The Keith Valentine episode

In the 24th episode of The OT Podcast, we speak to Kirsteen Newman, head of dispensing advancement at Specsavers. Kirsteen qualified as a dispensing optician in 2009 and has enjoyed a variety of roles over the last 17 years, from practice director through to professional development, training and leadership. Plus, she was a member of the GOC’s education committee along the way. This episode of The OT Podcast is released during Specsavers’ #LoveDOWeek, an initiative that aims to celebrate the role of the dispensing optician and raise their profile during a year when the profession is marking its centenary. This episode of The OT Podcast is brought to you in partnership with Specsavers.

In the 23rd episode of The OT Podcast, we speak to Louisa Wickham, a consultant vitreoretinal surgeon at Moorfields Private Eye Hospital, chief medical director at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and national clinical director for eye care at NHS England. When speaking to Louisa for The OT Podcast, she shared her journey into ophthalmology and her early research experience in genetics, while also discussing the future of AI in healthcare, and balancing leadership with being a clinician. This episode of The OT Podcast is brought to you in partnership with Moorfields Private Eye Hospital.

In the 22nd episode of The OT Podcast, we speak to ophthalmologist, Professor Rachel Pilling. Rachel became a consultant paediatric ophthalmologist at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in 2010 and was appointed as Professor of special needs and learning disability eye care at the University of Bradford in 2020. She has published guidance on eye care for those with learning disabilities for national organisations and developed quality standards for eye departments. She has spoken to OT about her career path into medicine and ophthalmology, and the work of the special schools.

In the 21st episode of The OT Podcast, we speak to Richard Stead, consultant ophthalmologist and glaucoma lead at Newmedica. Richard reflects on his journey from training as an optometrist to specialising in glaucoma and cataract surgery, and discusses how advances in treatment, growing NHS pressures, and closer collaboration with community optometrists are shaping the future of eye care. This episode of The OT Podcast is produced in partnership with Newmedica.

In the 20th episode of The OT Podcast, we speak to Sarah Farrant, an optometrist and independent practice owner. Sarah Farrant is the owner of two independent practices in Somerset, is an expert in therapeutics and dry eye management, and represents the UK as an ambassador on the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS). She lectures both nationally and internationally, and is immediate past president of the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA). After qualifying from Cardiff in 2003 – a time she described as “brilliant” – Sarah went on to complete her pre-registration placement at Boots Opticians. From there, early in her career, Sarah and her husband Edward moved to New Zealand, where they worked as optometrists and embraced an outdoor lifestyle. This period helped Sarah “find her feet” professionally, and exposed her to a more specialist clinical environment where she discovered one of her clinical passions – dry eye. Listen to learn more about Sarah's career path and optometry passions.