Caroline Beesley Pate, OD, FAAO
Dr. Caroline Pate earned her undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College, her OD degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and completed her residency training in Family Practice Optometry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. Dr. Pate joined the UAB faculty in July 2005, where she currently is a Professor in the Department of Optometry and Vision Science. Dr. Pate serves as the Director of Residency Programs at UABSO and teaches the Diseases of the Anterior Segment course. She sees patients as a clinical attending in the school’s Ocular Disease and Primary Eye Care clinical services, as well as provides direct patient care as a part of the Faculty Private Practice, the University Optometric Group.
Dr. Pate is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Actively involved in organized optometry, Dr. Pate currently serves as an active volunteer for the American Optometric Association, Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry, and SECO International. Dr. Pate was named the Alabama Optometric Association’s Young OD of the Year in 2014, the Alabama Optometric Association’ Educator of the Year in 2019, and the American Optometric Association’s Educator of the Year in 2020. She was the recipient of the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2017
Philip Garza, M.D
Dr. Philip Garza is a board-certified, fellowship-trained glaucoma and cataract surgeon. He specializes in the marriage of modern glaucoma surgery with advanced technology cataract surgery. He offers complete medical and surgical care for glaucoma and performs the full range of glaucoma surgery techniques, from glaucoma laser procedures and state-of-the-art minimally-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) techniques to traditional procedures like tube-shunt surgery and trabeculectomy.
Dr. Garza graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami, where he was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He is a proud graduate of the Emory University School of Medicine, where he was awarded the Correll Foundation scholarship and elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He received his M.D. magna cum laude in conjunction with a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research as part of a dual-degree program sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Garza went on to complete his ophthalmology residency at the world-renowned W. K. Kellogg Eye Center of the University of Michigan, followed by a year of intensive glaucoma clinical and surgical fellowship training at Stanford University’s Byers Eye Institute.
Dr. Garza is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the American Glaucoma Society. As a trained clinical scientist, his research has been published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology Glaucoma, and other medical journals. He remains active in clinical research and is able to advise patients on the availability and trajectory of clinical trials in glaucoma.
Dr. Garza lives in Atlanta with his wife Nina, a hospital medicine physician. They enjoy hiking, cycling, travel, electronic music, and culinary adventures.
James Thimons, OD, FAAO
Dr. Thimons is a 1978 graduate of Ohio State University College of Optometry. He completed his hospital residency at the Chillicothe, VA Medical Center in 1979 and then served as Chief, Optometry Service until 1985.
He then accepted the position of Center Director at Omni Eye Services, Fairfax, Virginia and served in that role until 1989 when he became Chairman, Department of Clinical Sciences at the State University of New York. While at SUNY he developed The Glaucoma Institute, a clinical research center, and served as its first Director. In 1998, he accepted the position of Executive Director of TLC and served in that role until 2002 when he co- founded Ophthalmic Consultants of Connecticut. A multidisciplinary referral practice providing secondary and tertiary level care.
Dr. Thimons has received numerous awards for his service to the profession and has over 200 hundred publications in Glaucoma, Dry Eye, Cornea and External Disease As well as Refractive Surgery and New Technologies. He is a nationally and internationally acclaimed Speaker and Educator and an acknowledged leader in ophthalmic clinical education. He serves in professorial appointments at several universities in the US and has been a clinical investigator in over 20 NIH, NEI and Post Release Clinical Trials.
In 1999 he was awarded Optometry’s Top Educator and was selected as one of the Top Ten Clinicians of the decade. In 2002 he founded the National Glaucoma Society, a NFP with Executive offices in Andover, Massachusetts, that provides educational and clinical development services to primary care clinicians worldwide in the area of glaucoma management.
In 2005 he was inducted into the Optometry Hall of Fame and has recently served as President, Connecticut Association of Optometrists. Dr. Thimons was selected as the Top Eye Doctor in Fairfield County in 2013. In 2022 he was selected by Newsweek as one of Americas Top Optometris’s.
Leo Zlotcavitch, MD
Dr. Leo Zlotcavitch is an ophthalmologist who specializes in Cornea, Refractive and Cataract surgery. He recently served as a fellow and clinical instructor at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Florida.
Dr. Zlotcavitch received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Miami. He completed his internship training at Northwell Hospital in Long Island, New York and his ophthalmology training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh. He then went to complete his cornea fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, ranked #1 in the country.
