As someone who can offer a unique perspective, with thorough experience and understanding of both the patient and the medical provider side of the table, I offer numerous educational opportunities and speaking options.

Topics can be geared toward medical staff providers, parents, patients, and even policy advocates. I am an expert on issues of pediatric and adult patient perspectives, anti-bullying, and empowering parents and patients for the journey ahead. I strongly believe in the importance of perseverance and the power of positive thinking.


What types of speaking do you offer?
inspirational speeches, webinar, conferences, symposiums, grand rounds


Who is this geared toward? There can be multiple/different answers in terms of the audiences you speak for.
Medical staff providers, parents, patients, advocates


Do you have any key philosophies/beliefs/etc?
Several:
You Just can’t beat someone up who wont give up. - babe ruth
I am not a label, i am whoever i want to be - sharona
It’s your reaction to adversity not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop- Dieter F. Uchtdorf
It always seem impossible until it’s done.- Nelson Madela


What are the benefits of having you speak? This could be different for different speaking options.
Having a patient perspective that is authentic, inspiring and educational.


Why might someone choose you to speak over another option?
I am not only a patient but i am someone who is an advocate and someone who understand the business side of the healthcare. So i can see things from both perspectives.


What are common compliments you’re giving from people you’ve spoken for?
That they feel the passion in my story and mission. They want to find a way to be more involved, They feel i provide the story in whatever the topic is about, From being a patient as a child or as an adult.



Do you have any topics or specific presentations or trainings you offer?
Pediatric Patient Perspective, Adult Patient Perspective, Anti Bullying, Empowering parents and patients for the journey ahead



When people reach out for more information about having you speak, do you need any specific type of info from them?
What is the topic, who is the audience, what is the platform ( virtual or in person), how long would you like me to speak.



Do you have any examples/recordings you’d like to share?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APypEtmMUvI we could take snippets from this talk



What are the pain points of the people who would benefit? Or maybe what people might be frustrated with?
Parents or visually impaired individuals may already be overwhelmed and frustrated with the process of having a visually impaired child or being visually impaired themselves. Medical Professionals may be burnt out and frustrated with their patients.


Why is your topic so important?
Because it is personal to me and so many others. It is important to me to create a sense of community for people like me. I want to help all people who feel lost and i want to help medical professionals remember why they got into this field. To help them see bridge the gap between visiting a patient and really seeing a patient. Interesting Fact: Loss of vision has been linked to loneliness, social isolation, and feelings of worry, anxiety, and fear. Depression is common in people with vision loss. In a recent CDC study , 1 in 4 adults with vision loss reported anxiety or depression. https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/vision-loss-mental-health.html#:~:text=Loss%20of%20vision%20has%20been,loss%20reported%20anxiety%20or%20depression.



What are the costs if people don’t deal with these issues?
They could not get the information or resources they need to help with their journey. The medical staff person could continue to see patients but will miss the opportunity to see them in a different light.



Who is the for? What type of person would likely benefit?
This is for a person seeking more. More as an advocate, more as a parent, more as a patient, and more as a medical professional. This i a person who wants a pick me up, wants to be re-energized, empowered and inspired to help fight the fight about visual impairment and preventing blindness.



Who is this not for? What type of person might not benefit from this?
This is not for the person who is not open minded and willing to learn how to help people who are detailing with an impairment.



Why did you decide to do speaking?
I love speaking. I find speaking helps get your point across more than any other medium of communication.



What is an overview of the topics that will be covered?
Dealing with being a child and living with so many eye diagnosis. Living with always having eye surgeries. Dealing with bullying as a kid. Learning to be a child advocate. Navigating the healthcare system as an adult. Showing different moments that a physician has completely changed my life for the better.


Are there any reviews/testimonials from people who have attended? If not, what do you think/hope someone might say after attending?
Testimonials:
Sharona has been an inspiration for both me and my patients in the short time that I have known her. As a pediatric ophthalmologist focused on cornea and cataracts in children, I was pleasantly surprised that Sharona was willing to step up and be a strong Patient Advocate for my pediatric patients and their families in their time of need, based on her own experiences navigating through complex eye disease. I particularly remember referring one family after a trauma in their daughter’s eye that left them devastated and in need of emotional support. I turned to Sharona to provide first-hand knowledge and guidance on how to regain strength during their difficult time. She was willing to work with not only this family, but any family I may refer to her in the future (and I definitely plan on doing so!) to be an advocate in both any children’s eye health and quality of life after eye surgery.
On a personal level, Sharona resonates a level of compassion and dedication to others which reminds me why I went into medicine – to help people like her achieve their fullest potential. I have worked with her in an educational capacity training the future generation of eye surgeons and she was personally invested in ensuring their success. Interacting with Sharona shows me that children with eye diseases can not only live, but can thrive and leave deep lasting impacts on the lives of those around them. Sharona is an excellent inspirational public speaker who will undoubtedly influence many people for generations to come.
_______________
Shazia F. Ali, MD
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
Pediatric Ophthalmology | Cornea/External Disease


Sharona takes the listener on a journey. Through her storytelling skills, she elucidates the impact of a congenital vision condition on not only the patient, but also the family. She beautifully describes the challenges, trials and tribulations, while also acknowledging the advances in medicine and the power of communicative relationships between patients and their providers. Her story touches on patient advocacy, children’s health and vision, and she always leaves the listener feeling uplifted and hopeful.

Julie Grutzmachaer
Prevent Blindness Director of Patient Advocacy and Population Health Initiatives




Hi Sharona
I am so glad you were chosen to be the Prevent Blindness Texas Person of Vision in 2021. Your story about your own eye problems which started in infancy, and how you bravely dealt with it over the years with the support of your family and physicians was so inspiring. Your presentation was clear, heartfelt and inspiring. I know you will be a powerful advocate for eye health, and a resource for those who struggle with their own eye problems.
I am very proud to know you.
Dr Ann Stout


Sharona’s passion for advocating for patients and access to care is evident in almost all she does. Her ability to weave the most important lessons learned about life and her medical journey set her apart. This is a story of hope and challenges and it relates to all of us, but especially those of us in the healthcare industry. She is thoughtful in her approach and anyone in the room can and will benefit by understanding her life’s work, which as a child, she may have not embraced but as an adult, she clearly understands how her story can help teach, motivate and bring hope to others. A lifelong battle with vision issues provides a different perspective, and one that is worth listening to. Her calling is to help all of us better understand vision and how important each patient is.

Heather Shirk Patrick
President and CEO
Prevent Blindness Texas



Upon hearing Sharona tell the story of her journey, I felt instantly connected to it. I have a child with a vision impairment. As a parent, it is daunting to hear that your child has an issue that may render them vision loss. Also, not having resources or information is scary. Eye Am Sharona is that open door that I wish was available to my daughter and I then. I am excited for her and everything she is doing to bring awareness and knowledge.
Tiffany Smith
Parent of Vision Impaired Child




Sharona is an outstanding speaker. Listening to her own journey for her vision through the healthcare system as both a child and adult has provided her the tools to teach others how to advocate for themselves. Listening to her speak is inspirational and was helpful to remind myself as a physician why I went into this profession in the first place.


Dr. Eric Crowell
Clinical director, assistant professor of ophthalmology