Our Doctors

Undergraduate Education: Texas Christian University. Optometry School: Indiana University School of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By providing comprehensive eye exams for adults and children, diabetic eye exams, contact lens fitting, glaucoma management, postoperative co-management for cataract surgery and LASIK, binocular visual dysfunctions, and ocular disease management. Hobbies/Interests: Playing with my kids, running, and cheering on TCU Horned Frogs!

Dr. Gabbard attended Wittenberg University (Springfield, OH) and was pursuing a biology degree before she was accepted into Indiana University School of Optometry in 2014. She received a Bachelor of Science in optometry in 2016 as well as her optometry doctorate in 2018. Dr. Gabbard enjoys all aspects of primary care optometry as well as ocular disease.

Gabrielle Gafford is a native of Dallas, Texas. While growing up, she spent ample time performing community service, playing sports and participating in the Girl Scouts of America where she earned her Gold Award. She completed her undergraduate degree at Rhodes College where she majored in Neuroscience while playing volleyball all four years and serving as captain of the volleyball team her senior year. After receiving her Bachelor of Science, she remained in Memphis to complete optometry school at the Southern College of Optometry (SCO). During her time in optometry school, she participated in research while taking on leadership roles in student government and the National Optometric Student Association (NOSA). She also became a student fellow for the American Academy of Optometry in 2021. During SCO’s commencement ceremony in 2022, she was awarded the Burnett Endowed Award for Student Achievement in Research for her outstanding efforts as a research assistant. In 2023, she completed a residency program at The Eye Care Center of New Jersey where she was trained in primary care optometry with an emphasis on ocular disease. During her residency, she worked closely with many ophthalmology specialties including glaucoma, retina, cornea and cataracts, oculoplastics and neuro-ophthalmology. While in residency, she was awarded the Anterior Segment Section Resident Travel Fellowship at the American Academy of Optometry conference in San Diego as a result of her unique poster presentation and research. Dr. Gafford looks forward to serving the citizens of Maryland and practicing to the full extent of her license in order to perform thorough comprehensive primary care optometry exams for patients of all ages and managing conditions such as glaucoma, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, non-exudative macular degeneration, ocular surface diseases including dry eye, and myopia management. It is Dr. Gafford’s goal to not only diagnose and treat ocular diseases and conditions, but also to provide clear and thorough patient education, giving patients the tools they need to advocate for themselves and their ocular health.

Undergraduate Education: Georgia State University, B.S. Biology with Chemistry Minor; Optometry School: Inter American University of Puerto Rico, 2018; Professional Achievements/Associations: Voted Best Optometrist in Gainesville in 2019; Clinical Certifications and Specialties: Pediatric Eye Exams (age 3+), Contact Lenses; The reason I became an optometrist is to help people see their very best! In my spare time. I enjoy cooking and playing board games. My favorite part of helping my patients is knowing they are happy with their vision. When we see better we do better!

Dr. Gambacorta studied at the New England College of Optometry in Boston, MA where he earned his Doctor of Optometry. He has treated numerous patients in 30+ years as an eye health specialist, from children to seniors, and is highly regarded by his colleagues for his knowledge and experience. Professional Associations: American Optometric Association, New York State Optometric Association, Western New York Society of Optometrists.

Dr. Michelle Gambacorta received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut. She received her Doctorate of Optometry at the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Gambacorta provides outstanding care to patients of all ages in a primary care setting with emphasis on ocular disease. Outside the office, she is spending time with her family enjoying Buffalo snow storms in the winter and boating on Lake Erie in the summer. Go Bills!

Undergraduate Education: Augustana College; Optometry School: Illinois College of Optometry; What drives your passion for optometry? The greatest moments in your life always come from affecting other people's' lives. Optometry give me away to do that. How are you helping patients live their best lives? We are the touch point for our patients to be made aware of incredible new technologies. They can rest assured that we will always connect them to the newest technology that applies to their quality of life. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? You have to connect your patient with the best solution for them, which changes all the time. An adjustment of what they have repeatedly done for years rarely affects anyone's life. I love to find the new tool that fits their needs perfectly. How are you impacting your local community? I have been a varsity football coach for the local high school for decades. My hope; to affect my players in a way that gives them direction in life, not football. Hobbies/Interests: Ride my wave runner until my legs fall off, and they have.

Undergraduate Education: University of Virginia; Optometry School: New England College of Optometry; Professional Achievements/Associations: American Optometric Association, Massachusetts Society of Optometrists; Clinical Certifications & Specialties: Primary Care, Contact Lenses, Ocular Disease; What drives your passion for optometry? The ability to meet, interact, and help treat patients so they can see, look, and feel their best! How are you helping patients live their best lives? My goal is to listen closely to each patient's concerns, work with them to formulate an individualized treatment plan, and bring their world into focus to improve their everyday. What does providing a transformational eyecare experience mean to you? An experience in which the patient feels comfortable, cared for, and confident that their eye care needs are being addressed and well taken care of. How are you impacting your local community? Although new to the area, I am enjoying meeting new members of this community and supporting the surrounding local businesses. Hobbies/Interests: In my spare time I enjoy traveling, cooking new recipes, indoor cycling, and yoga.

Undergraduate Education: North Carolina State University. Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? Treating every patient as if they are my favorite family member. Hobbies/Interests: spending time with people I love, peanut butter whiskey, vacation, collecting sunglasses.

Undergraduate Education: Kennesaw State University. Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I love helping patients understand the basics about their eye health and vision and the different options that are available to them in the form of prescription glasses, contact lenses, and/or medications. I provide comprehensive eye exams for patients of all ages and contact lens exams for patients starting at age 8. I am Spanish/English bilingual and find it rewarding helping patients whose primary language is Spanish. Hobbies/Interests: My time outside of the office is usually spent with my wife and 3 daughters. We enjoy visiting all the different parks around the beautiful state of Georgia (our home for over 20 years now).

Undergraduate Education: University of Florida - Bachelor's in Biology. Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry – 2017. Professional Achievements and Associations: FOA; AOA; LROA. The reason I became an optometrist is: To help people live their best lives. As an undergraduate student I traveled to Haiti to work in an eye clinic and was able to see the benefit of helping people see clearly, sometimes for the first time in decades. Now, I'm humbled by the opportunity to serve our community daily. My favorite part of helping my patients is: Being of service. I find it fulfilling when I get to help members of our community. In my spare time, I enjoy: Traveling with my wife, visiting with friends, catching a game or two.

Undergraduate Education: University of Tennessee. Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? Member of the Gideons. Hobbies/Interest: Gardening.

Undergraduate Education: University of Maryland College Park. Optometry School: SUNY State College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By providing comprehensive eye exams for adults and children, diabetic eye exams, contact lens fitting and ocular disease management. Hobbies/Interests: Reading, skiing, spending time with family and friends, watching the Terps and Caps.

Undergraduate Education: Northeastern State University. Optometry School: Northeastern State University College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I see patients of all ages for glasses, contacts, and medical needs. I work closely with local ophthalmologists to make the most appropriate and comprehensive care available to the person in my exam chair. My patients’ vision and overall health is my passion and I do not take for granted that they choose me for their eye care needs. Hobbies/Interests: Raising my 4 daughters, woodworking, and traveling.

Dr. Gavel-Rukha is a 2018 graduate of the School of Optometry at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Worcester, MA. She received her Bachelor's degree in Biology from Bay Path College (now University) in Longmeadow, MA in 2014. Dr. Gavel-Rukha has a great interest in contact lenses and advanced optometric care. She volunteers in the kid services at her local church. She enjoys spending her free outdoors with her daughter, husband, family and friends.