Today we’d like to introduce you to Marc N. Longo.
Marc, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
There are not too many native Houstonians but I am one of them. I was raised here in Houston in a large Catholic Italian family. My parents were both hard-working, owned their respective businesses and working for them in the summers instilled good values and discipline in me. When I finished St. Thomas High School I remember enjoying the academic challenges and learning new things and I think that sparked my interest in a medical career.
Then while at UT Austin I did some medical volunteer work and electives with physicians my family knew to get me going in the direction I eventually took. While at UT my father suggested I study the basic science I would need but major in non-science as I would most likely not have another opportunity to study such subjects. Majoring in finance and minoring in life science was one of the most helpful things I have done to help me run my practice and surgery centers. I did not always listen but was glad I did that time! One of my uncles was a close friend of Dr. Denton Cooley and he was an ardent supporter of UT students who wanted to study medicine. I was able to meet with him and eventually, he became a great friend and advisor. The advice and help he gave me over the years I can never repay. When I was accepted at UT Medical School in Houston my long journey had begun.
During that time I most enjoyed Plastic Surgery and Ophthalmology because I was attracted to the challenge of learning, the possibility of microsurgery and the ability to improve both facial function and aesthetics. I was fortunate to have 3 mentors (Drs. Charlie Garcia, Richard Ruiz and John Goosey then part of Hermann Eye Center) who helped me get started with research in Ophthalmology and later a career in Oculoplastic surgery. It is a small specialty with a 3-4 year Ophthalmic Residency training and 2-year Fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery. I met Dr. Mark Mazow (my Oculoplastic Fellowship Director) through his father and was able to secure a Fellowship Position with him in Dallas.
My time there was well spent and formed the foundations of many procedures I perform today as well as training in billing, coding and other necessary functions to operate a private practice. Upon my return to Houston, I accepted a position at Houston Eye Associates as an Oculoplastic Consultant and partner. It was there I met Marvin Zindler who became a lifelong friend and patient. He would find patients who needed my service and through the Houston Eye Associates foundation, we were able to do many necessary surgeries on patients without funds or insurance. I still work with this Foundation today. It was always my dream to have my own practice and combine my training in medicine and business.
As a physician, one is the ultimate person responsible for the care and well being of the patient. Therefore having the ability to find and keep the best personnel, equipment and technology would enhance the quality of care and affect the ultimate experience the patient has under one’s care. I was both anxious and excited when I started Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeons of Texas (OPST) in 1999. There were 2 things I was determined to accomplish. The first was to open a surgery center attached to the office and have it certified and credentialed. That gave me the ability to focus the staff and equipment on what we do best and fine tune things to provide first class care at a reasonable cost. The second was to run the entire office under an EMR (electronic medical record). We were one of the first practices to convert to EMR (2002) and are on our 3rd generation system today.
There is no question that once in place it improved our quality and accuracy of care and made the practice a much more efficient operation. There have been many challenges and learning opportunities in running a private practice and surgery center (2 of them now) from Human Resources, billing and coding, accounting and management, purchasing and inventory all while taking care of patients and referring doctors. The concept of providing personalized old fashioned care in a modern way has always been at the forefront of my practice at OPST. The aforementioned ideas and goals have helped this come to fruition in my practice.
Over the years I was fortunate to acquire an excellent younger partner and we have branched out into the education and training of Fellows in Oculoplastic Surgery. We have Associate Professorships for training and education for these fellows through University of Texas Medical School at Houston and through MD Anderson Cancer Center. These things enhance our knowledge and help keep us current. Another special educational interest I had was in the operation and certification of Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
Through the AAAASF credentialing agency, I have become a certified examiner of both Regular and Medicare Ambulatory Surgery Centers. This definitely helps in the delivery of a safe and efficient surgery as well as keep down costs. I served for several years and once as President of the Houston Ophthalmological Society a very rewarding experience to gather educational speakers and represent my fellow Eye Surgeons in Houston and surrounding areas.
There have been other areas of interest involving research and publications as well but nothing has brought me as much pleasure in practice as the service aspect and possibilities of Missionary Eye Surgery. The trips to Ecuador and now annual trips to Guatemala with Faith in Practice/Mathis Eye Foundation have truly changed my life and that of my wife and children. There is such a great need for surgical specialists in the 3rd world and the ability to help these indigent patients has brought significant meaning to my career and life. This has been a special opportunity for my family and me to serve God and care for those less fortunate than we.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been many obstacles and challenges along the way. Barbara Jordan quoted in our commencement speech she gave at UT Austin: “There ain’t nothing worth nothing that ain’t no trouble”. How very true that is in life especially with time management. The most difficult challenge in private practice is balancing time needed to care for the patients versus time needed to operate a small business and surgery centers. Time needed for work, family and God. As an employee Doctor, your lifestyle, practice and salaries and salaries are more regular and consistent but not so when you are in private practice.
We also live in a city with enormous economic opportunities so acquiring and keeping top-notch staff is a constant challenge. Having a partner owner has its own set of challenges in combining 2 styles of practice, managing our time in the OR and clinic as well as succession planning for the future. One of the most unique challenges in opening up a business or practice is all the new things you must do as you are effectively IN your practice taking care of patients and MANAGING your practice at the same time. Sometimes those 2 forces are opposed to each other in decision making and we must always put patient safety and care first.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I think most of that was covered in the opening paragraphs. We are unique in that we own and operate our practice/business as well as 2 surgery centers and were some of the first doctors in our area to use the CO2 laser for eyelid surgery and the endoscope for brow plastic surgery.
What were you like growing up?
Good question. As the eldest, I was a self-starter according to my parents. I did not need to be reminded to clean my room, help in the kitchen or get my homework done. There was so much respect for my parents and adults and I did not want to disappoint them. No matter if I were in school, service, sports or hobbies it was always my attitude that if anything was worth doing it was worth learning to do it well. That usually meant hard work and sacrifice.
My friends at school were very diverse in that they were from various backgrounds, socioeconomic standings and athletic/academic varieties. My mom helped open the first Head Start Program in the 1960’s out of the University of Houston and placed me in it. What a stark contrast to private school but what a beneficial learning experience.
Though I participated and enjoyed some school team sports, I much more enjoyed the challenge and pressure of competing in certain individual sports and activities like golf and tennis. That may be why I went into private individual practice.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7500 San Felipe 200
Houston, Texas 77063 - Website: houstoneyelids.com
- Phone: 713-953-9932
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