Riyad discuss essential career advice for current students and rece...
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27:56
Eyes on the Game: Inside Sports Vision with Hockey Goalies
In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of sports vision with Dr. Riyad, who shares his journey working with elite hockey goalies and expanding into pickleball training. We explore what sports vision is, how it helps athletes i...
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41:01
Travel Optometry: What It Is, Perks & Challenges, and How To Start
In this episode, Drs. Fred and Riyad dive into the world of travel optometry—what it is, perks & challenges, and how to get started. Dr. Fred shares stories from practicing in rural Newfoundland and Manitoba, where eye care is often ...
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33:48
Dr. Benjamin Konig: Helping Beyond Borders
This episode of 20/Happy Careers features Dr. Benjamin Konig, associate professor at Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO), International affairs director (KYCO), and board of director for VOSH international.He shares his experience teach...
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33:29
Dr. Brianna Rhue - Investing in Yourself & Embracing Risk
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Brianna Rhue—optometrist, tech entrepreneur, and national speaker—to explore why growth and risk-taking are essential ingredients for a fulfilling career. From co-founding Dr. Contact Lens to redefining wha...
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28:29
Dr. Alexis Keeling: From Classroom to Clinic to the United Nations Assembly
In this episode of 20 Happy Careers, Dr. Fred Cho and Dr. Riyad Khamis sit down with their classmate and colleague, Dr. Alexis Keeling—a powerhouse optometrist, leader, and community advocate.Dr. Keeling’s career began in...
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30:07
Michael Van de Ven: Building a Thriving Work Culture
A thriving work culture is the backbone of a team's success and happiness.In this episode of 20/Happy Careers, Drs. Fred and Riyad sit down with Michael Van de Ven, Business Unit Director of Bausch & Lomb, to u...
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35:30
How Dr. Riyad Khamis Built a Passion-Driven, Multi-Faceted Optometry Career
In this episode of 20/Happy Careers, Dr. Riyad Khamis shares his inspiring journey to building a passion-driven career in optometry.Discover how he reignited his passion for neuro-visual rehab and vision therapy through greater ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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35:08
Dr. Cho's Journey From Burnout to Travel Optometry
What happens when a seemingly successful career no longer feels fulfilling?In this kickoff episode of 20 Happy Careers, Dr. Fred Cho opens up about his unexpected journey from burnout to rediscovering meaning and excitement thro...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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24:49