INNOVATIVE EYE CARE - Key Persons
Ania is one of Innovative's amazing optometric technicians! She is an experienced optometric tech who is passionate about giving patients the best, most compassionate care. As someone who has worn glasses her entire life, she knows the difference that one caring person can make during a potentially anxiety-inducing eye exam. Her favorite part of her job as optometric technician is making a human connection with each patient. Ania's warm, upbeat personality makes her perfect for this patient-facing role. Our patients love connecting with her as she performs their initial eye exam.
In her free time, you'll find Ania busy growing her small business. Ania has turned her years-long passion for makeup into a thriving side hustle as a makeup artist. She loves creating beautiful, unique makeup looks for her clients. Her empathy and humor, which make her amazing at her work in our practice, also help her understand the needs of her makeup clients.
When she's not working in our practice or on her small business, Ania relaxes with fun reality TV shows. She also enjoys spoken word poetry. Though a native of Baltimore, Maryland, Ania has lived in Charlotte since childhood. In the coming years, she hopes to complete higher education in optometry and build out her side business by obtaining a real estate license.
Dr. Michelle Mumford always knew she wanted to work in the medical field, but it was because she started wearing (very unfashionable) glasses at age seven and contact lenses at age eleven that her interest in Optometry grew. Her father, also a physician, stressed early on to her and her sister that whatever work they chose in life should be their passion - and that's exactly what eye health and vision is to Dr. Mumford.
Dr. Sarah Kenning is one of our highly qualified doctors here at Innovative Eye Care. She always knew she was interested in a health sciences career, and after spending time shadowing various healthcare providers during her undergraduate studies, she decided that optometry was the perfect fit for her. We are so glad she did, because Dr. Kenning is an incredible addition to our team! Her favorite part of the job is "problem-solving with patients," she says, "and the satisfaction of helping my patients see their best, feel their best, and trust that they're in good hands." The thoughtfulness, care, and dedication that she brings to each patient interaction make her a beloved member of our team.
Dr. Kenning hails from Kansas, where she attended the University of Kansas for her undergraduate degree in Biology (Go Jayhawks!). She completed her Doctorate of Optometry degree at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. Upon receiving her doctorate, she returned to Kansas for a post-doctoral residency with the Kansas City Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, where she specialized in ocular disease and low vision rehabilitation. She worked at the VA for several years caring for Veterans with ocular disease and teaching and mentoring optometry students and residents before joining Dr. Mumford in private practice.
Dr. Kenning's post-doctoral residency and her experience providing vision and medical care for our nation's Veterans give her a unique, dynamic background that is incredibly beneficial to our patients here at Innovative Eye Care. She specializes in ocular disease management - from acute conditions to chronic ocular diseases such as dry eye disease, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Dr. Kenning uses her experience with low vision rehabilitation to help patients who have suffered permanent vision loss to maximize their remaining vision and uses her knowledge of ocular diseases to ensure patients understand their conditions. She also loves supporting patients with low vision, and her background in ocular disease ensures every single patient receives the best possible care.
Dr. Kenning loves living in Charlotte, which has been her home for the last several years. Her favorite parts of the city include the Whitewater Center, the mix and rivalry of great college basketball teams, and the absence of brutally cold Kansan winters. She loves exploring Charlotte's dog-friendly spots with Charlie, her Wheaten Terrier mix, enjoying the fresh air in Freedom Park, and attending local trivia and comedy shows. She is a devoted aunt to her niece and nephew and a skilled, compassionate healthcare provider for her patients here at Innovative Eye Care. We can't wait for you to get to know Dr. Sarah Kenning!
Dr. Sydney Krisa is one of our wonderful eye doctors here at Innovative Eye Care. Her extensive educational background, combined with her devotion to providing patients with the best possible care, makes her a valuable member of our team. Dr. Krisa has been drawn to medicine from a young age. Her experiences shadowing her family Optometrist and working at an Optometry practice as an undergraduate student solidified her decision to pursue a degree in Optometry.
