Our Doctors

Undergraduate Education: Indiana University BS in Nutrition Science. Optometry School: University of Houston College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? Providing comprehensive eye exams for adults and children, medically based optometry focused on diabetic eye health, glaucoma treatment and management, early detection and treatment for macular degeneration, dry eye treatments utilizing available technology, and contact lens fitting including myopia management contact lenses. Hobbies/Interests: crocheting, movies, spending time with my family and dogs.

Undergraduate Education: UNC-Chapel Hill; Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with Honors; Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Optometry School: University of Alabama, School of Optometry, 1999; Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society; Ocular Disease Residency, 2000. Professional Achievements and Associations: NCOS; AOA; Board member, "Hope in Sight”; nonprofit organization for financial assistance for advanced dry eye treatment; Board member, Duplin County Board of Health. Clinical Certifications and Specialties: Ocular Disease Residency; Primary care optometry with emphasis on management of ocular disease, with special interest in glaucoma; Contact lens service; Referrals and co-management of ocular disease, cataract surgery and Lasik. The reason I became an optometrist is: The eye is such an amazing structure! It is a joy to be able to apply my love of biology and of helping others daily. My favorite part of helping my patients is: The sense of fulfillment and satisfaction gained in being able to help others through my optometric training. In my spare time, I enjoy: I enjoy spending time with my husband and three children, snow skiing, boating, enjoying the beach and being active in my church.

Undergraduate Education: Xavier University of Louisiana; Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: National Optometric Association, Georgia Optometric Association; What drives your passion for optometry? I strive to give each and every patient the very best care possible in order to make a positive impact on their lives. How are you helping patients live their best lives? By ensuring they receive optimal care. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Ensuring that each patient is highly satisfied and happy. How are you impacting your local community? My goal is to bring awareness to the field of optometry to underserved communities. Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, Kayaking

A native of Latrobe, Dr. Brownfield attended Saint Vincent College in Latrobe where he was awarded a Bachelors of Science in biology. Following graduation, he then went on to The Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia where he earned a degree in Vision Science followed by Doctor of Optometry. While practicing at The Eye Institute in Philadelphia, Dr. Brownfield was awarded Certificates of Clinical Excellence in both Primary and Pediatric eye care. While away from the office, Dr. Brownfield enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his wife and three children.

Undergraduate Education: Cumberland College Williamsburg, KY. Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. Certifications/Awards: Beta sigma kappa honors society, Pediatric vision award, Cumberland College Lady Indians basketball team member, AOA /TOA member. Hobbies/Interests: Loves spending time with family, horseback riding, swimming, and basketball.

Undergraduate Education: Kentucky Wesleyan College, Optometry School: Indiana University, Professional Achievements/Associations: American Optometric Association and Indiana Optometric Association, Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Primary Care, Contact Lenses, Ocular Disease, What drives your passion for optometry?: , How are you helping patients live their best lives?: I was born and raised in Terre Haute so I am thankful that I can have a positive impact on my community's vision and health., What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you?: Ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of all patients, How are you impacting your local community?: I am involved in my local optometry society and volunteer giving eye exams at the Special Olympics held in our community., Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, shopping, traveling, and playing and watching tennis.

Undergraduate Education: Indiana University- Bloomington; Optometry School: Indiana University School of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: Member of the AOA, IOA, and local Stonebelt Optometric Society; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Primary Care Optometry across all age groups; What drives your passion for optometry? Helping my patients to understand their eye health and make informed decisions regarding treatment options. How are you helping patients live their best lives? By providing comprehensive eye care and establishing treatment plans tailored specifically to my patients' needs and lifestyles. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of all patients. Hobbies/Interests: Baking, cooking, playing video games, traveling, and spending time with my husband, Justin

Undergraduate Education: University of WI-Parkside, BS Life Sciences. Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry, 1989. The reason I became an optometrist is: to help others enjoy the beauty of the world that surrounds us! My favorite part of helping my patients is: educating them about their vision, providing them with solutions, and being part of their success stories! In my spare time, I enjoy: Practicing yoga, landscaping my yard (love hydrangeas), and spending time w/ loved ones.

Dr. Reema Bhagat is a graduate of the University of Illinois - Chicago and studied optometry at Nova Southeastern University. She loves educating patients on how to keep their eyes healthy and what they can do to ensure they achieve their best possible vision. In her spare time, Dr. Bhagat enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and trying new foods and wines.

Dr. Chandler Bryant attended Rhodes College and is also a graduate of the Southern College of Optometry. He enjoys helping patients understand and take part in their own eye health. In his free time, this Grizzlies fan loves watching and attempting to play sports. Dr. Bryant also enjoys playing the guitar and discovering new music.

Undergraduate Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University; Professional Achievements and Associations: Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, Member of Maryland Optometric Association, Associate member of the North Carolina Optometric Society, Member of American Optometric Association, Member of the National Optometric Association; Clinical Certifications and Specialities: Residency Trained in Ocular Disease, Primary Care Optometry; The reason I became an optometrist is because I derive great joy in being able to combine my love of science and passion for helping others. I love being able to play an integral role in serving as the primary eye provider of my patients, addressing their visual and ocular needs, and providing education to understand their eye health. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, working out, hiking, and spending time with wonderful husband and family. My favorite part of helping my patients is having the ability to transform one’s way of viewing the world and their interaction by way of visual correction. It’s purely satisfying being able to witness the immediate gratification that’s achieved, whenever I demonstrate my patients customized prescription to correct their visual error. Additionally, I enjoy interacting with each patient and providing quality patient centered care.

