Dear OCB Colleagues,

I want to start off by sharing some very exciting news that OCB is welcoming two outstanding physicians who will be joining us in the Summer and Fall of 2024. Albert Liao, MD, is a second-year retina fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles Jules Stein Eye Institute and will be practicing at our Sandwich, Yarmouth and Falmouth locations starting on August 1, 2024. Allison Resnik, MD, is an ophthalmology resident at Tufts Medical Center/New England Eye Center and will practice comprehensive eye care at our Sandwich, Plymouth and Weymouth locations starting on September 30, 2024. More information will be shared regarding their schedules as they are determined. We are absolutely thrilled to have these highly accomplished ophthalmologists on our team! Please see their bios below.

Holiday Events Planned!

The holidays are upon us, and to express our appreciation to you, our incredible OCB family, I am pleased to announce we have planned a month filled with holiday inspired events meant to celebrate and acknowledge all that you do to make OCB exceptional. A calendar of holiday appreciation events for each location is posted on SharePoint. We hope all of you will take a break and join in on the fun! In addition, all staff will be receiving a $100 year-end holiday gift that will be paid on Thursday, December 14th in the same form in which you receive your paycheck, as a token of our gratitude.

Thank you for your dedication and your commitment to OCB and the care of our patients! Please accept our warmest wishes to you and your families for a truly wonderful and happy holiday season!

Sincerely,

Laura Fine, MD

OCB President and Medical Director

on behalf of the OCB Board

Albert Liao, MD, MS

Dr. Liao specializes in vitreoretinal surgery. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in molecular biology at Princeton University and his master of science degree in clinical research at Emory University Laney Graduate School in Atlanta. He went on to complete his medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine,

Upon graduation from medical school, Dr. Liao completed his internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and his ophthalmology residency at Emory Eye Center, where he earned several awards, including the Emory Eye Center Senior Research Prize. Dr. Liao is completing the second year of his vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at the University of Los Angeles Stein Eye Institute and will begin practicing at OCB on August 1, 2024 at our Falmouth, Sandwich and Yarmouth locations.

Allison Resnik, MD

Dr. Resnik earned her bachelor of science degree in health and exercise science at Wake Forest University, and her doctor of medicine degree from Georgetown University. She graduated cum laude from both schools. At Georgetown, she was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Medical Society and earned the Ophthalmology Achievement Award. Upon graduation from medical school, Dr. Resnick completed her internship at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and is now a resident at Tufts Medical Center/New England Eye Center. She will practice comprehensive eye care at OCB, starting September 30, 2024 in Plymouth Sandwich and Weymouth.

Chirag Shah, MD and Stephanie Choi, MD, ran the Boston Half Marathon on November 12, 2023 . Dr. Choi, a first year retina fellow at OCB, guided a visually impaired runner. 

Dear OCB providers and staff,

I wanted to write to you to let you know that, with sadness, I will be departing Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston in the Spring. My last day is March 28. I have valued meeting, working with, and especially learning from you all. To my staff and team: you are such superheroes to me. Never before have I been so welcomed and supported. We grew up together. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with all of the staff and will miss the family that the physicians and staff at OCB have become. Thank you all again.

Rebecca Soares, MD

We would like to extend our appreciation to Dr. Mina Farahani for four years of exceptional care to countless numbers of grateful patients and for her service to OCB.  Dr. Farahani’s last day is Friday, December 8th. We wish Dr. Farahani the very best. Please reach out to express your gratitude and well wishes.

Mina – we hope you will stay in touch and let us know how you are doing. You will always be a part of our OCB Family.

MEET THE EPIC TEAM: Left to right- Tricia Choquette, Epic Credentialed Trainer; Nicole Garnett, Epic Credentialed Trainer; Kerri Gulya, Epic Trainer for Cadence and Rosie Pryharski, Epic Trainer, Kaleidoscope. Missing from photo is Cassandra Neary-Orne, Epic Trainer for Cadence 

Alyssa Mawson Epic Approved Trainer for Cadence

Rita Ruvido, Epic Trainer, Kaleidoscope 

As most OCB staff members work day-to-day with Epic -- OCB’s Electronic Medical Record software that integrates all clinical data, practice management and billing systems —most staff members rely on the expertise of OCB’s Epic Team. As user challenges arise, Epic team members are there to provide support, and when there are issues with the software itself, the Epic team ensures these are resolved in a timely manner. If the problem cannot be handled in house, they open a ticket with Mass General Brigham. The Epic Team is the liaison between OCB and MGB.

