Dr. Losh opens new practice
PHIL COBB/DAILY FORUM
In front of their variety of glasses and frames, Dr. Ryan and Tracey Losh hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting with the Chamber of Commerce and its ambassadors on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at their new Maryville location.
Optometrist Ryan Losh opened his doors at 109 S. Buchanan St. in Maryville at the start of 2015.
Originally from the Kansas City area, Dr. Losh has lived in the Maryville community since 2010, previously working in Family Eye Clinic and commuting to work in St. Joseph. Prior to receiving his license to practice optometry, Losh worked as a computer software engineer for more than 10 years.
At an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony, Wednesday morning, Losh told ambassadors of the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce that he decided a career move to optometry would allow him to more directly increase people’s quality of life.
“When I was thinking about what field I wanted to go into, I was sitting in line for an eye exam,” Losh said. “It was then that I remembered that after my first eye exam, I ran up to my mom and said, ‘Mommy, I want to be an eye doctor when I grow up.’”
In following his childhood dream, Losh attended three years of night classes and graduated from the University of Missouri Saint Louis College of Optometry with a Doctor of Optometry degree.
Losh said he and his wife, Tracey, who also works in the office, intend to make Maryville his permanent home for many years to come.
“While it was a job that brought me here, the schools are a good fit,” he said. “Our two children have special needs and Eugene Field was able to make leaps and bounds with them.”
He said he also appreciates no rush hour, which he was accustomed to during his time in Kansas City and St. Louis.
Losh Optometry is currently in-network for VSP, Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield and is working through the approval process with others.
“For optometry, there are two areas – vision and medical,” Losh said. “We are able to identify bigger health issues through the eyes.”
He said this could reduce a timeline of an underlying medical issue, referencing diabetes and shingles as cases he’s identified in the past.
The couple chose the building on South Buchanan when they found that Jeffery Gardner, DDS, was moving to South Main.
“We decided there was minimal renovation, and the location was a good fit,” Losh said.
Since they live near the office, Losh offers emergency services after work hours and on weekends. Customers seeking this care can call their regular office number, 660.241.5001, and select an option to transfer directly to him.