Undergraduate Education: Colgate University; Optometry School: Salus University; Professional Achievements/Associations: Founding member of Spectrum eyecare ( 1st OD MD network), Scored 4th highest score in the country on competency exam; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Complicated vision disorders, Cornea, Keratoconus; What drives your passion for optometry? I love caring for patients suffering from more complex eye eye disorders. How are you helping patients live their best lives? I provide the latest information and technology regarding contacts lenses, eyewear, nutraceuticals and surgical treatment. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? Ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of all patients. How are you impacting your local community? I am involved in free eye screenings in my community. Hobbies/Interests: Golf, kayaking, biking, traveling and being a grandfather.

Undergraduate Education: University of Mississippi; Optometry School: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: AOA, ALOA; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Primary Care; What drives your passion for optometry? My passion for optometry started when I got my first pair of glasses in middle school. When I got the opportunity to shadow my own optometrist, I found the optometric exam with the various diagnostic tools and images to be so exciting. How are you helping patients live their best lives? The most important thing for me is to find solutions to my patients’ problems. I want my patients to be able to see their best and feel their best, whether it is a new pair of glasses or finding management to control their systemic diseases. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? I strive to provide the best quality eye care for every single patient that walks through the door. This requires individualizing management based on personal needs in order to achieve the most satisfactory experience. How are you impacting your local community? By being involved in my local church and raising eye health awareness. Hobbies/Interests: Spending quality time with my loved ones, hiking, cooking, and shopping

Undergraduate Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry. Hobbies/Interests: I am a life-long Cubs fan. In my spare time I enjoy trying new restaurants in the city, travelling the world, yoga, and spending time with loved ones.

Undergraduate Education: Morgan State University. Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community? Providing comprehensive eye exams for adults and children, diabetic eye exams, contact lens fittings and evaluations, binocular visual dysfunctions, and ocular disease management. Hobbies/Interests: Crafting, creative writing, reading, volunteering in my local community and spending quality time with my husband and two sons.

Undergraduate Education: University of Montevallo; B.S. in Biology with a chemistry minor. Optometry School: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry/1998; Concurrent OD and MS (In Vision Science). Professional Achievements and Associations: Member of the American Optometric Association and Alabama Optometric Association; Past Clinical Examiner, National Board of Examiners in Optometry. The reason I became an optometrist is: I became an Optometrist because I had always wanted to be a doctor but did not know what specialty I wanted to pursue. My interest in Optometry came to fruition after I, along with seven other minority students from various colleges and universities across the state, were chosen to be a part an inaugural eight-week summer program through the University of Alabama School of Medicine. This program termed The Sophomore Enrichment Program took place during the summer of my sophomore year of undergraduate studies and introduced me to Optometry and many other health-related professions. However, the field of Optometry piqued my interest the most. I loved the idea of being able to help people to see well and to have healthy eyes, but also to discover health-related issues through their eyes. The inaugural Junior Enrichment Program the subsequent summer, allowed me to observe in the optometry clinics at the UAB School of Optometry the entire summer, and this experience cemented my desire to pursue a career in primary eye care. My favorite part of helping my patients is: I especially love the satisfaction seen on patients’ faces when they see things for the first time in a way that they have not before, which can impact the quality of their lives. It gives me the satisfaction of knowing that the career path that I chose can be a life-changing experience for many people. I also love when they show excitement and appreciation because they have had an awesome vision and eye health experience. In my spare time, I enjoy: spending time with my husband and two children and teaching them to appreciate and to treasure the simple things in life. I also love shopping, reading, and catching up with extended family and friends.

Ron Burks OD is a board-certified optometric physician specializing in primary eye care and contact lenses. He is trained in the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and management of ocular diseases and vision anomalies, managing eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Dr. Burks provides comprehensive general and urgent eye care including contact lens fittings and co-management of surgery patients. Dr. Burks is a member of the American Optometric Association, Arkansas Optometric Association, Beta Sigma Kappa-Honor Fraternity, and Lions Club. Ron and his wife, Debbie, have three children, Brittany, Jordan, Tanner, and three grandchildren, Eli, Mary Caroline, and Connor. He enjoys biking, hunting, and all types of outdoor activities and sports.

Dr. Denise Burns began working at HEC in 2005. Although she has spent time at all 4 locations, she sees patients mainly at 45th and Harvard. Previous experience includes clinics in Bartlesville, OK, Temple, TX, and Fort Hood Military Base in Killeen, Texas. Dr. Burns is from Ada, Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State University, finishing with a degree in Pre-Medical Sciences. She also received a bachelor of science degree from Northeastern State University and graduated summa cum laude with her doctorate from Northeastern State University College of Optometry in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Optometry has been a part of life for Dr. Burns from a young age. She has worked in vision care since she was a teenager and believes that educating patients in proper care for all aspects of eye and vision health is the key to success. Outside the office, Dr. Burns enjoys cooking, exercise and spending time with her husband and three children. She also is involved in a mentorship program for young women through her church.

Undergraduate Education: DePauw University, B.A. Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry 1995. Professional Achievements and Associations: Illinois Optometric Association; American Optometric Association. Clinical Certifications and Specialties: Primary Care Optometry. The reason I became an optometrist is: My dad, a dedicated anesthesiologist, inspired me to seek a career in the medical field. I also had an amazing optometrist growing up in Indiana. I couldn't wait to try on every frame in his practice upon each visit. My favorite part of helping my patients is: I love that I get to take care of families in the community in which I live. I enjoy providing thorough, personalized, quality eye care. It's a pleasure getting to know my patients and their families. I look forward to seeing them return year after year. In my spare time, I enjoy: travel, theater, reading, photography, spending time with family.