After working for other people for a number of years, Diana Pan, OD, knew what she wanted, both for her patients and as a patient herself. As she celebrates the one-year anniversary of her independent practice, My Sight Eyecare, Dr. Pan says providing care in a boutique space of her own has “been amazing.”
FROM FEATHERS TO PHOROPTERS
Dr. Pan found the lower-level space sitting empty in Brooklyn, New York in the summer of 2022. “I had 1,300 square feet to work with,” Dr. Pan says of the space that used to be a feather factory. “The options were endless.” She transformed the blank canvas in six months; My Sight Eyecare opened in November 2022 as a boutique style optometry practice featuring personalized eye care services with dry eye treatments and aesthetic services.
Dr. Pan and her team framed walls and installed necessary plumbing and electrical systems. Working with a designer, Dr. Pan says she wanted “neutral vibes that could feel welcoming and cozy to anyone, with an elegant yet modern touch.” That feel starts as patients approach the red brick building in walkable north Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. The practice borders McCarren Park and gets “a good amount of foot traffic,” Dr. Pan says.
Inside, light beige walls and poured concrete flooring are brightened by the large front windows. A fully equipped exam lane and dry eye treatment room feature the latest in ocular aesthetic technology and custom designed furniture. The wooden frame boards were measured, cut, stained and installed, “a really pretty contrast to the natural brick wall at the front, and play off the wooden beam running the length of the practice,” Dr. Pan says.
A nearby florist often provides bouquets “that are as much a part of the décor as our designer frames and furnishings,” Dr. Pan says. A coffee bar—purposefully framed and built in the center of the optical—provide patients and Dr. Pan with a “much needed caffeine fix.” Amazon and Home Goods provided great “affordable options that looked high-end” for the chairs in the optical and other practice décor.
GETTING THROUGH THE HICCUPS
While Dr. Pan says they’ve had “a very successful first year,” it didn’t come without its challenges. The practice sits a few steps down from street level, “making it a place that floods often,” Dr. Pan says. The practice has flooded three times since its opening, and each time the team has “gotten better at dealing with the mess.”
“It really helps that we have concrete floors, but we’ve had to fix wall damage,” Dr. Pan says. “Luckily our equipment was fine—it really only affects the floors– but we’ve invested in a water vacuum.”
Dr. Pan says she’s also continually learning how to be a better leader and practice owner. “At the end of the day, I’m a doctor, not a business major,” she says. “There was a lot to learn about the business side, optical insurance plans and differing patient needs. But my team has been so supportive and we’re doing very well.”
Follow Dr. Pan and My Sight Eyecare on socials below:
Website: mysighteyecare.com
Facebook: My Sight Eyecare
Instagram: @mysighteyecare
Dr. Pan’s office design was recommended to WO by Wilzen Anne Lingad, OD, of Bridges Eye Care in Long Island City, New York. Read Dr. Lingad’s design inspiration story here.
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