GETTING TO KNOW DR. ROSINSKI

We were so happy to announce earlier this summer that Dr. Rosinski has joined our practice. Now that he’s had a chance to settle in, we thought we’d do a little Q&A so that our patients can get to know him better. Read through to learn more about his not-so-secret second career!

 

Why did you decide to become an optometrist? I decided to become an optometrist due in large part to my optometrist growing up…Dr. Cary Kazdan. I have always been interested in the medical field and working with people, but I wasn’t sure which route I wanted to go. Since I am very nearsighted, I had to see Dr. Kazdan every 6 months. I came to see that being an optometrist was a great profession where you could make a difference.  He has really been an integral part of my career and still mentors me to this day. 

Do you have an optometric special interest? I would say my biggest interest is in contact lenses. I love fitting the patient who was told they couldn’t wear contacts for various reasons: whether from high astigmatism, high prescription, dry eye or other issues.  Contacts have opened up a whole new world to me as an athlete, and I want everyone to experience how amazing they can be. I also fit contacts on patients that have corneal disease or irregularities. We have new contact lenses called scleral lenses that have really made a huge impact on the lives of many.

Why did you move to C’ville and what do you like best so far? I moved to Charlottesville from Rochester, NY, for the beautiful mountains, the more moderate climate, the cultural richness, and the ability to join a great practice. I love exploring the area, trying new restaurants and meeting new people.

How are your new co-workers at Crozet Eye Care? I would say I have a great relationship with the women at Crozet Eye Care. I am the only guy in the office, so I get to take the brunt of the jokes but, hey, I can dish it back, as well. I have really enjoyed the first few months and can only imagine more fun times to come!

Let’s shift gears a bit and talk about your other career. In addition to being an Optometrist, I am also a national caliber Professional triathlete. I am in the middle of my first Pro season, and it is going very well. I just had my best finish back in the middle of August at Ironman Timberman 70.3 where I finished 7th overall and 3rd American losing to a few international stars.  

How did you get into racing? How do you balance work and training? I have been racing triathlons for about 6 years now, but I got serious about the sport three years ago after graduating from optometry school. It was hard to train while in school with the intense course load. I ran cross country and track all through high school and college, and after running competitively for a number of years, I decided to take a little break from running and started cycling. Then after knowing how to cycle and run, I thought a triathlon would be something fun to do. After taking part in my first one, I was hooked!

I practice 3 full days a week and am training the rest of the time. When I first started practicing, I was working full-time and trying to train – that was not working well at all. I was not able to fully commit myself to training, nor was I getting the proper rest I needed to allow my body to recover. By working 3 days a week, I have found that is the optimal for practicing as an optometrist and giving me the time to train/race. I usually put in between 20 to 25 hours a week training. Most of the athletes I race against only train on a full-time basis, so I really enjoy telling them that I am also a practicing Doctor of Optometry.
 
Describe your perfect day. My perfect day would start around 8 a.m. with a nice long run with friends. Then, I’d grab some breakfast and load up on a coffee. I’d spend some time with my wife, and then go for a bike ride – at least 50-60 miles – after lunch. My wife and I would go out to dinner (waterside or any place with a good view), and then come back home, get on the couch, put the legs up, and watch a good movie.
 
Many thanks to Dr. Rosinski for taking the time to answer some questions. If you’re interested in following his adventures in triathlons, take a look at his blog.
 

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