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Meet My Team

We know that it takes a team of skilled and caring professionals to provide you with superior service — the kind we’d give our own family. A premier ophthalmologist serving Charleston, Kiawah Island, Myrtle Beach, and other communities throughout South Carolina, Dr. Solomon has hand-selected a team of individuals who share his dedication to the best in eye care, and the best in patient care. Every member of Dr. Solomon’s team is held to exceptionally high standards in delivering personalized care and service. You’ll receive concierge-level support throughout your experience with us.

Only an in-person visit to our office can demonstrate what sets us apart as one of the Lowcountry’s premier eye care destinations. Use our simple online form to request an appointment or call our office at (843) 881-3937 to get in-person help from one of our friendly staff members.

Crissy Justice, Director of Operations

Crissy brings more than 20 years of ophthalmology experience to our practice. Her dedication to providing excellent patient care has been instrumental in improving our rates of patient satisfaction. We rely on Crissy’s clinical background, her passion for eye care, her organization, and her direction. She believes that the patient always comes first and that happy, well-trained staff members are essential to delivering the best experience possible.

Jeffrey F. Hood, O.D.

Dr. Hood has been part of Dr. Solomon’s surgical patient care team since 2007. He has been instrumental in ensuring that each patient has the best possible experience and outcome. Dr. Hood specializes in pre- and post-operative care for surgical patients. However, he also has years of experience diagnosing and treating various eye conditions, including dry eye disease.

Prior to joining Dr. Solomon and Carolina Eyecare Physicians, Dr. Hood was in a private optometry practice in Georgia for 14 years. During this time, he specialized in eye examination and treatment of various eye diseases as well as fitting contact lenses.

Dr. Hood began working with Dr. Solomon as part of the faculty at Storm Eye Institute at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). When Dr. Solomon left to begin private practice, he specifically chose Dr. Hood to join him.

In addition to the patient care he provides, Dr. Hood is also very involved in the research programs with Dr. Solomon and Dr. Sandoval. The entire professional team is dedicated to innovation and discovering methods to improve care, outcomes, and overall quality of life for their patients.

Dr. Hood received both his bachelor’s degree and his doctor of optometry degree at the University of Alabama. He has received specialty board certification, including the International Board of Examiners in Optometry and the National Board of Optometry.

Dr. Hood thoroughly enjoys being part of the surgical team. He states that the leading-edge technology keeps him stimulated and always thinking about what will be next. “Of course, working with a surgeon who consistently gets good results and is always striving to improve makes me feel great about the service we give our patients,” says Dr. Hood. And, just as importantly, he enjoys the work environment where he knows that every member of the team values outstanding patient care and kindness.

In his spare time, Dr. Hood enjoys spending time with his family. You may also see him on the water enjoying the many benefits of living in the Charleston area. Like all of the members of Dr. Solomon’s team, Dr. Hood is dedicated to giving back to the community. He has been on the board of directors for the Dragon Boat Charleston organization since 2011. This organization promotes physical and mental wellness among cancer survivors and their communities through dragon boat racing.

Helga P. Sandoval, M.D., MSCR

Dr. Sandoval has been the director of research at Carolina Eyecare Physicians in Charleston since 2009. She works closely with the ophthalmologists and all of the patients who participate in the clinical studies.

After completing her training as an ophthalmologist, Dr. Sandoval decided to focus on her love for research. She received her Master of Science degree in clinical research from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

In addition to her role with Carolina Eyecare Physicians, Dr. Sandoval has a faculty appointment as a clinical assistant professor at MUSC’s department of ophthalmology.

Having grown up in Colombia, Dr. Sandoval is fluent in both Spanish and English. She is a member of professional organizations both internationally and in the United States. These include the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology.

Her love for research has her involved in a variety of public presentations and publishing articles about the various research projects. She has presented oral presentations, been an invited panelist, and authored or co-authored on more than 200 occasions. In addition, she provides editorial review for many of the leading ophthalmic publications in the United States and Colombia.

Dr. Sandoval loves being able to see and evaluate new technology and give feedback. She feels it keeps her mind fresh as she’s always learning new ideas and concepts. “It’s always exciting to know that what you are doing not only helps the person in front of you, but reaches so many more people.”

Dr. Sandoval is so appreciative of the patients who make the commitment to participate in these studies and to be a part of her passion for improving medical care.

