Undergraduate Education: University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry (Salus University). Professional Achievements and Associations: Maryland Optometric Association. American Optometric Association. Clinical Certification and Specialties: Primary Care. The reason I became an optometrist is: You get to meet different people every day from all walks of life. My favorite part of helping my patients is: The expression on their faces when something I have done has helped impact their life in a better way. In my spare time, I enjoy: Running, shopping, traveling and spending time with my daughters.

Undergraduate Education: Cornell University, BA. Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry, 2001. Professional Achievements and Associations: American Optometric Association, Virginia Optometric Association. The reason I became an optometrist is: I started wearing glasses in sixth grade and it made such a positive impact for me that I wanted to be able to bring that same experience to other people. My favorite part of helping my patients is: The first time a young person puts on glasses or contacts and says, "Wow!" After twenty years in practice that still gives me a thrill. In my spare time, I enjoy: I like to cook (and eat!) and travel (and eat!) I have 11-year-old twins so "spare time" is not really an accurate term.

Dr. Phillip Boykin graduated from Campbell University in 2010, and then optometry school at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia in 2014. He grew up in Eastern North Carolina and currently reside in Durham. He worked for MED out of school for 5 years and now have returned in a hybrid role: seeing patients in the triangle area half the week in person, while seeing patients all across North Carolina the other half, using our remote optometry platform. He loves being able to serve the entire state using this new technology, especially the smaller towns. He has two small children Finn, 4 and Hattie, 2 and a lovely wife Lindsay.

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: University of South Florida - Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences. Optometry School: Nova Southeastern University - 2015 . Clinical Certifications and Specialties: Completed a residency in primary care/ocular disease at the Orlando VA Medical Center. The reason I became an optometrist is: to be able to help others in a medical setting while still being able to balance a happy work/home life. My favorite part of helping my patients is: Educating patient so they understand not only their eye health, but overall health as well. In my spare time, I enjoy: Spending time with my husband and one-year old son.

Undergraduate Education: University of Maryland Baltimore County. Optometry School: Pennsylvania College of Optometry, 1988. Professional Achievements and Associations: AOA and MOA. Clinical Certifications and Specialties: primary care and contact lenses. My favorite part of helping my patients is: taking time to listen to their individual needs so that I can help make a difference in their daily lives and overall well-being. In my spare time, I enjoy: being outdoors in nature, biking and hiking, and traveling to new places.

Undergraduate Education: Coastal Carolina University. Optometry School: Southern College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By listening to my patient’s eyecare related concerns, educating them on solutions and offering them tools and guidance for achieving their best possible outcome. Often this involves routine checkups that investigate all aspects of eye health (such as diabetes, glaucoma, and macular degeneration) and vision needs (such as glasses and contacts) but in some situations this may include more advanced eye health-oriented evaluations and management. Hobbies/Interests: Music enthusiast with a history of writing and recording music, playing tennis, watching sci-fi movies and shows, enjoying good coffee, cooking, most of all... raising my young daughter the best I possibly can.

Undergraduate Education: Ohio State University Undergrad. Optometry School: Ohio State University Optometry School 1979. The reason I became an optometrist is: My vision was very poor as a kid through school and wore glasses from an early age. I remember seeing leaves on trees for the first time with my first pair of glasses and thought it would be an interesting job when I got older. My favorite part of helping my patients is: Helping kids see, both for their self-esteem and their athletic abilities. Helping adults live their best life with good vision and healthy eyes. In my spare time, I enjoy: Outdoors: Camping, Hiking, Hunting, Boating, Scuba Diving. Indoors: Piano, Computer VR, Pen Turning.

Undergraduate Education: University of the South, Sewanee; Optometry School: University of Alabama at Birmingham; Professional Achievements/Associations: AOA Member, NCOS Member; 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? Lion's Club and Free Clinics