Susan Lee Baylus, OD

As a second-generation American, I come from a family with a strong work ethic and an emphasis on the importance of education.  Though all of my grandparents never completed more than an eighth grade level of schooling, they managed to raise 5 doctors and a lawyer.  My own father, an optometrist, encouraged me to go into medicine.  In my last year of undergraduate school, I had an opportunity to work with him as an optician.  After six months I knew that my future would be in optometry. 

Upon completing my Doctor of Optometry degree at The New England College of Optometry, I was selected for the Fellowship In Primary Care at the College, and chose to stay on as a clinical educator.  I eventually was promoted to Coordinator of Home Eye Services.  This program involved on-site comprehensive eye care with patients who were unable to leave their home.  I expanded the program to include patients who were unable to afford eye care.  Securing donations from companies for materials and manufacturing of spectacles allowed us to provide eye care to the indigent, with a focus on women.  The College to date is still providing eye care to Shelters like Rosie’s Place, Women’s Lunch Place and Saint Francis House.

I left the full-time academic program in July 1997, but am still involved in our intern and residency program here at OCB.  I also continue to participate in community activities with the Volunteer Optometrists for Service to Humanity and Cape Cares.  I recently went on my third mission to Honduras with Cape Cares, providing eye care to the underprivileged.

I joined Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston in May 1997, and was soon invited to work on Dr. Shingleton’s team. Although this is a change in career focus for me, our team will soon be supervising interns from The New England College of Optometry.  I am proud to be affiliated with Ophthalmic Consultant of Boston, and feel that our patients receive the highest quality of ophthalmic care in this region.