In her spare time, Dr. Sandoval loves to spend time with her son. She also enjoys just about any outdoor activity, and you’ll often see her carrying her tennis racket. She enjoys traveling, meeting friends, and reading.

Sharon Nichols, Patient Service Specialist

As Sharon will share with you, the reason she has been ophthalmology for more than 25 years is because she loves listening to patients who have been given the gift of sight. She cannot think of a better way to have spent her career. Sharon makes sure everything is organized and you are welcomed into our practice with smiles and efficiency. Sharon strives daily to create the type of experience for you that she would want for her own family. Her warm manner gives comfort to our patients.

Ashley Geary, Patient Service Specialist

One thing that Ashley regularly reminds us is that even though cataracts or other problems are common to us, many patients are hearing these terms for the first time. Acknowledging that the patients may be nervous is the first step in providing comfort to the patients and confidence that they have called the right place. Her warm, friendly personality makes it easy to schedule an appointment. Like the rest of our patient services team, she strives to gather all information to ensure there are no unexpected surprises throughout your experience. Her patience and courtesy provide a calming effect to staff members and patients alike, which helps ensure the best experience possible.

Pam Alishauskas, Patient Service Specialist

When you hear “this is Pam” on the other end of the phone line, you can almost feel her positive attitude shining through. Team Solomon loves that Pam is one of the first people you encounter when you call or come into our practice. She is dedicated to delivering excellent customer service to our patients, and our team benefits from her 13 years of experience in ophthalmology. We are sure you’ll love Pam as much as we do!

Niki Hodge, Patient Service Specialist

Niki is one of the cheerful voices you’ll hear when you call with a question or to schedule an appointment. She dedicates herself to ensuring all of the details are taken care of before you visit our practice so your appointment goes as smoothly as possible. Niki has a passion for making sure everything is completed and in its place. It’s the success stories from patients like you that make her love her position at Carolina Eyecare Physicians with Dr. Kerry Solomon.

Hillary Pons, Patient Service Specialist

We know that when you walk into our office – or any office – you want to feel welcome. We think that Hillary is the right person to make you feel that way. She brings positive energy to the front desk. Her pleasant personality welcome you to work home where she also works exceptionally hard to make sure everything is in order for your visit.

Rebecca Smolinski, Patient Service Specialist

One of the few team members who have been here since Dr. Solomon joined the practice in 2009, Rebecca is the consistent face that you see at the end of your visit. She expertly juggles a variety of responsibilities to keep things running smoothly. She loves engaging with our patients on a personal level, so be sure to stop and tell her all about your day when you see her at the check-out desk.

Kim Camus, Surgical Coordinator & Patient Educator

Kim has amazed us for years. She has been at Dr. Solomon’s side since 1998 and somehow manages to keep his demanding schedule for teaching, research, industry meetings, and of course patient care well-organized. We often hear from patients how grateful they are for Kim, who uses her years of experience to educate and convey confidence to our patients during the surgery process. She can effortlessly reduce the piles of paperwork required for surgery to a small stack. Her compassion for our patients is clear as she continuously works to make the surgical experience as easy as possible.

Parker Bellamy, Surgery Coordinator & Patient Educator

Parker’s personal goal is to make sure that your individual surgery process is smooth, uncomplicated, and an all-around great experience. As she educates patients about their cataract procedures, she brings comfort and kindness to the process. She recognizes the importance of our patients being highly informed about their cataract diagnoses and the different treatment options available. She gladly spends as much time as needed answering any questions you may have. Parker explains each step of your customized cataract surgery process with love, patience, and professionalism.

April Geroulis, Surgery Coordinator & Patient Educator

April brings a wealth of experience to Dr. Solomon’s team. She has worked in the medical field for most of her adult life including as a medical assistant, a scribe, and a processing technician in the organ eye tissue bank. She is excited to now be part of Dr. Solomon’s team, helping patients prepare for their life-changing cataract surgeries. April strives to ensure that each patient’s path to surgery is as easy and stress-free as possible.

Kristen Simpson, LASIK Surgical Coordinator & Patient Educator

For patients calling to learn more about reducing their dependence on glasses or contacts, Kristen is usually the first point of contact. She answers all questions related to LASIK and online inquiries. She also assists in preparing our patients for their LASIK procedures. Her kindness and excitement provide comfort to our patients. After seeing so many happy patients after LASIK, Kristen gets excited with each new patient about what we might be able to do to enhance his or her vision.

