Our Doctors

Undergraduate Education: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Optometry School: New England College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By helping each patient find the best solution for their visual needs and providing comprehensive eye exams to help maintain their overall health. Hobbies: Enjoy spending time with my family, sports, and trying to keep up with my 3 boys.

A native of Arden, North Carolina, Dr. Sean Skierczynski (“Dr. Ski”) decided to return to his hometown to practice optometry in the community where he grew up. He attended T.C. Roberson High School and then earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Ski went on to graduate magna cum laude from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. After graduation, he completed his residency training in Family Practice at West Tennessee Eye in Memphis, TN where he received extensive training in LASIK and cataract surgery co-management, glaucoma diagnosis/management, pediatrics, low vision and specialty contact lens fittings. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association and Mountain District Optometric Society. Dr. Ski enjoys exploring new hiking trails in WNC, playing basketball, and cheering on the Tar Heels. He lives in Mills River with his wife and three daughters.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biology from State University of New York in Oneonta, NY, Dr. Kristina Skoljarev earned a Doctor of Optometry, from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Worcester, Massachusetts. Dr. Skoljarev provides a specialized course of treatment for each patient, combining expert application of medical and optical techniques to seek the best possible outcome for each patient. When not treating patients, Dr. Skoljarev loves spending free time with family and catching up with friends. She loves going back to Croatia, where most of her family still lives, to keep up with her cultural heritage. She is organized, confident, focused, and very empathetic to her patients to make sure they feel cared for both medically and mentally.

Undergraduate Education: Virginia Commonwealth University, BS – Biology. Optometry School: Salus University, formerly Pennsylvania College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I am a 3rd generation Optometrist with 20+ years of practice in Northern Virginia. My father and Great Uncle were career Optometrists. I support our community by providing comprehensive eye exams for adults and children, diabetic eye exams, contact lens fitting, and ocular disease management. While supporting our community’s eye health, I stay active and busy raising three wonderful children with my husband. Hobbies/Interests: Board Games, Traveling and Spending time with my family and entertaining with friends.

Undergraduate Education: Liberty University. Optometry School: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. Certifications/Awards: Residency training in specialty contact lenses, anterior segment disease, and refractive surgery. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By managing advanced ocular conditions in patients of all ages and collaborating with other healthcare providers to provide the best overall care for patients. Hobbies/Interests: Playing music and exploring Memphis.

Undergraduate Education: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, BS in Biology; Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Professional Achievements and Associations: Alcon Speaker Alliance 2018-present, Transitions Pro Forum Member 2010-2020, Perc Key Advisor 2017-2019; The reason I became an optometrist is to help individuals see their best. My favorite part of helping my patients is helping them look and see better! In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my children.

Undergraduate Education: Fairfield University, B.S. in Biology; Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: American Optometric Association, Maryland Optometric Association; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Primary care, contact lens fitting, and refractive surgery; How are you helping patients live their best lives? By discovering the individual needs of each patient and tailoring my recommendation to best meet those needs. Hobbies/Interests: I love spending time with my family, traveling, and exploring the great outdoors.

Dr. Blake Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Tech and a Doctorate of Optometry, including certifications for Optometric Therapy and as a Glaucoma Specialist, from the University of Houston in 2007. He has served as the Panhandle Optometric Society President from 2009 to present. Dr. Smith and his family are members of Trinity Fellowship Church. In his spare time, Dr. Smith loves to golf, travel and spend time with his wife, Jennifer, and two daughters.

Undergraduate Education: University of Florida - Bachelor of Science (2010). Optometry School: Nova Southeastern College of Optometry - Doctor of Optometry with Honors (2015). Certifications: Oral therapeutics certification. Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with wife and two sons, playing guitar.

Dr. Smith holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and attended the prestigious Indiana University School of Optometry where he received his Doctorate of Optometry. Dr. Smith is a member of the Indiana Optometric Association and the Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society.

Undergraduate Education: University of Pittsburgh Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry Certifications/Awards: Primary Care Residency, VA Medical Center Memphis; Optometric Research Fellowship, VA Medical Center Boston Hobbies/Interests: genealogy, weightlifting, and traveling

Undergraduate Education: Purdue University; Bachelor of Science; Major: biology; 2002". Optometry School: Indiana University; School of optometry; 2006. Professional Achievements and Associations: American Optometric Association; Indiana Optometric Association; Named Top Women in Optometry (back in 2006). The reason I became an optometrist is: I loved math and science in school. It was a natural gravitation towards the medical field because the physiology of the human body is just amazing. It took me a few years in undergrad to realize that optometry was the perfect fit for my personality. I love that each exam is a chance to problem solve and find solution to make people feel and see better. In essence, I get to spend my day making people better by giving them better vision to be more productive at life. My favorite part of helping my patients is: I love problem solving and connecting with my patients. I live in the community that I work and love getting to know my patients as people. I love running into them in town. My goal is to connect with my patients and better understand their needs/life so that I can provide the best eyecare solutions. I love to think outside the box because sometimes there are solutions for needs, they might not even know they are experiencing. In my spare time, I enjoy: I love spending time with my family. I have a 5-year-old son, so I am the stereotypical soccer mom and love it. I also have a mild form of muscular dystrophy and refuse to let it slow me down. It makes me appreciate even the small things in life more. I love to travel, read, and spend time with those I love.

Undergraduate Education: Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences. Optometry School: Salus University (Pennsylvania College of Optometry); 2001. Professional Achievements and Associations: Member, American Optometric Association; Member, Pennsylvania Optometric Association; Member, Central Pennsylvania Optometric Society. The reason I became an optometrist is: To use science in an interesting way to help people. My favorite part of helping my patients is: Seeing them have success with treatments or help that we can provide. In my spare time, I enjoy: Time with family, travel, taekwondo.

Undergraduate Education: Barry University - Bachelors of Science ; Major- Biology ; Optometry School: Nova Southeastern College of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: Gold Key Optometric Honor Society; What drives your passion for optometry? My passion for optometry is driven by patient care. I really enjoy serving people and it's always a pleasure to learn their stories. How are you helping patients live their best lives? I am helping patients live their best lives by offering exceptional care by taking keen interest in the lifestyle of each patient. By taking the time to listen, I am able to cater each individual exam to the current needs of the patient. How are you impacting your local community? My hope is that after the pandemic, there will be more opportunities to get more involved in mission work. Hobbies/Interests: Gardening, painting, music & movies