From Winnipeg to Edmonton, from student to private practice owner, and from shy content creator to “Dapper Eye Doc,” this Depth Perception episode with Dr. Shaminder Dhaliwal is all about owning your path in optometry—and looking good while you do it.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Dr. Dhaliwal completed his optometry degree at ICO in Chicago before moving to Edmonton, Alberta, where he now co-owns a private practice in the most northern major city with over one million people. His journey took a bold turn in October 2020, when he moved provinces and opened a practice in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic—an era when even his cousins called him “the crazy cousin” for starting a business in so much uncertainty.

Beyond clinic life, Dr. Dhaliwal is widely known online as @dappereyedoc, a brand that blends optometry, lifestyle, and fashion. He originally launched his page in 2018 but kept it secret at first because of imposter syndrome and past experiences of being teased for posting tech reviews on YouTube as a kid. This time, instead of deleting his content, he pushed through the discomfort and kept creating—proof that growth often comes from doing the thing that scares you.

Imposter syndrome is a recurring theme in his story, especially in his early clinical years. Dr. Dhaliwal shares a powerful example of seeing a young patient with a serious corneal issue and immediately questioning whether he caused it or missed something. In that moment, a mentor reminded him of two key truths: patients appreciate when you bring in a second set of eyes, and as the optometrist, you are the expert in the room. Learning to ask for help, trust his training, and still be honest about his limits helped him move past self-doubt and into confident clinical decision-making.

He also emphasizes how important it is to collaborate with other professionals—family doctors, pharmacists, vision therapy providers, and more. Knowing when to refer and when to lean on someone else’s expertise does not make a doctor weaker; it makes patient care stronger.

On the practice side, Dr. Dhaliwal is honest about the perception that private practice sits on a pedestal in optometry. While he loves ownership and wouldn’t trade it, he pushes back on the idea that it is the only successful path. Optometry is incredibly flexible: doctors can work full-time, part-time, in industry, in sublease models, or in a mix of clinical and non-clinical roles—and all of those can be fulfilling.

One of the most memorable parts of the episode is his philosophy on style and confidence in clinic. For him, fashion isn’t about vanity; it’s about mindset. He lives by the idea that “80% of feeling good is feeling that you look good.” When he feels put together—whether it’s a fresh haircut, coordinated frames, or a sharp sweater—he’s more confident, more joyful, and more engaging with patients. That energy, he believes, directly elevates the patient experience.

Finally, Dr. Dhaliwal credits networking as a turning point in his career. A simple decision to attend a school practice symposium, follow up with an email every quarter, and stay connected with a Winnipeg practice owner eventually led to his first associate job—and later, his current business partnership. His message to students and young optometrists is clear: show up, introduce yourself, nurture relationships. You never know which connection will shape your future.