Best Practices - Selection Committee

Greenwood Village, CO

Lynn Fishman Hellerstein, O.D., FCOVD, FAAO, developmental optometrist, is the founder and co-owner of Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center P.C. A third-generation optometrist, located in Colorado, Dr. Hellerstein graduated from Pacific University College of Optometry in 1977.

For more than 45 years, Dr. Hellerstein has treated children/adults with learning & reading deficits, visual processing disorders, brain injuries or special needs. She is known as a pioneer in vision therapy and has created “brain-based” visual strategies to help individuals increase school and work success, improve sports performance and confidence.

Dr. Hellerstein is a nationally and internationally acclaimed speaker, educator and leader in the areas of vision therapy, vision rehabilitation, and sports vision. An author of numerous professional journal articles and 4 books, she has won multiple awards, including #1 Amazon Best Seller, for her book series, See It. Say It. Do It!

Lehi, UT

Dr. Collin Gray was born and raised in Lehi Utah. He attended Brigham Young University. After graduating BYU, he attended University of Houston College of Optometry. He was involved in many clubs and won several awards while attending UHCO. He was president of the OSA Equipment room, 2020 class representative, CooperVision Ambassador for the school, won Teaching Assistant of the year, and received a clinical letter of excellence award.

Dr. Gray specializes in Orthokeratology and Scleral Lens Fittings, Myopia Management, Dry Eye, Pediatrics, and Aesthetic Eye Care.

Dr. Gray is also passionate about education and is a current Associate Professor at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, College of Optometry. He also has a side business, Summit Beauty, that helps nurses become trained in aesthetic injections and loves helping patients achieve their beauty goals.

Independence, MO

Dr. DeAmbra Boucher received her doctor of optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2005. She is the Clinical Director in charge of clinical training and the new doctor experience for National Vision. She loves working with clinical preceptors, optometry schools, students and new graduates. She has a passion for empowering, providing support and helping to create communities that embrace the newest members of our wonderful profession. She has been providing care for her patients at America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses since 2006. She is a member of the AOA as well as Missouri Optometric Association.

Wauseon, OH

Dr. Stehulak received his Masters and Doctor of Optometry at The Ohio State University College of Optometry. Dr. Stehulak served as a Captain in the U.S. Army, is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Ohio Optometric Association. His practice, Wauseon Eye Care, was recognized as a Best Practices℠ Honoree in 2022. Exceeding patient expectations has become the core area of focus at Wauseon Eye Care. To do so, practice owner John Stehulak, OD, recognizes the importance of going above and beyond for each and every person who walks through the practice’s doors. This approach ultimately earned Wauseon Eye Care the Best Practices recognition for its excellence in patient experience.

Colorado Springs, CO

Dr. Melissa Tada, OD is the founding owner partner in Mountain View Vision in Colorado Springs, CO. She began the practice in 2007 with one exam lane and one employee (who still works with her today!) Mountain View Vision has grown to a 4-doctor practice, practicing full scope optometry with specialties in ocular disease, ocular surface disease, pediatrics, vision development and myopia management.

Dr. Tada’s area of specialty is ocular surface disease. She has been running a specialty dry eye clinic for the last 11 years. Providing patient relief for their everyday activities is the best part of the job.

In addition to running the practice, Dr. Tada is involved with the Colorado Optometric Association. She was on the COA Board of Trustees, involved in local political advocacy and currently serves on the 2020 Eye Committee. This committee provides local outreach and education to the broader population.

She is also the Vision Source Administrator for Southern Colorado. She gets to help private practices all over Southern Colorado grow to their highest potential and encourage the growth of private practice optometry. Within her role of Administrator, she is also an Administrator Development Coach. In this position she helps her colleagues develop their leadership styles and professional growth.

Fresno, CA

Dr. Jeffrey Krohn is a partner in Family Practice Optometry in Fresno, CA as well as an Associate Clinical Professor of Health Sciences at the Berkeley Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science.

After graduating from the Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton, California, he served on the faculty of that institution before moving his family to the central valley. He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry, achieving the highest level of certification as a “Diplomate” in the Academy’s section on “Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technology,” currently serving as the Immediate Past-Chair of that Section. He is also a board-certified “Diplomate” with The American Board of Optometry. He has lectured to other optometrists in local, state-wide and national gatherings. He serves as an “Administrator” for the Vision Source network – representing the Central California offices. He has also engaged in clinical research for the contact lens and pharmaceutical industry.

Tamarac, FL

Brianna Rhue earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona before earning her Doctorate of Optometry at Nova Southeastern University. She completed her residency at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami and is the owner of West Broward Eyecare in South Florida.

Dr. Rhue is passionate about healthcare technology, myopia management, specialty contact lens fits and practice management. She enjoys sharing her love for technology and myopia management through speaking engagements to help optometrists understand business, technology and new areas of care to help all parties involved.

Dr. Rhue is the co-founder of Dr. Contact Lens and TechifEYE. Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, playing tennis, standing on her head in yoga and traveling.

Park River, ND

Dr. Carlson was the first woman to serve as President of the American Optometric Association. During her tenure as President in 2011 she visited every school/college of Optometry and lobbied extensively for children’s eye exams to be an essential benefit in health care reform. Optometric Management named her as one of the “Most Influential in Optometry” as well Primary Care News identified her as a “Pioneer in Optometry”. She was also the 2019 recipient of Women of Optometry’s Theia Award for Leadership.

She, along with her husband, Dr. Mark Helgeson, founded Heartland Eye Care, a multi-location practice in North Dakota, 30+ years ago. Despite her busy schedule speaking and advocating for her profession she continues to see patients and strives to advance the care she provides. In addition to her optometric leadership, Dr. Carlson is a 2020 graduate from the University of Jamestown with a Masters of Arts in Leadership. She is also a John Maxwell certified speaker and trainer.

Wayne, PA

Karen Rodemich Roman is the Editor-in-Chief of Modern Optometry, a publication for full scope, medically minded optometrists. Her professional career began in eye care publishing more than 20 years ago as an assistant editor for a contact lens magazine. From there, she moved on to a general optometry magazine, then got to learn about the world of ophthalmology, and even spent a few years working on a retina publication before coming full circle and helping to launch Modern Optometry at Bryn Mawr Communications.

Karen is also the author of The Schuylkill Canal. In her free time, she runs, mountain bikes, works at perfecting her “aunting” skills, and tries to keep up with her four dogs and three cats.