For Erika Scott, leading a fast-growing eye practice means more than overseeing operations; it is about setting an example of wellness for her team and community.
Erika is the Clinic Operations Manager at Charles Retina Institute, a private ophthalmology practice that has grown to 11 locations during her six years with the company, where she manages over 100 employees.
“After I had my daughter ten years ago, I noticed some changes in my body, so I started doing 5Ks and making sure I was fueling with healthy snacks like veggies instead of chips, making these gradual changes,” she notes. Erika also worked with Daavon, a personal trainer and owner of Body by Davvon, to learn everything from proper weight-lifting form to meal prepping. “I learned a pathway to meet my fitness goals,” she recalls.
After taking on her role at Charles Retina Institute, Erika noticed a discrepancy between the healthy lifestyle the office was advocating for patients and how staff were fueling on Pop-Tarts and Oreos while skipping midday meals and exercise.
“I watched a decline in health, with people grabbing quick fixes to tie over a busy day, and a lot of weight gain at the practice,” Erika says. “I thought, ‘How can we ask a patient to control their A1C or lose weight without doing the work ourselves?’”
Erika’s office sees patients experiencing serious health concerns, such as diabetic retinopathy, where the importance of HbA1c is stressed, macular degeneration, where a leafy green diet is suggested, pseudotumor cerebri, where weight loss is critical, and other eye diseases that are caused or exacerbated by excess weight gain, poor diet, and unhealthy lifestyle.
That’s when the mother and stepmother of nine put together a health initiative for her staff. A quarterly competition keeps information confidential while helping employees reach achievable goals. Staff fill out weekly forms to log their hydration, exercise, meditation, journaling, and other improved habits, gradually introduced over the course of each week and increased by the quarter. Erika also provided guidelines for the admin to stock healthier office snacks, including 100-calorie nut packs and cheese-and-cracker options. At the end of each quarter, the company throws a celebration with small trinkets to recognize participants’ progress.
“I was surprised by everyone’s enthusiasm for this initiative,” she says. “Many employees had no idea where to start or how, but wanted to participate. Doing it as a team and having a reward system has been awesome. It’s more about camaraderie than anything.”
Every Wednesday, Erika meets staff at the nearby Crunch Fitness at 6 p.m., helping them perform exercises and get moving. “I am by no means an expert, but I do have the desire to help,” she says.
Erika strongly recommitted to a healthy lifestyle two years ago. After marrying a chef, Erika put on 15 pounds, which, on her petite frame, “really showed and got me down.”
True to her go-getter nature, Erika purchased a Peloton, started taking Pilates at 5:30 a.m. before dropping her daughters off at school, cooked more fish at home, and swapped butter for avocado and olive oils. “I want to show my girls that you don’t have to make compromises, you can be successful, a mother, and lead a healthy lifestyle.”
Erika’s initiative at work has been so successful that she’s shared it with other ophthalmology offices, receiving remarkable feedback and interest. She wants others to know the importance of leading by example and how gradual changes truly add up.
The Charles Retina Institute is currently accepting new patients. Visit Charlesretina.com to learn more. You can also reach out to learn how to adopt Erika’s health initiative in your office.
By Shlomit Ovadia
Photo by Tindall Stephens
