The longer you get to know someone, the better you understand them. In medicine, that means seeing the person beyond the patient.

And it’s the part of her work that Dr. Courtney Bovee truly treasures.

As a glaucoma specialist at Brandon Eye Associates, Dr. Bovee cares for patients managing a condition that often requires lifelong care. That gives her the ability to walk alongside her patients through different stages of life, building relationships that can span years and extend to their families.

“Ophthalmology has many opportunities to develop meaningful interactions and to form lifelong physician-patient relationships,” she said. “As a glaucoma specialist, I am able to engage with patients throughout their lifetime and even expand that care to family members/communities at risk.”

In recognition of Women in Medicine Month, the Florida Society of Ophthalmology is highlighting women from across the Society whose work is helping shape ophthalmology. We’re sharing their perspectives on what drew them to the specialty, the women who influenced their careers and the advice they have for those following in their footsteps.

An Example of Leadership and Compassion

Relationships have shaped Dr. Bovee’s career in other ways, too. She points to Dr. Ruth Williams as an example of the kind of physician and leader she strives to be.

Dr. Williams has held leadership roles throughout ophthalmology, including serving as president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She also serves as chief medical editor of EyeNet and Vice-Chair of the Glaucoma Research Foundation. But for Dr. Bovee, her influence is just as evident in the way former patients remember her care.

“Dr. Ruth Williams has inspired me to be not just a great clinician but also to be a leader in our medical community,” Dr. Bovee said. “She has contributed to the profession in a wide variety of capacities; tremendously insightful editorial pieces as the editor of EyeNet, as a leader of the Glaucoma Research Foundation and as a successful private practitioner.

“In recent years I have seen patients who she has taken care of who speak to her compassion and empathy.”

The relationships built with patients can leave a lasting impression on both sides of the exam room.

Finding Support in Colleagues

As Dr. Bovee has built her own career, she has also found support in a close network of colleagues.

“I have found a very meaningful group of colleagues to support me in clinical practice,” she said. “This group shares ideas, troubleshoots challenging cases and is available to be supportive. Having a close network to ask for help has been invaluable.”