Ophthalmology Chose Me

What was the starting point of your career?

I grew up surrounded by the family business, which is a small construction company that provides insurance restoration. I was starting to be indoctrinated into the business around the age of 12 – mostly at the dinner table! The intent for me was to attend college and then join the company. Turns out I was a pretty good student – at the University of Minnesota I was placed in the Honors Division and the Dean of the Medical School ended up as my advisor. To make a long story short, he was very charismatic and it took him about a year to talk me into going into medicine instead of joining the family business. So I’m a little atypical; I wasn’t one of those young people who always wanted to be a doctor – medicine chose me. It was fate or serendipity, depending on how you look at the world.

And ophthalmology?

I was interested in surgery so I rotated through all of the specialties in medical school. And, similar to my move into medicine, I was ‘chosen’ to become an ophthalmologist by the late Donald Doughman – a very talented professor and corneal specialist, who had come to Minnesota from Harvard. I ended up working in his laboratory in my third year of medical school, and within a year, he’d convinced me that I was not only going to become an ophthalmologist, but that I was going to become a cornea specialist and become involved in eye banking and corneal preservation – all things that I have gone on to do.

I always remind my mentees that opportunities roll pretty fast and although you don’t always know where they will take you, saying “yes” will likely lead to growth experiences and adventures. Many people question their skills and labor over decisions, and I also had doubts: was I up to the challenge of being a doctor or working in a research laboratory? Could I make a meaningful contribution? But by simply embracing those opportunities, I was rewarded with wonderful educational and growth experiences.

What got you into working with industry?

At 32 years old, as a young Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota, I got a call from a senior executive from the 3M Corporation – they’d just acquired an eyecare business and wanted to speak to me about it. I became their Chief Medical Officer and it developed into quite a business education! While I was there, we developed the first diffractive multifocal IOL, as well as gas permeable hard contact lenses. I spent the next 15 years working with them until they sold the business; the cataract/multifocal part was acquired by Alcon and that technology led to the ReSTOR multifocal IOL. It was this experience with 3M that got me started working with industry, and ever since I have been excited about innovation and new technology, not only in translating it from the bench to the clinic, but also in teaching people how to use it.

And your drive to set up Minnesota Eye Consultants?

After becoming a full Professor at the University of Minnesota and being awarded the Harold G. Scheie Research Chair, I decided I wanted to try private practice, and founded Minnesota Eye Consultants. My goal was to build an academic private practice, a new concept at the time. Twenty-eight years later we’ve gone from myself and six employees to being a very strong practice in our region with 26 doctors and over 300 employees: we perform a lot of translational research, consult with industry, and train young ophthalmologists in our area of expertise (primarily cornea, cataract, refractive and glaucoma).

I believe that teaching fellows is one of the greater contributions I have made. I have certainly contributed to ophthalmology in terms of inventions, publications, and educational materials, but when I think about what was most valuable, I would say that it has been training young and talented cornea, cataract, refractive and glaucoma specialists. The impact has been greater than anything else, and I am proud of it.

Did growing up around your family’s business influence your own career?

The way the world sometimes works is amazing. I have actually ended up being the Chairman and CEO of the company. When my father was ready to retire at age 70, I bought the company from him. He sat on the board for 10 years after that; working together was exactly what he wanted and in the end we actually got to do it, and now my family members will continue to be part of the business. Isn’t it funny how things can sometimes come full circle?

What drives you?

The joy of the journey and the adventure. Every single day, I take great joy in just caring for patients’ health, and seeing the impact we have on their lives when we restore their vision. I also gain great satisfaction from looking for unmet needs, finding the solutions and getting them into the marketplace – as well as helping other doctors learn how to use them.

Any plans to retire?

I don’t actually plan to retire, but there is a point at which it is wise to step out of the operating room. I’m a planner, and I’m just into the first year of my current five-year plan. In just over four years, I plan to transition into being a medical ophthalmologist, but will still be involved in leadership positions, venture capital, industry and the ophthalmic societies that are such a big part of my life. I plan to be much like Brad Straatsma – very involved in ophthalmology and committed to seeing it succeed years after stepping down from active practice.

I have a wonderful family and many friends, and I could just decide that I want to spend the rest of my days playing tennis and golf, and fishing and hunting. And though I take time to enjoy all of these things, I still continue to be intellectually curious. I have many business friends who are retired but whose profession was just to make a living. My career gives me joy and makes me feel fulfilled, and I want to continue in the field as long as I am able to do so.

Any advice for the younger Richard Lindstrom?

I don’t have many regrets. Looking back, I took time for myself and for my family, and I did most of the things that I wanted to do. I don’t think I would change much. I would continue to be a planner, I would continue to be engaged in the field, and I would continue to say yes to opportunities. Maybe in 10 years’ time I will look back and wonder whether it was the right thing continuing to be as engaged as I am in ophthalmology – but I won’t know that for a while yet! When I look back now, I am pretty satisfied with the decisions I have made.