About Our Eye Care Team in Okotoks

Dr. Mark Pitcher attended his undergraduate training at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He graduated with honors from the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo in 1992. He is a member of the National Optometric Honours Society and Beta Sigma Kappa (1989-1992). Following his optometric training, Dr. Pitcher earned his Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agent Certification from Northeastern State School of Optometry in Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1993. In 2014, he successfully completed a course in Oral Therapeutics, Glaucoma and Advanced Diagnostics and in 2019, successfully completed a course in Advanced Optometric Procedures, both from Northeastern State School of Optometry in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Before joining the Okotoks Eyecare team, Dr. Pitcher worked as a staff optometrist at both the Gimbel Eye Centre and the Jans Eye Centre in Calgary. Dr. Pitcher purchased his current practice in 1999 from Dr. Vic Sillanpaa who had established the practice in 1982. He later renamed the clinic to its current name of Okotoks Eyecare.

To this day, Dr. Pitcher continues to expand his knowledge base. His passion for learning about the constantly innovating eye care and ocular aesthetics industry is boundless and is one of the reasons why he loves his profession. From the beginning, Dr. Pitcher has believed that one of the best ways to serve his patients is to remain on the cutting edge of research and technology so that he can always provide the best care available.

Dr. Pitcher is grateful for his many amazing patients and is honoured to have served them for over 20 years.

Dr. Asim Prasad is a native Calgarian who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Vision Science and Doctor of Optometry degree from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in 2008. Before becoming an optometrist, Dr. Prasad earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Alberta. After working in the environmental science industry for a short time, Dr. Prasad decided to pursue his true passion: optometry.

Before joining the Okotoks Eyecare team, Dr. Prasad completed a series of challenging internships in the United States. These experiences helped him develop his skills for full-scope optometry. Dr. Prasad truly enjoys all aspects of primary care optometry and helping patients in all stages of life. He also has a special interest in ocular disease. Dr. Prasad is a proud member of the Alberta Association of Optometrists, the Calgary Society of Optometrists, and the American Optometric Association.

When he isn’t seeing patients, Dr. Prasad spends his time doing strength and conditioning training. Before becoming an optometrist, Dr. Prasad was a personal trainer and continues to enjoy sharing his knowledge of fitness and nutrition. He is also an avid sports enthusiast and likes playing hockey, golf, soccer, and tennis. When he isn’t at work or playing sports, Dr. Prasad spends quality time with his family.

Dr. Catharine Cheon was born in Calgary, Alberta and completed her Bachelor of Science at McGill University with a major in Anatomy and Cell Biology. She then received her Doctor of Optometry at New England College of Optometry and is a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society. She completed internships in ocular disease at the Boston Medical Center hospital and a Veterans Affairs hospital in Boston. Dr. Cheon also trained with ophthalmologists at various community health centers around Boston and rotated through Perkins School for the Blind. Dr. Cheon also had the opportunity to work on a paper that was presented at the American Academy of Optometry with an ophthalmologist at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Cheon holds a clinical interest in ocular disease and severe dry eye management, but she genuinely enjoys practicing full-scope patient care. She was previously on the committee of the Calgary Society of Optometry and is currently on a sub-committee for the Alberta Association of Optometry. She is a member of good standing of the Alberta College of Optometry, Alberta Association of Optometry and the Calgary Society of Optometry.

Dr. Cheon has previously been on an eye care mission trip to the Dominican Republic to help provide services for under-privileged populations and would like to plan additional trips in the future.

When she isn’t in the clinic, Dr. Cheon enjoys traveling, practicing yoga, snowboarding and spending time with her dog. She is also attempting to get into golfing (but isn’t very good at it!) She also relishes quiet moments with a good book or a movie and is always open to good recommendations.

Dr. Olivia Regier earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Brock University and her Doctor of Optometry from the University of Waterloo in 2017. During her schooling she completed externships in primary care and ocular disease as well as vision therapy and rehabilitation.

She is a member of the Alberta Association of Optometrists, Ocular Nutrition Society, Optometric Extension Program and Vision Therapy Canada. She has an interest in developmental and neuro-rehabilitative optometry and provides vision therapy for patients with developmental and binocular visual problems or who require visual rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury.

She also has an interest in the link between nutrition, lifestyle and prevention of eye disease. This led her to work alongside the Eyefoods brand while in School and in her early years of practice – a company offering educational material for the public on the power of nutrition and eye health.
Dr. Regier moved to Okotoks in 2020 and is excited to be a part of this great community!

