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By the Technician team
Edited by Jennifer Shipman
Wilkinson Eye Center is very blessed to employ competent, compassionate ophthalmic technicians. Techs are to ophthalmology as nurses are to family  doctors: "they work under the supervision and direction of an ophthalmologist to perform ophthalmic clinical duties1". You may recognize that at a typical WEC appointment you are first called back to a room to start your examination with a technician. He or she will take your health history, verify the reason for your visit, document your medical complaint(s) (the issues with your eyes, whether you "complain" about them or not) and note your questions and concerns. Our techs also perform all the diagnostic testing the doctors order.
We asked our techs to answer a few questions to help us get to know them a little better. We learned some fascinating things! This article is a little longer than normal because we got some really great answers, but it's easy reading!
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Christine: I've been a tech for about 6 years now. I have a wonderful dog named Tessa Marie, a wonderful family, and I'm very close to my mom.
Debbie: I have been married for 15 years to an incredible man and we have two beautiful children. My career has covered contact lenses to surgical scrub to clinic manager to photography to refractive coordinator. I stay incredibly busy when not in the office.
Elias: I was born in South Africa, of Indian heritage. I completed high school there but due to apartheid was forced to leave the country and pursue higher education in Cairo, Egypt and then Bangalore, India where I completed my optometric education. I was unable to practice optometry back home, again due to apartheid, so I joined the family wholesale fabric business. In 1993 my wife Suraiya, our son, and I immigrated to Grand Rapids, MI. I was "Mr. Mom" to our son and then our daughter when she was born. That was a full time job! In 1999 we moved to this area, and in 2005 I took a part-time job at the Public Library where I still work 3 days a week. My hobbies are travelling, meeting people, and all Michigan sports!
Jody: A product of the 60's, I have the inner spirit of a hippie/flower child wannabe. I'm an optimistic, spontaneous, compassionate, nature- and animal-loving, free-spirited, sometimes rebellious, happy, free-to-be-me kinda gal. I'm also a God-loving Christian and He keeps me in balance so I don't run amok. Growing up I was both a girly-girl and a tomboy. At almost 50 I haven't outgrown either. That's a good thing because I am a currently-single proud Mama of 3 very different but equally adorable felines. My girly-girl is almost-15-year-old Toffee, a beautiful very pampered princess diva.Thomas Gray is my rambunctious rough & tumble 3-year-old boy. And Stewart Leo is very curious and is my lovey-baby at 1 1/2 years old. They run the house!
Shawn: I'm married with 1 and 1/2 kids (the 1/2's on the way!). We have 2 dogs and 2 cats. I grew up in Waterford. My full house keeps me busy!
Richard: I'm the grumpy old man in the office. [Editor's note: he has a heart of gold he doesn't want you to know about.] I've been at WEC for 36 years on March 31. I'm a trivia fanatic and a geek at heart. Give me Star Trek, Dune, music (on vinyl, please!), and Hollywood icons.
What lead you into this job?
Debbie: My career in ophthalmology started as a short-term job in a small practice that my mother worked in. Who knew 17 years later I would still be in the field!
Elias: I started in 2008. I had given up all hope of practicing optometry. Call it fate, coincidence or as our administrator Jill described it "Divine Intervention". My wife went to Dr. Dhaliwal for her annual eye exam and mentioned that I had studied optometry in India. He called me, and after shadowing him I decided to take the challenge of his offer and join WEC as an ophthalmic assistant 3 days a week. In 2009 I earned my COA certification.
Jody: My formal education focused on psychology, business administration and human resources. I've worked in temporary medical staffing, weight loss & nutrition, hotel management, human resources consulting, and Ob/Gyn front office (the same office our administrator Jill came from). Now I'm enjoying my best job EVER at Wilkinson Eye Center as an ophthalmology assistant.
Shawn: WEC was actually my first job; Michele Clute (our transcriptionist) is a family friend and got me the job. I left to work for another doctor for a while, but I couldn't help coming back when the opportunity arose!
Richard: My sister the Sister counseled me after I graduated from OCC (in business) that the business world didn't suit me, and advised me to go into paramedical. I had one year of nursing school before going to Beaumont as surgical department orderly for a year. At St. Joseph Mercy Oakland I had 9 months as an orderly on 3 East before entering the surgical technician program. I was the only tech who liked ophthalmology, so in 1975 when Dr. Wilkinson (Senior) came interviewing techs for a job at Wilkinson Eye Center, he talked to about 5 people (who all said "I don't like ophthalmology, go talk to Dick") before he FINALLY got to me! In '81 I moved to San Francisco; two years later, on a visit home to Mom, Senior enticed me back the only way he could - with my pocketbook. The rest is history!
What do you like most about working at WEC?
Christine: My favorite part would be the patients. And working with the testing.
Debbie: The best part is the people, patients and coworkers alike. I am blessed to be part of the Wilkinson Eye Center team!
Elias: Working in a great environment with great doctors, staff and wonderful patients.
Jody: It's great to be confident in knowing that our doctors and practice administrator are well-grounded and ethical individuals, as well as accomplished and excellent professionals. Coworkers are an extension of family.
Shawn: I love the doctors that we have, and working with the patients, and problem solving.
Richard: The people and the atmosphere, and The Boss Dr. Scott Wilkinson - he's not just a great boss, he's a great person and I admire that.
What does being a tech mean to you?
Debbie: I really love it all! I was fortunate enough to be trained hands-on in a clinic setting by an ophthalmologist. Of course, I went on to certify and continue to learn more every day!
Elias: It means a great deal to me to be able to work in this field again and be part of a wonderful tech team with great teamwork in trying to do the best for WEC and the patients.
Jody: I love taking good care of patients, and am appreciative of the opportunity to do so.
Shawn: Being a tech means helping people see their best, which can mean seeing what they have missed for years.
Richard: A sense of fulfillment!
What is your biggest challenge, or what do you strive most to accomplish or achieve?
Elias: To do the best for our patients, and I am always eager to increase my knowledge through continued education and learning from my coworkers.
Jody: I aspire to be here as long as Richard has been, and to obtain skills, abilities, and knowledge to rival his.
Richard: The biggest challenge is keeping all the equipment running! Technology - bah, humbug.
What do you look forward to for the future?
Elias: I love my work at WEC and my hope is that we all continue to improve our great service to all our patients with kindness, compassion and humility.
Jody: As I embrace the next 50 years of life, I also look forward to (in no particular order): more sunsets on the beach, skydiving, flying an airplane, cooking lessons, race car driving, vacationing in Hawaii, Alaska, Paris, Rome and London, continuing MHS volunteer work, hiking in the Grand Canyon, learning to play guitar and/or piano, and maybe - just maybe! - meeting Rod Stewart in person.
Shawn: I hope WEC can gracefully transition into the new technology and always grow and achieve new and better eye care.
Richard: Oh, God. At 62? Let me think. Retirement? (laughs)
1Joint Commission of Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology. Retrieved March 24, 2011 from the JCAHPO website: www.jcahpo.org. | 
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