Dr. Paige Hedgpath: Optometrist set her career goals early, knowing she could achieve them

Dr. Paige Hedgpath has cared for the vision health of many in Mid-Missouri from her practice on Monroe Avenue since 1999.

In her 16th year of practice as an optometrist, Dr. Paige Hedgpath has been committed to the eye health of hundreds of local patients.

STAFF PHOTO FLIP PUTTHOFF Turkey vulture Igor spreads wings for wildlife rehabilitator Lynn Sciumbato and the crowd at Hobbs State Park-Wildlife Management Area. When vultures soar, they’re smelling for food, Sciumbato told the crowd at the park visitor center during her program. “That makes sense because their food stinks,” she said.

Whether her patients at Eyes on Missouri on Monroe Avenue need a regular eye exam or help for more complicated issues, her goal is to make them comfortable and put them at ease.

"I always try to help one patient at a time, to really dig into their specific eye care vision issues," Hedgpath said. "In order to do that, you have to connect with the patient."

The Fulton native knew from a young age that she wanted to work as an optometrist. After she received a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1992, she continued her education and graduated from the St. Louis School of Optometry in 1996. She then worked in various offices in Mid-Missouri, and in 1999 joined Dr. R.G. Palmer at his office on Monroe Avenue. When he retired, she took over his practice. In 2009, she renamed the office Hedgpath Eyecare and later merged with Columbia Vision Center.

In addition to her busy career, Hedgpath and her husband, Dan, a technology director for the Fulton Public Schools, have five children, which makes balancing her personal and professional life challenging. But she's passionate about her family life and dedicated to her patients.

"A lot of people take their eyes for granted until there's an issue," she said. "I had an eye infection when I was in high school, and I wore contact lenses so I was always aware of how important it was to take care of your eyes."

"I love what I do, and I can't imagine doing anything else, she added.

Who has invested in you and your career?

"My parents always taught me that I could do anything I wanted to do. They both recommended optometry when I was young, and Dr. Richard White in Fulton allowed me to job shadow him while I was in high school. I remember in the ninth grade I told my future husband that I was going to be an eye doctor."

What choices have you made to invest in yourself and your own success?

"I set my career goals early on and always knew that I would achieve them. I worked hard throughout high school and college to prepare myself for optometry school. I have continued to learn so much from the people I've worked for who had more experience or a different experience than mine. I always ask questions and call the lab for further information or details. In order to help our patients, we have invested in more technology in the practice, so I try to keep up on the latest techniques and options. You can never stop learning."

What do you think are the biggest issues still facing women in the workplace?

"For me, the biggest issue is the ongoing balancing act of parenting and working full time. I always want to be involved in my children's activities and support their academic and athletic goals, but also to be the best optometrist I can be while at work."

What drives you most in life and in your career?

"My family drives me most in my life. Giving the best possible service to my patients and helping them understand and resolve their eye-related issues drives me most in my career."

What advice would you give to a woman entering the workforce?

"Work hard. Be yourself. Choose a career that you enjoy so that you "get to go to work' instead of having to go to work."

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