Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Wichita State University. Optometry School: University of Houston. Certifications/Awards: Therapeutic & Glaucoma Optometrist. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I work with many school-aged children to get the glasses they need to develop appropriate vision as they age into adulthood. My focus is also in ocular diseases, such as diabetic eye care, glaucoma, and specialty contact lens fitting. Hobbies/Interests: Cooking, baking, hiking, traveling.

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.

Dr. Iqra Azam graduated from Rutgers University with a biology major. In 2022, she earned her Doctorate of Optometry from SUNY College of Optometry. Her area of special interest is primary care. She is excited to be serving the Westchester community and aims to provide her patients with personalized care for their individual needs.

Undergraduate Education: Baldwin Wallace University. Optometry School: Kentucky College of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? By providing full-scope medical eye exams with individualized eye health and vision education; this includes ocular disease, contact lenses, and diabetic eye care. And ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of all patients. Hobbies/Interests: Reading, anything outside, weightlifting, and spending time with my family.

Undergraduate Education: Northeastern State University 2015. Optometry School: University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry 2020. Certifications/Awards: Anterior Segment Laser. How are you impacting your local Community or helping your patients live their best lives? As an Optometrist, I strive to educate every patient thoroughly about their ocular and visual health for them to truly understand how imperative it is for them to have a yearly comprehensive eye exam. Hobbies/Interests: I love anything to do with being outside in the fresh air and the sun shining down on my face.

Undergraduate Education: Indiana University. Optometry School: Indiana University. Certifications/Awards: I am a member of the Indiana Optometric Association and American Optometric Association. I was a student Fellow during my time at Indiana University School of Optometry. How are you impacting your local community? I practice primary care optometry, and my focus is diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease, glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and contact lenses. Hobbies/Interest: My hobbies and interests outside of work include reading, travelling and baking.

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.

Dr. Rachel Baltazar (formerly Dr. Wang) graduated from the University of Houston College of Optometry with a Doctor of Optometry degree with honors and a Masters in Vision Science and Physiological Optics, focusing on early eye changes in prediabetes. Devoted to making a difference, Dr. Baltazar desires to cultivate enduring patient relationships in Pasadena. She prioritizes education and connection with communication in both English and Spanish. Beyond optometry, Dr. Baltazar likes to spend time with her corgi and dachshund, garden, do DIY projects, and live by her motto ‘I live to eat, not eat to live’ by exploring new recipes and dishes around the Houston area.

Undergraduate Education: University of Wisconsin – Madison. Optometry School: InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry. Certifications/Awards: Ocular Disease Residency training at Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates in Havre de Grace, Maryland. How are you impacting your local community or helping your patients live their best lives? I am in such a rewarding career, and I want to ensure every patient gets the best outcome for both their visual and ocular health. Hobbies/Interests: traveling, photography, playing tennis, and spending time with friends and family.