Original from Ontario, Canada, Dr. Krisa moved to Charlotte as a child. She studied biology with minors in chemistry and neuroscience at UNC-Chapel Hill (Go Tar Heels!) before receiving her doctorate from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. While in Optometry school at ICO, Dr. Krisa developed a professional interest in specialty contact lenses and ocular disease. This led her to a prestigious postgraduate optometric residency at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, a Harvard Ophthalmology specialty hospital devoted to treating complex ocular pathology.
Dr. Krisa joined us here at Innovative Eye Care after the completion of her residency in June 2023 and has since become our go-to doctor for specialty lenses. She also specializes in ocular disease, dry eye treatment and myopia management. She is excited for the opportunity to implement her specialized education by offering patients cutting-edge solutions to their visual conditions. Many local eye doctors refer patients to our clinic for Dr. Krisa's expertise, so we're lucky to have her on our team!
Dr. Krisa is committed to making sure every patient has access to treatments that can preserve or enhance their sight. She takes a holistic approach to patient wellness, knowing very well how health conditions throughout the body can impact eye health. She loves building long-term relationships with patient and her colleagues at Innovative. To her, our practice has a warm, peaceful atmosphere that is particularly conducive to both professional collaboration and effective patient communication.
When she's not working, Dr. Krisa loves spending time with family, friends and her fiance Adam, as they explore local restaurants and live music in the Charlotte area. She also enjoys reading, getting outdoors, and exercising with her two dogs.
We are so happy to have Dr. Krisa here at our practice, and we know you'll her as much as we do!
Emily will most likely be one of the first faces you see when you come to Innovative Eye Care. As one of our patient care coordinators, she will make sure you feel welcome and comfortable. Emily is our go-to for checking patients in, verifying insurance, taking phone calls, and scheduling appointments. She loves helping people, thrives under pressure, and doesn't even mind a Monday, so we are so happy she's with us.
Emily is a double unicorn. Not only is she a Charlotte native (you don't meet many of those!), but she also has 20/20 vision. Her perfect vision hasn't stopped her from hitting up our eyewear boutique's amazing sunglass selection, though. Right now she's crushing on the aviator trend.
When she's not keeping everything under control at our front desk, Emily loves to cook, hit the gym, and escape to Isle of Palms, SC for a beach fix. She also enjoys tackling DIY projects for the home. Her current obsession? Making sunburst mirrors.
She's a non-stop ball of positive energy and our very own sunburst. We're sure your day will be a little brighter after working with Emily.
Job Titles:
- Certified Paraoptometric Technician
As one of our optometric technicians, Jennifer is Dr. Mumford's right-hand woman. After checking in, Jennifer will be the first person you'll work with at our office. She will do all of your pre-testing and contact lens training and will set everything up so that your visit with Dr. Mumford is smooth and efficient. With her warm personality, calm nature, and over 20 years of experience, Jennifer is the PERFECT person for this job.
Jennifer knows no two patients are alike and loves getting to know each new person that walks through our door. And, one of her favorite parts of the job is catching up with longtime patients whose visits can become like seeing extended family (without the stress of a holiday dinner to prepare). She's also AMAZING with kids and teens - most likely because she's a mom of two and "gets" it. Whether you're here for a yearly check up or a more serious eye problem, she'll guide you through each step in such a zen-like way that you might be able to skip yoga for the day.
In her free time, Jennifer loves spending time with her two kids, a daughter in high school and a son who just recently flew the coop. With some of the demands of parenting behind her, Jennifer is finding a new love for crocheting - something her grandmother did that she always admired. Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens is her local "happy place," but she'll escape to the sugar sand beaches of St. George's Island on Florida's Gulf Coast any chance she can get.
She's cool, calm, collected, and so very capable. We can't wait for you to meet Jennifer!
We're excited to introduce you to Kristen, our Lead Optician here at Innovative Eye Care! Kristen brings over a decade of experience in optics to our practice, and we are very lucky to have her. Patients immediately connect with Kristen's sense of humor and her kind, non-judgemental personality. She helps fit and adjust frames for the many patients who get their glasses from our practice.