During his spare time, Dr. Zlotcavitch enjoys spending his time with his family, playing soccer and chess. He recently moved from Florida with his wife and son to join Woolfson Eye Institute in 2020. He speaks fluent English, Russian and Hebrew.
Specialties: Cornea Specialist: including corneal disease management and surgery, Lasik, PRK, Corneal transplants, Cataract Surgery and Crosslinking.
Byron “Trip” Cook, MD
Byron “Trip” Cook, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist with advanced training and experience in cataract, cornea and refractive surgery. He joined Woolfson Eye Institute in 2013. He maintains active privileges with Northside Hospital – Forsyth, and Woolfson Eye Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center. He provides full-service cornea and cataract surgery in Cumming, Sandy Springs, and Snellville – performing over 1,000 major eye surgeries per year. Dr. Cook is a native to Atlanta. He grew up in Tucker where he attended Dekalb County’s own Lakeside High School. He completed his pre-med undergraduate education at Davidson College, just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Prior to medical school, he did two years of post-graduate work at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta. He graduated medical school in 2008 from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He completed a 1-year transitional internship at Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia followed by a 3-year ophthalmology residency at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine in Lexington, Kentucky. During his final year of residency in Kentucky, he proudly served as Chief Resident. Dr. Cook completed his post-graduate training with a Cornea, Refractive and External Disease Fellowship at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. There, he also served as Assistant Clinical Instructor for resident education. Dr. Cook is an active member of the Atlanta Ophthalmology Society, the Georgia Society of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. His clinical interests include premium & laser-assisted cataract surgery, corneal diseases and surgeries (Fuchs Dystrophy, Keratoconus, Cornea Transplants), LASIK, Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL), complex intraocular lens (IOL) implant surgeries (including IOL exchange and secondary IOLs), minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), ocular surface reconstruction, ocular infections, ocular surface disease, dry eye disease, and anterior uveitis. Through Woolfson Eye Institute’s association with the Southern College of Optometry, Dr. Cook acts as a clinical instructor to optometry residents and student externs. Dr. Cook is married to a fellow physician, Jennifer Cook, MD, who practices internal medicine in Cumming. The Cooks and their 2 young daughters live in Forsyth County. When not consumed with work or family, Trip is an avid tennis player, an aspiring guitarist, and a truly amateur golfer.
Josh Johnston, OD, FAAO
Dr. Josh Johnston has a clinical focus in dry eye disease and other corneal diseases, and he oversees the Dry Eye Center of Excellence at Georgia Eye Partners. He is a noted speaker and author, having delivered over 500 lectures and authored papers in the past decade. He serves as the Clinical Director and Residency Director at Georgia Eye Partners, and is an adjunct Clinical Professor at The Southern College of Optometry. In 2022, Newsweek Magazine named Dr. Johnston one of the Top 25 Optometrists in America.
He is a member of the Georgia Optometric Association, The Greater Atlanta Optometric Association, The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS), The Optometric Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Society (OCCRS), The American Optometric Association (AOA), a founding member of Intrepid Eye Society, and he is a Fellow with The American Academy of Optometry (FAAO).
Ross Kennamer-Chapman, MD
Dr. Ross Kennamer-Chapman was born and raised in Texas. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, where he was elected into both the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism Honor Societies. His interest in ophthalmology initially developed from an interest in neuroscience while in medical school. He received a research grant to study in a neuroscience and visual science laboratory. During this time, he was able to learn about the intricate and complex nature of the eye. While on his clinical rotations, he was able to see how the basic science could be translated to patient care and, ultimately, help people with something that is very important to them – their sight.
Following medical school, Dr. Kennamer-Chapman pursued ophthalmology residency training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, where he gained invaluable experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of ophthalmic conditions. Recognizing his particular interests in the management of vitreoretinal disease, he went on to complete his vitreoretinal surgical fellowship at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He has participated in basic science and clinical research, authored peer-reviewed publications, and presented at medical conferences.
Dr. Kennamer-Chapman’s commitment to excellence extends beyond academic achievements. While focused on the eyes, he believes in treating each patient as an individual and takes time to understand their unique needs and concerns. Dr. Kennamer-Chapman seeks to collaborate with his patients to develop personalized treatment plans that address their specific medical conditions and goals.
