11/07/2025
“I’ve been here 33 years this July, and the thing that still gets me out of bed in the morning is the people. I’ve seen patients become friends, and friends become family. I know their stories. That kind of history with my patients means everything to me.
I actually knew I wanted to be an optometrist when I was about five or six. I was at my mom’s eye exam and saw a flyer in the office. Something about it stuck with me. I knew this was what I wanted to do, something where I could help people, be part of their lives in a meaningful way.
That’s still the best part of the job. Helping people through everyday struggles. Whether it's fitting someone with glasses or walking alongside a patient managing diabetes or cataracts, it's about being there when they need you. Sometimes it’s referring them to the right place, sometimes it’s just listening.
Getting to work with my son, Tom, has been one of the most special parts of my career. I worked alongside my wife for years, and now that she’s retired, I’m lucky to be learning new things from Tom every day. He brings a fresh perspective, and it’s been fun to see that shift from being the one teaching him to learning from him now.
When I think about the legacy I hope to leave, I just hope people say I showed up. That I was a good doctor, yes, but also that I cared about this community. That I was part of it. At the end of the day, we’re a team here. It’s not about one person. It’s about all of us, together.”
—Dr. Phillip Zitko, OD