Read entire spotlight here

If you have any questions for the team, or are looking for support, you can contact them at _epicteam.

Payroll reminder - Please remember to take minute a look at OCB’s first payroll in the new year on 1/4/24 to see if the benefits you elected during Open Enrollment are in place in ADP and you are seeing the deductions you expected.

Total compensation statements - Early in 2024, you will be receiving total compensation statements that show you a breakdown of your earnings, including the value of your OCB benefits.

Vaccine mandate lifted - OCB is no longer requiring new hires to be vaccinated for Covid -19.

FSA plans - Time is ticking to spend down your 2023 pre-tax FSA Dollars with EBPA! We want to remind you that your flexible spending account funds for the calendar year 2023 can be carried over through March 15, 2024. Keep in mind that:

1. The 2 ½ Month Grace Period & Year End Run-off Period run concurrently.
2. All Eligible Health Care Reimbursements and Dependent Care Reimbursement expenses incurred up to 2 ½ months (3/15/24) following the end of the plan year can be applied to any remaining account balance in the 2023 plan year.
3. Reimbursements can be submitted to EBPA up to 90 days following the end of the plan year.

If you are unsure of your balance, you can call EPBA at 888-678-3457 or go to the Consumer Portal at www.ebpabenefits.com and set up your account.

If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Kiley @ nkiley@eyeboston.com  or _benefits@eyeboston.com.

OCB is hiring! Please look over the following "hot jobs". To apply internally, visit the HR department page on SharePoint, where you'll find the internal job application and complete list of job openings. Please share these positions with your network by sharing OCB's career page. Remember that OCB offers a $1000 referral bonus!

• Medical Billing Representative - Plymouth
• Technicians - Cape and South Shore
• Appointment Schedulers - Plymouth

Ada Sheridan, Surgical Coordinator for DJH

I received a call from one of Dr. Hu's patients who told me how beyond excellent Ada Sheridan is. She went above and beyond to help the patient with her dry eye issues and concerns. She was extremely appreciative of Ada and the extra steps she took. Additionally, the scheduling of her surgery with DJH has been seamless and she is very grateful for the efforts and compassion of Ada.  

-Jen Capuano, Administrative Manager

LCF Team

Dr. Fine and everyone on her team are fantastic. I felt their compassion, competence, professionalism, and felt truly cared for pre-op, in OR and post op.

-Waltham suggestion box

Steve Moreau, Ophthalmic Technician

In preparation for South Yarmouth closing. Steve Moreau did a great job here today (South Yarmouth).  He packed up a bunch of charts, took shelving outside etc. Kudos to Steve for a great help and great job.

-Nancy Carroll, Practice Manager, Yarmouth

Vaughn Sewell, Ophthalmic Technician

Vaughn was extremely helpful in providing optimistic feedback during a challenging time. He stepped up offering suggestions and offering to train new staff when I arrived to Waltham. He’s dedicated to helping in any way possible to improve the morale and help his team feel less burnt out! He’s a true team player! He was also a great resource on my first day helping in that office, answered my questions, showed me around and most of all made me feel welcome! 

-Deanna Pangnathip, Clinical Manager, North Shore

Wareham Christmas Tree. Look closely at the ornaments (left) and you may see the faces of Dr. O’Connor, Dr. Reed, Dr. Moon, Dr. Chan, Dr. Wooler, Dr. Rubin and Dr. Morris! Kudos to Linda McKiernan and Sandi Lynch for your festive creation!

December 7 - 17 - Hanukkah

December 22 - Christmas Eve Observed (OCB closed half day)

December 24 - Christmas Eve

December 25 - Christmas Day (OCB closed)

December 26 - January 1 - Kwanzaa

December 31 - Easton, S. Yarmouth offices closing

January 1 - New Year's Day (OCB closed)