When he is not in the office or the operating room, Dr. Kennamer-Chapman enjoys running, biking, and skiing. He and his fiancé can often be found hiking with their two dogs and at sporting events cheering on the Atlanta teams.
Gina Shetty, OD
Dr. Gina Shetty is a Board Certified and Fellowship trained Ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract surgery, refractive surgery (LASIK/PRK), cornea, and external diseases. She was born in New Jersey and grew up in Tallahassee, Florida. She completed her undergraduate studies at Duke University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences. She attended the University of South Florida for medical school and then completed a four-year residency in Ophthalmology at Emory University. She completed an additional year of fellowship training in Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery at the top ranked University of Miami - Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. She is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). In her spare time, Dr. Shetty enjoys spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, traveling, cooking, and staying active.
Scott Moscow, OD
Dr. Scott Moscow graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, with a Doctorate in Optometry. In May of 2013, he joined Roswell Eye Clinic as a doctor.
Dr. Moscow is now clinical director of Roswell Eye Clinic where he focuses on fitting specialty contact lenses (including Sclerals, Orthokeratology/CRT, Gas Permeable & SynergEyes) and treating eye disease with a certification to perform subcutaneous and subconjunctival injections. At Roswell Eye Clinic, he practices with both of his parents and his younger sister.
Dr. Scott Moscow has published articles on Vision and Motor Development, Congenital Rubella and Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy. He is an active lecturer. He has contributed to articles in Review of Optometry, Optometric Management, The IDOC Quarterly and Invision. In his spare time, he volunteers as a helicopter pilot with the Angel Flight organization, which transports patients who are financially distressed or who are in time-critical situations due to their medical condition. In 2013, he went on a VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity) mission trip to Colombia, South America, where he provided dilated eye examination and glasses to over 1000 patients in need.
Jeffrey Crowder, MD
Dr. Jeffrey Crowder is a board-certified comprehensive ophthalmologist who specializes in premium cataract surgery. Dr. Crowder earned his baccalaureate degree in Microbiology from the University of Georgia. He continued on to receive a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois. He received his medical doctorate from Emory School of Medicine. Dr. Crowder completed his residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, TN. Dr. Crowder is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the Georgia Society of Ophthalmology. In his free time, Dr. Crowder enjoys spending time with his friends and family, biking, playing golf, and watching football.
Jeffrey Hackleman, OD
Dr. Hackleman received his BS in neurobiology from Purdue University in 1994 and his
doctorate from the Ohio State University College of Optometry in 2001. While a doctoral
student, Dr. Hackleman was selected as the Ohio State University College of Optometry
Student Trustee, serving on a number of boards within the Ohio Optometric Association,
the American Optometric Association, and the American Optometric Student
Association. During his professional training Dr. Hackleman completed internships at
the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hampton, VA, and TLC Laser Center in
Columbus, OH. Upon his doctoral hooding, Dr. Hackleman was honored by the College
faculty as the American Optometric Student Association Student of the Year.
Dr. Hackleman practices in a multi-doctor family practice, specializing in ocular surface
disease, in Watkinsville, Georgia. He is an active member of the American Optometric
Association and the Georgia Optometric Association, where he has served in various
leadership roles. Dr. Hackleman has served as president of the Georgia Optometric
Association, representing his profession and eye health causes throughout Georgia and
the United States, and continues to chair the Georgia Optometric Association Leadership
Academy. Dr. Hackleman has been honored to receive the Georgia Young Optometrist of
the Year Award, the Early Professional Achievement Award from The Ohio State
University College of Optometry, and the Georgia Optometrist of the Year Award. In
2019, Dr. Hackleman was appointed and sworn in by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to
serve on the Georgia State Board of Optometry. He participates on several Boards
nationally including chairing the M&K Foundation, which supports academic and
leadership development in local youth, and is a certified volunteer firefighter with
Oconee County Fire Rescue. Dr. Hackleman and his wife of 28 years, Tricia, have 2
college-aged daughters and share an empty nest in Oconee County, GA.
Joe Rouw, O.D.
Dr. Joe Rouw is an optometrist at the Pediatric Vision Development Center. Dr. Rouw provides evaluations and treatment for children and adults needing vision therapy and neuro-optometric vision rehabilitation services. He also provides infant and toddler examinations, including participating in the InfantSEE program. Dr. Rouw also enjoys working with athletes providing sports vision training.