Tracy first joined the Okotoks Eyecare team in 2005 and became a licensed optician in 2008. She uses her love of great design to help us select the best brands and styles so that we can offer you frames that are unique and on trend. Tracy works hard to ensure that the atmosphere at Okotoks Eyecare is friendly, warm and comfortable for both patients and staff. Her expertise in the eye care industry, along with her excellent communication skills and customer service has translated naturally into her role as our office manager. She is passionate about her job and feels that the team at Okotoks Eyecare is her second family. When she is not at the office, Tracy enjoys spending time with her growing family (2 grandkids and counting…) and her Australian Labradoodle Cub!

Lisa graduated from NAIT in 2004 and has been with our practice since 2006. Lisa’s dedication and joy make our office a welcoming place to be, and we are so glad to have her as part of the team. No matter how she is helping our patients, her service is invaluable.

In her spare time, Lisa enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with her husband and family.

Susan has been serving patients at Okotoks Eyecare since 2007, where she uses her extensive knowledge to improve vision by providing professional optical advice and solutions. To stay ahead of the curve, Susan continues to further her optical knowledge with in-depth training. Her boundless kindness and experience allow her to find answers to your vision and focusing problems using her “Your Vision for Life” program.

When she isn’t at Okotoks Eyecare, Susan, a Canadian Reiki Association Practitioner, volunteers at the Rowan House Emergency Shelter. She also spends time as a Pet Therapy Volunteer with her dog Stella at the High River Hospital.

When she isn’t working or volunteering, Susan enjoys spending time with her family on the farm, enjoying the outdoors, and walking her two dogs: Roxy Roller and Stella’s Got a Groove.

Jackie joined the Okotoks Eyecare team in 2010 after a fulfilling career in the travel industry. Her experience is reflected in the special service she gives our patients. Their satisfaction is always her top priority!

Jackie appreciates helping patients find the perfect eyewear. As a long-time resident of Okotoks, she loves working within her community. She also enjoys travelling, baking, walking her dog Baxter, and enjoying a coffee with her family and friends.

Liz is a wonderful member of our team who brings passion and dedication to everything she does. Joining us in 2015, Liz greatly enjoys her role in customizing and adjusting eyewear. She finds this work fulfilling because she knows she’s had a hand in the quality finished product.

Liz has been in the eye care industry since 1997 and brings exceptional knowledge and experience to our practice. She has a great sense of humour and enjoys spending her free time playing video games, singing, and dancing. Though her children say she isn’t very good, she never lets that stop her!

Bonnie has been in the eye care industry for 11 years and began her career as a Canadian certified optometric assistant in 2011. She finds great satisfaction in getting to know our patients and building their understanding of their visual needs.

Bonnie has a particular talent for frame adjustments and a creative knack that she loves to express through gardening and crafting. She also enjoys reading, walking, camping, and generally spending time in nature.

Amanda recently returned to the Okotoks Eyecare team, and we are so pleased to have her back. Amanda began working in the optical industry in the 1980s as a receptionist at a small Calgary optical shop. While she was there, she began to learn the optician’s trade under someone she calls her “Master Optician.”

Amanda loves working in a small community and enjoys the daily challenges, rewards, problem-solving, business, and relationship building that comes with working at Okotoks Eyecare. Though she loves all aspects of her job, Amanda is happiest when she is working with patients. She enjoys listening to their stories while she takes the time to help them choose their glasses, educate them about their eyes and eye health, and prepare their glasses.

Amanda believes that everyone has a story to tell and that the foundation of superior customer service is the willingness to listen.

Kaitlin rejoined the Okotoks Eyecare team in 2017, bringing with her ten years of prior optical industry experience. Kaitlin has a degree in Linguistics, became a registered nurse in 2015, and spent several years in acute care settings (neurology and psychiatry) and now enjoys putting her medical skills and knowledge to good use in our practice. Kaitlin loves how close-knit the Okotoks community is, and enjoys teaching our patients about eye health and preventative care. She has a special interest in glaucoma management. She is also excited to expand her knowledge and learn more about medical and ocular aesthetics. In her spare time, she enjoys getting outside in nature, visiting the Okanagan, trying new restaurants, road trips, reading, writing and spending time with her husband Taylor and goldendoodle, Molly.

Kelly is our patient care coordinator and became a Canadian certified optometric assistant in 2019. Kelly prides herself on the work she does to ensure our patients have the best experience possible. We are so glad that she joined our team in 2017.

When Kelly is not greeting our patients and helping them with their optical needs, she enjoys spending time with her family. Originally from Ontario, she loves to explore the natural landscapes surrounding Okotoks.

Kim has been with our team since 2010, taking a break in 2014 to return in 2018. Kim graduated from NAIT in 2014 as a licensed optician with the Highest Academic Achievement Award. With over a decade of experience, she is comfortable in nearly any department of the practice.

Kim is dedicated to helping our patients feel comfortable in their eyewear and takes great pride in finding the perfect frames for each individual. When she is not working, she loves spending time with her family and friends.

