About the Doctors
Eye Doctor | Innovator
Our Story
The K2 Way & The Tiger Institute began in 2010 in Franklin, Tennessee, as a way for Dr. Jeff Kegarise to provide education and professional development opportunities to the staff of his busy and growing optometry practice. Realizing that he and his trainers had much more to offer, The Tiger Institute began offering courses after clinic hours allowing staff members from area practices to attend. With its popularity and success, he wanted to do more.
He wanted to provide insights and educational opportunities to all healthcare professionals—doctors, residents, students, administrators, managers, staff and to teach them how to improve their skills not only clinically but in operations, finance, marketing, and development, thus enabling them to build their own successful thriving practices. The Tiger Institute for Cooperative Learning has grown into K2 Solutions; now offering online training for Optometric Technicians and Front Office staff, CE courses both in person and virtually, local conferences, and in-office or on-site staff training and development for Ophthalmology, Optometry, and Specialty Medicine practices.
Dr. Jeff and Dr. Susan Kegarise
Drs. Jeff and Susan Kegarise are graduates of The Ohio State University College of Optometry and completed residencies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. As board-certified optometrists and clinical management experts they have lectured nationally and internationally on improving the delivery of healthcare. They developed and taught the K2 management method which has given them recognition as one of three International Office-Based Practice Experts by The Institute for Healthcare Improvement. This prestigious honor led to participation in a national effort to improve the care delivered by all doctors in practice through the Idealized Design in Clinical Office Practice Project. Their lectures in healthcare, consulting, and personal interactions, have led practitioners toward enjoying the care they provide using innovative, patient focused, service methods.
Curriculum Developers – With their wealth of knowledge and experience, they have created a foundation of information for online continuing education courses in optometry, ophthalmology, and practice growth through Eye-courses.com.
Authors of The K2 Way-Playbook for Healthcare & Business Success. Passionate authors delivering an important message that an exceptional patient experience is an essential part of the job description for any healthcare practitioner by creating a step-by-step guide to implement in any practice.
Dr. Jeff Kegarise
Founder and CEO of The Tiger Institute for Cooperative Learning, where he is the leader in educational training and professional development of doctors and staff in Optometry, Ophthalmology, and specialty medicine.
Founder and CEO of The Center for Professional Development. With almost 40 years of experience, he focuses on management consulting and leading high performing teams that specialize in business strategy, financial management, organizational transformation, and operational improvement.
Former owner of Cool Springs and Donelson Eyecare has now retired. He drives growth and development at the largest Primary Eye Care practice in Middle Tennessee that offers Myopia Management, Cataract Surgery, Dry Eye Clinic, and Laser Services.
Former Regional Director for Keplr Vision. Overseeing 28 practices in the Central Region at Keplr; continues as a consultant for this company, building teams and implementing strategies that improve P & L inefficiencies for underperforming clinics.
Owner of Performance Vision Therapy and The Center for Vision Development. Specializing in Neuro-Optometric Vision Therapy, Myopia Management, and Sports Vision Training. He uses his expertise in business management to coach and develop the staff in areas of client retention, increasing revenue in a cash-based business, and how to build strong referral relationships.
Podcast Host of As I See It. Through engaging discussion on As I See It, he helps patients learn more about eye health, disease process, treatment options, preventative care, and what quality, compassionate care should look like.
Through his experience as an entrepreneur, Dr. Kegarise has become an expert in Business Management. Now, his mission is to help other practitioners create opportunities, build confidence, and generate impactful growth.
Awards and Achievements
- 2013-2018 Best Eyecare Practice in Williamson County (Sizzle Awards)
- 2018 Best of Parenting Award (Williamson County Parent)
- 2017 Best Optometrist (Franklin Lifestyle)
- 2016 Best Eyecare Practice (Williamson County Parent)
- Institute for HealthCare Improvement Idealized Design in Healthcare Project Development Team Member
- Practice Methods taught in Harvard’s School for Public Health
- Consultant to Mayo, Geisinger and other large, well-respected health care institutions
- First Review of Optometric Business Innovator of the Year in Practice
- First in State to add online scheduling and pick your doctor patient appointments
- First to independently track Lasik outcomes of area surgeons
- First to add airport scheduling boards to track patient flow and doctor’s schedules
- First to create and build an in-office gym to train/provide Sports Vision Improvement to athletes
- Only eye doctor in the US to add clinical health coordinators for improved management of chronic eye disease conditions
- Created The Tiger Institute for Cooperative Learning to train other doctors to provide enhanced clinical and business care in a collaborative, all specialties format
- First to add dedicated Traumatic Brain Injury program to eye care practice in Middle TN
- Wrote first Eye Care Improve your Practice, Patients, People and Processes manual for Dartmouth Microsystems
- Member American Optometric Association
- Member, Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians (TAOP)
- TAOP Carrier advisory committee representative (CAC)
- AOA Third Party Care Member
- Wrote Chapter in book on Ocular Pharmacology in Lippincott’s Manual of Primary Eye Care
- Wrote Chapter in book on Leadership in Medical Practice Transformation with Information Technology
- First Eye Doctor in US to write book on Improving the Patient Experience in Healthcare and Teaching Doctors how to develop and build their practice around a culture of patient focused, innovative care delivery
- TN Quality Award recipient for Business
- Local, Regional, National and International Presentations on Clinical Care, Leadership, Coordinated Care, HR management, Business methods
- Adjunct clinical appointments at: University of Alabama in Birmingham, Arizona College of Optometry, Southern College of Optometry, University of Missouri-St. Louis School of Optometry
- Consultant and adjunct faculty for Dartmouth Microsystems Program on Improving Care
- Numerous Local Awards for eye care practice
Our Team
Dawn Woodward
Director of Operations
Ginger Colwell
Financial Manager
Shiela
Administrative Support Specialist
Brett Tuttle
Videographer
Future Team Member
digital marketer
Future Team Member
digital marketer
Affiiates Companies & Organization
affiiates Companies & organization
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We provide eye care professionals with the tools, knowledge, and support needed for tailored practice growth, patient satisfaction, and lasting loyalty.
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We provide eye care professionals with the tools, knowledge, and support needed for tailored practice growth, patient satisfaction, and lasting loyalty.
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