Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Ruhi Soni.
Hi Dr. Soni, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am a board-certified ophthalmologist with one core belief: the patient always comes first. I have worked with patients from all backgrounds and walks of life in large and small practices. Over fifteen years, I have witnessed the obstacles my patients encounter in managing their eye health, from finding the right doctor to receiving proper treatment plans.
I value the unique needs of every patient, recognizing that each patient needs a personalized treatment plan. This philosophy of care fueled my vision of establishing a dedicated, patient-focused practice – something I once thought implausible but soon realized was the only way I could treat patients with the care they deserve. Soni Vision Institute is a culmination of this belief, built from my experiences working in various ophthalmology settings over the last 15 years.
Today, Soni Vision Institute is a reality.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to Soni Vision has been full of challenges and obstacles. I have heard it all, and most experienced physicians advised me against it for all the typical reasons: haggling with insurance companies, decreased reimbursements, increased government regulation, physician burnout, and lack of work-life balance. I listened to all these people and put my dreams aside for years. I worked in many different settings, feeling unfulfilled, and experienced what many would describe as “physician burnout.”
A significant life event in 2022 forced me to look in the mirror and re-evaluate my life and career goals. Upon closer inspection, here’s what I saw: Medicine is my passion. Healing and nurturing is in my DNA. The thrill of surgical success still felt powerful to me. I always knew medicine was my calling, and I was not ready to give up on it and settle for a lackluster job.
My husband and children encouraged me to cast my fears aside, forge a new path, and care my patients in a way which felt authentic to my values and beliefs. In eight months, I frantically worked day and night to find an office space, credential with the insurance companies, and hire the most intelligent and compassionate staff I could find in the city of Houston.
On February 9, 2023, the Soni Vision Institute went from a pipedream to a reality. Patients came from near and far, some finding me after eight long years.
As you know, we’re big fans of Soni Vision Institute PLLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Each day at Soni Vision Institute, we see the remarkable outcomes of our work and dedication. We restore vision. Our patients rejoice when they can drive again, read again, and embrace their favorite passions – whether it’s golf, flying, gardening, or art. There’s a strong sense of renewal in our clinic. And there’s nothing (I mean literally nothing) that brings me greater joy than these words, “I can see better today than I have ever seen in my life.”
Our patients go out into the world and reimagine what their future and potential can be. The process of visual restoration, starting with the diagnosis, to the surgical procedure, and finally, the visual recovery, is powerful and exhilarating. I wake up every day ready to experience it again. Each patient’s story is unique and special, and it’s an honor to be a part of it. I always yearn for more.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
My parents and in-laws were immigrants who came to the United States of America with a dream for a better future. While we were never rich, we never lacked in love or support. Their hard work and sacrifice launched my husband and I into a world full of opportunity.
My husband, Samit Soni, and I met at the Baylor College of Medicine twenty years ago, and we have been married for 15 beautiful years. We have three children, Simran (10), Sevak (10), and Saraiya (7), who are my greatest supporters and loudest cheerleaders. I would not be where I am today without their support. They are wise beyond their years and understand their mom cannot cancel surgeries to attend a last-minute school celebration. But they never doubt my undying love and respect for who they are.
The success of Soni Vision Institute is a testament to the love and dedication of the Singh and Soni family.
Contact Info:
- Website: sonivisioninstitute.com
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ruhi-soni-8867a5198
Image Credits
Cassandra Flores
