Dr. Karine Shaghoyan is the Co-owner of Lancaster Optometry, a California practice delivering comprehensive and medically focused eye care with a personalized patient experience. With more than a decade of clinical experience, she has helped grow the practice from a cold start into an established business while guiding its expansion and distinctive approach to care. Dr. Shaghoyan draws on mentorship, peer collaboration, and strategic support to strengthen the practice, and she encourages other owners to seek guidance early rather than build alone.

In this episode…

Owning an optometry practice means knowing when to push forward on your own and when to seek support. Mentorship, peer connection, and clear priorities can make growth more focused and sustainable. What helps practice owners move forward with greater confidence?

Dr. Karine Shaghoyan, an optometrist and experienced practice owner, believes growth starts with recognizing when what got you to one milestone will not get you to the next. She recommends seeking mentors, consultants, and peer support early, noting that the right guidance can significantly shorten the learning curve. Dr. Shaghoyan’s experience building a cold-start practice also shaped her view that acquiring an existing practice may make more sense in saturated markets. By asking for help, learning from other owners, and focusing energy on what is within your control, practice growth becomes less about doing everything alone and more about making thoughtful decisions at the right time.

In this episode of the Cleinman Connect Podcast, Kim Carson talks with Dr. Karine Shaghoyan, Co-owner of Lancaster Optometry, about practice growth, mentorship, and lessons in ownership. Dr. Shaghoyan shares how mentorship and peer support can accelerate growth, why owners need help at key milestones, and what cold-start ownership taught her. She also discusses creating a distinctive patient experience and focusing on what you can control.