Dr. Adam Ramsey: From Hustle to Impact in His Journey Through Optometry and Life

When you sit down with Dr. Adam Ramsey, you’re in for more than just a conversation, you’re in for a masterclass on resilience, grit, and purpose.

Born in Trinidad and raised in Florida from the age of eight, Adam grew up with what he calls an immigrant mindset, a deep appreciation for opportunity and an unshakable commitment to never waste it. That drive carried him from a single-parent household into a career in optometry, but his path was anything but smooth.

Learning to Love the Grind

Adam’s passion for optometry didn’t start right away. He explored becoming a veterinarian, even volunteered for years at a clinic, before realizing it wasn’t his calling. After shadowing physical therapists, he found the same mismatch. It wasn’t until sitting in his own optometrist’s office, overhearing doctors casually planning a round of golf, that Adam realized he could combine autonomy, healthcare, and business ownership in one career.

From there, he went all in: vice president of the pre-optometry club within six months, applying to schools within a year, and enrolling at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. It was there he learned what it meant to stand out, as the only Black male in the entire school for all four years. That experience planted seeds for a mission much bigger than himself.

The Harsh Reality of Early Career Moves

Adam’s early professional years were a crash course in adaptability. He secured positions that seemed promising, only to have practices close or corporate owners pull the rug out with little notice, sometimes within months.

One moment he was outfitting a new office, the next he was told to get his equipment out within 30 minutes. Another time, after a location closed, he pivoted to fill-in work across Florida just to keep going. Even a trusted mentor figure, who helped him choose his own practice location, terminated him the day he signed the lease.

These experiences taught Adam never to let anyone else control his destiny, and to treat every patient and every dollar like they could be the last.

Building a Practice With a Ritz-Carlton Mindset

In 2016, Adam opened his own practice with no working capital and no safety net. His approach: create an experience he would be proud of as a patient himself. That meant real leather chairs, high-quality lenses, and even signature scents in the office.

But the magic wasn’t just in the decor, it was in how he trained his team. He took staff to fine dining restaurants and luxury hotels, letting them experience top-tier service firsthand so they could deliver it authentically to patients. As Adam puts it, “You can’t expect someone to give the Ritz-Carlton experience if they’ve never received it.”

Turning Challenges Into a Movement

While building his practice, Adam also co-founded Black Eyecare Perspective with Dr. Darryl Glover. The organization’s mission is to increase Black representation in optometry and change how the profession engages with African American communities.

Through their Pre-Optometry Pipeline Program, they’ve guided students from undergrad into optometry school, boasting a 95% graduation rate among participants. Funding has been harder to come by in recent years, but Adam remains committed, refusing to dilute the mission or change the name for convenience.

Dr. Adam Ramsey's Book "Play Chess, Not Checkers"

In 2020, Adam released his book Play Chess, Not Checkers, a guide for aspiring practice owners to go from associate to opening day. Part two is in the works, covering lessons learned in the years since, including weathering COVID-19 and adapting to a shifting optometry landscape.

He’s also launched a podcast under the same name to keep the conversation moving, sharing both his own stories and those of other leaders in the profession.

Lessons for Every Optometrist and Entrepreneur

Adam’s journey is a reminder that:

• The grind is part of the game, love it even when it’s not easy.

• Control your destiny, don’t give others the power to dictate your path.

• Invest in your team’s experiences, they can only deliver what they’ve truly felt.

• Give yourself grace, growth takes time and some timelines can’t be rushed.

As Adam says, “If I can make myself happy with the experience in my practice, the patients will be overjoyed.”

Whether you’re just starting your career or decades in, his story is a testament to perseverance, authenticity, and the power of lifting others as you climb.