Kristen is ABO and NCLE certified, and one of her favorite parts of being an optician is the need for continual learning and education. She also enjoys training new opticians- something she began doing while working as an optician with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Kristen worked at the VA for seven years before leaving to join us in private practice. Though she enjoyed serving veterans in her previous role, she longed for the opportunity to use her creativity in her daily life. We are so grateful that this desire for a more creative, laid-back atmosphere led her to join us here at Innovative.
When she isn't working, Kristen enjoys spending time with her two kids (Amelia and Maxwell) and two dogs (Holly-Anne and Charlie). You'll find them exploring local state parks or the Whitewater Center when the weather is pleasant. Kristen also enjoys reading books and watching movies with her family.
Miranda is one of our fantastic optometric technicians here at Innovative! Though relatively new to the optometry business, she's quickly found her stride in our practice. Miranda has always loved both science and working with people, so when she recently decided to pursue a career change, she found her interests paired wonderfully in the role of optometric technician.
Optometric techs work one-on-one with patients to perform a preliminary eye exam and basic tests. They're also one of the first people you'll meet when you come into our office for an exam- just one reason why we're lucky to have Miranda here! Miranda's friendly, positive attitude helps put our patients at ease. She loves meeting new people and it's her personal mission to make every patient laugh and smile. When it comes to the technical aspect of her work, Miranda's detail-oriented nature and eagerness to learn make her great at what she does.
A native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Miranda now lives in Fort Mill with her husband Trey. They are proud pet parents to Daisy, a bearded dragon, and Diesel, a rescue pit bull. Miranda loves her animals and is a proud advocate for pit bull rescue and rehabilitation. When she's not working, she loves watching science documentaries, camping, and spending time at Lake Wiley. A lover of live music, you'll find her at concerts at local music venue The Fillmore. She and her husband also enjoy traveling- their favorite destination being the beautiful mountains of Tennessee.
We can't wait for you to meet Miranda during your next eye exam.
We are so excited to introduce you to Nicole, one of our wonderful Patient Care Coordinators. Nicole helps our patients find the perfect frames or contact lenses. She also enjoys running Innovative's social media presence. If you've seen any of our posts on Instagram, Nicole was probably behind them! Nicole has a background in dental assisting; she switched over to optometry a few years ago and has been working in the industry ever since. Our patients benefit from Nicole's allied health background and from her strengths in project management, customer service, and design.
For Nicole, the best part of her job is the opportunity to build relationships with patients. Every patient interaction is a chance to brighten someone's day and to use her problem-solving skills to find their perfect solution. Her outgoing personality and relaxed, easygoing manner make her easy to interact with.
When she's not working, Nicole enjoys spending time with her husband Brandon and their rescue animals- cat (Dazzle), dog (Sammy), and bunny (Ginger)! Originally from New Jersey, she now calls Charlotte home and loves volunteering with local animal rights and affordable housing organizations. She also enjoys traveling, creating special effects makeup looks, and trying new things. Nicole is a vital part of our team, and we can't wait for you to meet her!
Rachel is one of our amazing Eyewear Consultants here at Innovative Eye Care. She works closely with our doctors to help patients find their perfect vision correction. Her soothing aura and thoughtful diligence make every patient interaction warm, friendly, and positive.
Rachel is originally from Connecticut, where she lived and worked for many years with her husband and their children. After 17 years training under a seasoned optometrist there, she and her family decided to relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina, which has been their home ever since. Our patients benefit not only from Rachel's experience and high-quality optician training, but also from her hardworking and gentle spirit. The patients are Rachel's favorite part of her job; there is nothing more gratifying to her than helping someone access life-changing vision care.
When she's not working, Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband John and their three boys, a family of self-described ‘dorks' who enjoy playing card games and Dungeon and Dragons together. You might also find her listening to music or taking care of her family's menagerie of pets: four snakes, two rescue cats, and a rescue pitbull. In her free time, she enjoys meditating, crafting, and restoring wood furniture.
We can't wait for you to meet Rachel!