Alice lived in Okotoks for 12 years and only recently moved back to Calgary, however she still loves the community of Okotoks and is happy to be working here as she feels like it is ‘home’. Alice joined our team in August 2020 and prior to that she trained as a hospital unit clerk, so she brings a lot of knowledge and medical experience to our team. You will see her smiling face in our pretest/diagnostic area, where she helps perform baseline testing before you see the optometrist for your eye exam. Her favorite part about her job is getting to meet almost all the wonderful customers that come through Okotoks Eyecare and hear a little bit about their stories. When not at work, Alice enjoys spending time with her husband Roger and daughter Amy. She also loves camping, cycling and hopefully one day soon again…travelling.

Paula comes from a background in Marketing but has developed a keen interest in the optometry field and has joined our practice helping in a few different departments such as reception and pretesting. She became a member of the Okotoks Eyecare team in September 2020!
Likes: Her Husband Luke, Her Dog Cabri, Her Goose Boris, tolerates the cats, loves cross country skiing, hiking, gardening, or anything outdoors!
Dislikes: Heights, angry cows, icy roads, putting laundry away

Jessica joined our office in July 2020, bringing with her 9 years of experience in the optical industry. You can expect to be greeted by her friendly smile and bubbly laughter when you come into our office as she is our resident ray of sunshine. She loves meeting and talking with customers and learning more about them as she helps them pick out their glasses. She enjoys living in Okotoks and in her spare time she likes being outside, hiking, exploring and spending time with her fur baby, Jack.

Melissa joined our team at our reception desk in August 2020 and loves to help all our patients feel welcome as soon as they step into the store. She and her family moved to the beautiful town of Okotoks back in 2007 where she and her husband have raised 4 boys and a drooly hound dog. She loves Okotoks – the town, the people, the schools and sports programs – “Go Falcons and Rockies!” She also enjoys living so close to the mountains and can’t get enough of hiking and camping in the nearby Kananaskis. As much as she loves Okotoks… on any given day she’d much rather be in Hawaii!

Kimberly has lived in the Okotoks area most of her life and brings with her considerable experience in the field of early childhood education. As a new addition to our team, you will find her in our pretesting/ diagnostic area. Kimberly’s favorite part of her job is getting the opportunity to engage with and meet our patients, which are often children that she has already met through her previous work experience! She feels as if she has come full circle working here at Okotoks Eyecare and we are so delighted to have her as a member of the team. Kimberly’s kindness and patience with children is very evident as she helps them feel comfortable undergoing the preliminary tests before they see the optometrist. She is excited to see where the optical industry will take her!

When not at work, Kimberly enjoys spending time with her fiancé Jeremy and daughter Kainsley, at home on the farm. Her ideal day would be spent out on the lake or in the garden where her passion for the outdoors can be fulfilled. Kimberly looks forward to meeting more of the Okotoks community and will always greet you with a warm welcoming smile!

Tanya joined our team in 2021, bringing a wealth of optical and ophthalmic experience with her. She completed the certified optometric assistant course in 1995 and then the certified ophthalmic assistant course in 2016 through Nait. She also went on to achieve the highly recognized and reputed Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology certification in 2020.

Tanya has been working in the eye care industry for over 25 years, 19 of which were spent in optometric practice. For the last 9 years she has worked in ophthalmology, performing diagnostic testing and assisting with medical and surgical interventions of the eye.

Tanya is excited to bring forward and apply all the medical knowledge she has to her work here at Okotoks Eyecare. She is passionate about meeting new people and assisting our clients with their vision needs. You can find her in our eyewear gallery where she meets clients with a cheerful and positive energy.

In her spare time, Tanya loves being active, spending time outdoors and teaching piano lessons. On a day off, you might find Tanya hiking in the mountains, skiing or trail running. She also enjoys participating in triathlons and has completed 5 Ironman races!

Lianne is a new member to our team as of 2021, bringing with her over 25 years of experience in the eyecare industry, most of which has been in private practice optometry! One of her favorite aspects of this profession is the intricate fusion of health and fashion.

Lianne graduated from NAIT in 2002 as a licensed optician and prides herself on a job well done-when our customers leave the office loving both the look and clarity of their new eyewear! She is driven in her purpose to provide compassionate care and connects with the Okotoks Eyecare People-First philosophy. Through her patience and kindness, she strives to build trust and confidence with our patients to build long term relationships.

Lianne and her husband moved to Okotoks from Calgary in 2018, and she is enjoying the smaller town atmosphere and the strong sense of community. When Lianne is not at work, she is focused on her family. She enjoys walking her two dogs, Tucker and Jessie, and they all enjoy relaxing in their backyard oasis.