Thanks to high school programs that give students the opportunity to shadow professionals in fields they’re interested in, Rebecca J. Sims, OD said it was a clear choice for her: she could already easily envision her career ahead of her.
Dr. Sims recalls watching the eye doctor measure a patient for glasses and contact lenses and he had the technology to test for additional risk factors. “It was exciting to understand that not only could I provide eye care but I would be able to make sure the patient’s eyes stayed healthy,” she reminisces.
Dr. Sims says eye care was the perfect blend of science and technology with caring and trust that she could clearly picture what she wanted to pursue.
The Clear Choice
After high school, Dr. Sims continued her higher education at Mississippi State University and then Southern College of Optometry where she became an optometric physician.
She’s been in the field for over two decades now and provides a wide spectrum of pediatric, adult, and geriatric eye care at The Eye Institute of West Florida. Dr. Sims has had extensive training and experience which has earned the trust of many patients for their eye care needs.
Visionary Eye Care
With The Eye Institute’s roster of three cataract and refractive specialists, three corneal and ocular surface disease specialists, three glaucoma specialists, three retina/vitreous specialists, one oculoplastic specialist, three general ophthalmologist, and eleven optometric physicians, Dr. Sims found herself regularly referring her patients to the physicians at The Eye Institute before starting there in 2016. “My only regret is that I didn’t start at The Eye Institute sooner,” Dr. Sims says.
The Eye Institute’s founding father and current president, Dr. Stephen Weinstock, founded the practice 45 years ago in Largo. Early on he saw the need to create a practice comprised of physicians specially trained to diagnose specific types of eye disease – helping make their practice a destination for specialty eye care. No matter what eye problem, from the simplest yearly check up to complicated surgery.
Growing With Your Needs
Forty-five years later, The Eye Institute has five locations in the area including Largo, St. Pete, Clearwater, West Tampa and South Tampa where Dr. Sims treats patients in the St. Pete and South Tampa offices, respectively.
The patient care offered at The Eye Institute is what sets the practice apart, says Dr. Sims.
“From being greeted at the door when walking into the facility to working with the ophthalmic technician and physician, there’s listening ears and smiling faces all the way through,” she says.
Even with five offices and a large staff, Dr. Sims says there’s a community feel to the patient care because the doctors and staff provide the type of care they’d want to receive themselves.
Budding Relationships
While eye health is the most important matter to address with patients, Dr. Sims says that building patient rapport and trust is what she truly enjoys most about being part of the practice.
“It’s rewarding when patients I’ve seen for 15 years ask me how my children are doing. The trusting relationship established by providing care for the same people for years and years is what gives me so much satisfaction.”
“It’s nice to get to know them on a personal level and when patients refer me to a family or friend, that’s the biggest compliment I can get.”
If you’re interested in learning more about what The Eye Institute of West Florida can do for all your eye health needs, be sure to learn more at www.eyespecialist.com.
