Dr. Carlson has spent his medical career in the field of ophthalmology. His eye care experience has been forged in academic, multispecialty, and private ophthalmic practices within the state of Minnesota. Currently, he practices at Claris Eye Care and Surgery in the Twin Cities and has helped thousands of patients achieve better vision.

Dr. Carlson received his medical degree from the University of North Dakota and completed his ophthalmology training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He also has a master’s degree in medical management from Tulane University. His peer reviewed publications span the topics of anterior segment physiology, laser vision correction, and cataract surgery.

Ophthalmic technicians are vital to providing expert, safe and timely assistance in the care of patients. As the general population ages and technology increases, the demand for ophthalmic technicians will only increase. Dr. Carlson is passionate about providing direction and leadership to make Alexandria College a leader in ophthalmic technician training and certification.

Kimberly has enjoyed a rewarding career in private practice ophthalmology for more than 30 years. She found the field when tasked with finding a part-time office job to fulfill a requirement for a high school course and was instantly fascinated. Through self-study, she obtained certification as an ophthalmic assistant (COA) in 1993 and as an ophthalmic technician (COT) in 1995, both with a subspeciality in ophthalmic surgical assisting. Over the years, she has worked in several sub-specialties and has first assisted in LASIK and PRK corrective eye surgery, as well as multiple intraocular procedures such as cataract, glaucoma, strabismus, and corneal transplant surgeries.

Throughout her career, Kimberly has taught clinical skills to ophthalmic personnel, and for the past 24 years, she worked as the Clinical Administrator for a LASIK specialty practice in Manhattan. In 2019, Kimberly obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology, cum laude, at Hunter College.

In addition to the responsibilities of the director role, Kimberly teaches courses in the program. “Teaching has always been a passion of mine, so I am thrilled to have this opportunity to share my knowledge and contribute to students’ success as ophthalmic technicians. I have had such a rewarding career helping patients with their visual needs that it feels right to give back to the field as program director and instructor. As an ophthalmic administrator, I struggled to find qualified ophthalmic technicians, so it has always been my mission to attract new talent to the field. The Ophthalmic Medical Technician Program at Alexandria Technical & Community College has an outstanding curriculum taught by a talented group of ophthalmic instructors with a wealth of clinical experience in the field and is the perfect vehicle for shaping the next generation of ophthalmic technicians. The asynchronous, online format of the program gives students across the country access to our program, and directly addresses the very real issue of a national shortage of qualified ophthalmic technicians, which is critical for the future of the profession.”

Adam graduated from St. Paul Regions School of Ophthalmic Technology in the summer of 1998 and soon after acquired a Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) certification.

He began working as an ophthalmic technician for a general ophthalmology practice in Fargo, ND that same year. He has enjoyed working with and mentoring many ophthalmic techs over the years. In 2020, Adam earned a bachelor's degree in healthcare management from Southern New Hampshire University and continues to work as an operations manager of a busy cataract and refractive surgery practice in Fargo. He is excited to share his knowledge and experiences with students at ATCC.

Angela completed the ophthalmic program at the School of Ophthalmic Medical Technology in 2006. That same year, she obtained certification as an ophthalmic technician and began working at HealthPartners. She has enjoyed her career with them as a Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) for over seventeen years. In addition to working in general ophthalmology, she learned several sub-specialties including glaucoma, retina, cornea, and oculo-plastics. In 2013, Angela received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Augsburg College.

Angela is looking forward to working with our students, sharing her knowledge and passion for providing exceptional patient care around the precious gift of sight. In her free time, she enjoys crafting and DIY projects, running, and spending time with family and friends. At ATCC, Angela will be teaching Introduction to Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Imaging Techniques.