The team
Optometrists
Dr C.I O’LEARY BSc PhD MCOptom (senior optometrist)
Registered Dispensing Opticians
Mrs G. THOROGOOD FBDO
Mrs J. POWELL FBDO
Miss S. KING FBDO
Support staff
Mrs
Jackie Gates
Mrs
Maureen Hall
Mrs Jane
Jarrett
Mrs
Lesley Barnett
Ms Janine Wildish
Mrs Helen
Austin
Mr Ben
Evans
Mr Chris
Gates
Ms Belinda
Hickey
Miss
Josephine Evans
Miss Amy Rayner
Dr Philip Cole (OBE) cutting the 60th Anniversary cake
with
Mr Tregaskis and Professor Evans looking on.
News
April 2011 was a record-breaking month, with 97 new patients joining the practice. Most were recommended by friends, teachers, or doctors and it good to welcome so many to our patient lists. Some of the new optometrists described below will help us to continue to meet the demand.
The year 2006 marked the 60th anniversary of the practice, which was established by Dr Philip Cole (OBE). The same year also marked the 10th anniversary of Professor Evans taking over ownership of the practice in 1996, after he had worked alongside Mr Martin and Mr Tregaskis for 8 years.
Miss Louise Gow is a Senior Optometrist at the practice. Louise has
worked at the practice for over 12 years and holds the higher qualification of
an MSc in Clinical Optometry. She works at the practice two days a week and is
also Lead Clinician at the RNIB.
Dr Claire O’Leary has been awarded a PhD for research on clinical
optometry. Her PhD examiners were very flattering about the quality of her
research and all the staff at the practice are very
proud of her achievement. Dr O’Leary and Professor Evans have had their second
joint paper published on prescribing criteria. Miss Anita Shah joined
the practice in May 2008 and is proving a valuable addition to the team. She
has worked in Chelmsford and at Moorfields Eye Hospital, and has almost
completed the highly respected MSc in Clinical Optometry at City University.
Mr Lewis Marshall joined the practice in July 2008 as pre-registration
optometrist. Lewis was head-hunted by Professor Evans as the pick of the 2008
City University students (he obtained a first class honours degree) and makes a
very valuable addition to the practice. In July 2009 Lewis was successful at
the first sitting at the professional final examinations. Lewis works three
days a week at the practice.
Professor Evans has worked at the practice for 23
years and has owned the practice for 15 years. Recently, he has been busy in his spare time writing more
text books and research and clinical papers. He has now over 200 such
publications. Professor Evans also holds a post as Director of Research at the
Institute of Optometry, is an examiner for the College of Optometrists, and is
Visiting Professor to the Optometry Department at City University and Visiting
Professor in Clinical Optometry to London South Bank University. For more
details of Prof Evans’ research and lecturing please click on: Bruce Evans website.
Miss Sarah King joined the team in 2005 as a Registered Dispensing Optician, and is very popular with patients. She has particular interests in varifocals and high refractive index lenses, which allow spectacle lenses to be made both thinner and lighter. She joined Mrs Gill Thorogood, a very experienced Registered Dispensing Optician who has been with the practice more than 20 years. Mrs Jenny Powell has worked at the practice as a Registered Dispensing Optician for more than 10 years and is an examiner for the Association of British Dispensing Opticians. Jenny has a special interest in more complex dispensings, such as high refractive errors and patients who find it difficult to adjust to spectacles. Our dispensing assistants, Mrs Jane Jarrett and Janine Dames have both passed exams appropriate to their dispensing work.
Mrs Jackie Gates is one of our longest-standing members of staff, having worked at the practice for over 30 years. Jackie looks after the accounts and contact lens ordering, and is helped by Mrs Lesley Barnett. Mrs Maureen Hall (Mo to all who know her!) is the Senior Receptionist and is well known to patients having been with us over 15 years. Mo is involved in teaching patients how to handle contact lenses. Mrs Helen Austin joined the reception team in 2007 and Belinda Hickey joined the team in 2010. Lesley Barnett completes the reception team. Lesley is also PA to Professor Evans and is the best person to contact for enquiries about an appointment for people problems at school or unusual eye problems. Lesley should also be contacted for enquiries about Professor Evans’ lecturing or expert witness work.
Ben Evans, Josephine
Evans, and Amy Rayner work with us on Saturdays. They look
after the paper and digital filing systems and help on reception. Chris
Gates also helps also helps run the reminder system.
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