Dr. Diane van Staden joins Fred and Riyad to share her remarkable journey from clinical optometry to public health advocacy, academia, and career coaching. After practicing optometry in South Africa, Diane made a bold decision to leave clinical practice without a roadmap to address the public health crisis in eye care access.

In this conversation, Diane reveals how she navigated multiple career pivots—from implementing optometry services in underserved provinces to leading health professions education at the university level. She opens up about her decision to walk away from a clear path to becoming Dean of Health Sciences to reset her life around her values, and how a sabbatical in Canada changed everything.

Connect with Dr. Diane:
Instagram: @DrDianevanStaden
LinkedIn: Dr. Diane van Staden
Email: [email protected]
Podcast: Life Beyond Clinical Practice