John Berdahl
The Power List 2019 – Emerging Leaders
John Berdahl
Partner at Vance Thompson Vision, Sioux Falls, USA. | Associate Professor, Sanford University Of South Dakota Medical School. | Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Utah. | Founder of Equinox, ExpertOpinion.md, Melt Pharmaceuticals, Astigmatismfix.com
What drives you in your day-to-day activities?
Delivering on the trust people place in me. Patients, employees, partners, investors, and my family have all granted me enormous trust, and I want to make sure it is well-deserved.
What are your goals for the future?
This is going to seem outlandish, but life is too short for small goals. I hope to help (literally) redefine the disease of glaucoma, and help provide solutions that will safely prevent all glaucoma patients from going blind. Also, I want to ensure that the doctors and entire Vance Thompson Vision team is treated exceptionally well, and looks forward to coming to work on Mondays.
What is your most exciting current project?
That is like being asked to choose a favorite child: I have four. Equinox is working to non-invasively control IOP to treat glaucoma. ExpertOpinion.md seeks to connect patients with the top medical experts from around the world. Melt Pharmaceuticals has developed sub-lingual sedation to make the cataract experience friendlier for patients and doctors. Finally, Vance Thompson and our partners seek to make VTV a delightful place to work and seek care in the Upper Midwest of the United States.
What’s the best part of being an ophthalmologist?
Helping patients in their moments of vulnerability, and the lifelong friendships I have made in our beloved profession.