Catie Shipman, LASIK Surgical Coordinator & Patient Educator

Catie wants every LASIK patient to feel comfortable with the procedure and excited about their new vision. So when she meets with patients to educate them about their procedure and follow-up care, she works hard to make the process as smooth as possible. You may also hear her cheerful voice answering the LASIK line, where she will happily answer any of your questions regarding LASIK. Whether in person or on the phone, Catie’s warm personality is always welcoming to our patients.

Angi Callison, Outreach Coordinator

When you meet Angi, who has been a part of our team since 2009, you can’t help but smile. Her outgoing personality and enthusiasm for our work ensures open communication and consistent care between Dr. Solomon and the vast number of eye care and medical professionals who entrust us with their patients. She works closely with your primary eye doctor to customize your surgical experience with Dr. Solomon. Angi is also very involved in the community, spending time at most of the local senior centers educating members on cataracts and cataract surgery. Her contagious laugh creates an aura of happiness for everyone surrounding her.

Blair Cadden, Marketing Coordinator

Blair is excited to spend every day helping more people find out how their lives could be improved by achieving better vision with LASIK, cataract surgery, and more. Though she’s often working behind the scenes, spreading the word on our blog and social media, she also loves meeting with patients to share in their experiences as she captures photos and testimonials. If you a story about how better vision has improved your life, Blair would love to hear it.

Clarissa Harps, Certified Ophthalmic Technician &  Lead LASIK Technician

Clarissa began working with Dr. Solomon at Storm Eye Institute in 2006 after already gaining several years of experience in refractive surgery. The knowledge she’s gained after more than 20 years in the field helps her to ensure the best outcomes for patients. However, what patients notice most about Clarissa is her warm, caring personality that drives her to go above and beyond what others might consider great customer service.

Lisa McKay, Ophthalmic Assistant & Certified Scribe

Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge to our team. She has been with Dr. Solomon for 5 years, but came to us with a decade of experience in ophthalmology. When you love taking care of patients, you stick with it. Her care and compassion for our patients shines through. She’ll be among the first to lend you a helping hand when you visit our office.

Brittnay Ramsey, Ophthalmic Assistant & Certified Scribe

You’re not going to get much by Brittnay! Her years of experience and attention to detail make her a great asset to our team. She loves learning new things and passing that knowledge onto others. Her ability to organize processes has been very helpful to our clinical team and creates smooth experiences for our patients.

Tiffany Kinard, Ophthalmic Assistant

Tiffany is another one of our qualified clinical team members that you will meet during your experience with Dr. Solomon. Whether performing diagnostic tests, preparing you for LASIK surgery, or providing post-operative care, she is always there to make sure your expectations are met and exceeded. She is a native of Charleston and brings an additional bonus to our team with her fluency in American Sign Language.

Todd Marine, Certified Ophthalmic Technician

Todd, like several of our team members, has undergone the process to become certified by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO). He knows how precious vision is to our patients, and he prides himself on providing the most thorough exams and testing to ensure each patient receives the best possible vision. Todd, like all of our staff members, wants every patient to feel comfortable and confident in his or her decision about his or her treatment plan. Feel free to ask Todd a question and he’ll gladly take the time to talk with you in detail.

Briana Wiggins, Ophthalmic Assistant

As Briana sees it, “What could be better than coming to work each day knowing you get to help people get rid of their glasses?” Her enthusiasm for LASIK is clear to our patients coming to our practice expecting a wonderful experience. She balances the fun with the seriousness of preparing patients for the best possible vision. Briana takes great care of our patients. From the first consultation to the day of your procedure through post-operative appointments, Briana is always there for you.

Shelley Wika, Ophthalmic Assistant & Certified Medical Assistant

Shelley holds a Diploma in Medical Assisting from Trident Technical College, where she is currently studying for her Associates in General Technology in Applied Science. She chose the medical field because she has a strong desire to help people. Shelley has a big heart, and she truly enjoys having the pleasure to work with patients daily.  Her upbeat personality brings motivation to our team. Shelley is patient-focused and always makes sure they receive quality care.

Krissa Drentlaw, Research Technician

Research is one of the pillars of our practice to ensure we’re always advancing technology and treatments for our patients. Krissa brings more than 35 years of experience in the eye care field. She is a certified ophthalmic technician whose combined clinical skills and dedication to patient care make her an excellent choice to serve our patients who choose to participate in research.