Christine McDonald, COA, ROUB
Eye Consultants of St. Louis, Missouri

ATPO's newest Member of the Quarter is Ms. Christine McDonald, COA, ROUB, of St. Louis, Missouri. There are a lot of ways to get started in the ophthalmic field, but Christine found a unique route - through child care. In 1987, Christine shared a babysitter with the office manager of an ophthalmic practice. At that time, the practice was looking for a medical secretary and receptionist, and Christine was looking for a job. After a conversation with the office manager, Christine went to work for Frank J. Catanzaro, MD, and started her ophthalmic career.

During her ten years with Dr. Catanzaro, Christine learned everything about running the front office of the practice as well as billing and scheduling surgeries. She also started her technical training which included learning how to fit contact lenses.

In 1997, Christine began working with her current employer, Eye Consultants of St. Louis, where she is the Business Manager. Christine continued her education and training and passed the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) and Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biometrist (ROUB) exams. As the Business Manager, she handles all aspects of running the practice and supervising the employees. Even with all of those responsibilities, she makes the time to double as a technician. Currently, Christine is studying to take the Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) and the Certified Ophthalmic Executive (COE) exams.

Christine has been passionately involved with the work of Ray of Hope Eye Care, Inc., and holds the office of Vice President. Christine has made many trips to Haiti as a volunteer with Ray of Hope. She has worked as a technician, helped to establish a permanent clinic, raised funds, and located equipment for the clinic. She also helped train a young man from Haiti on how to work as a technician and office manager for the clinic - a job for which Christine is uniquely qualified. That young man is currently in medical school.

When away from her duties in ophthalmology, Christine has many hobbies and interests. She and a friend renovated a 123-year-old Victorian house and opened a fine art photography gallery there. Christine enjoys photography, hiking, canoeing, biking, rappelling and jewelry making.

Christine is an asset to our field and a hard worker for ATPO. It certainly was a fortunate day for eye care when Christine started a conversation at her babysitter’s house.