Dr. Matzkin and the Allied Eye staff are pleased to welcome a new optometrist to the team! Dr. Kelly Herron recently relocated to Chattanooga from Atlanta and is excited to start this new chapter in her life. She is a board-certified optometrist who particularly enjoys the challenges of treating ocular diseases. You can read her professional bio here. Enjoy this “getting to know you” interview with Dr. Herron.

What led you to a career in optometry?

I worked part-time as an ophthalmic technician while earning my Bachelor of Science in Biology at Central Connecticut State University. I really enjoyed that job, and that’s what made me decide to become an optometrist.

What do you enjoy most about your profession?

I enjoy all of what I do. In optometry, we have the medical side of things and the refractive side of things. It’s rewarding to fit people with corrective lenses that help them see better (that’s the refractive side), but I really get excited about the medical side of optometry! 

What was your experience like while obtaining your Doctorate in optometry?

After getting a bachelor’s degree, I think most people would find the idea of four more years of school daunting. But that’s not me—I really love learning! So, I was excited about continuing my education. My rotations at Salus University were heavy on the medical side of optometry and I also interned at different VA medical centers. I loved working with the vets—they were awesome patients! I thoroughly enjoyed my experience after undergraduate school. 

Where were you prior to Allied Eye?

Before joining Allied Eye, I completed my residency in ocular diseases at Omni Eye Services of Atlanta. We were a big referral center. That means that we only got patients with complicated situations. A lot of our patients were post-surgical; they were the patients whose doctors didn’t know what to do with them. I saw a lot of interesting things there!

How do you feel about living in Chattanooga?

Chattanooga is a good fit for me! It’s such a cool little city. I didn’t know what to expect, but everything has just fallen into place. I grew up in a small town and always wanted to live in the big city. Living in Atlanta kind of fulfilled that desire for me.

In Chattanooga, you get a good balance between country and city life. I love that I’m so close to nature, but also able to enjoy the things I like about the city. In some ways, COVID-19 has made it easier to make a big move because the restrictions limited the amount of time I could spend with my friends in Atlanta.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love horseback riding and hiking, and am glad that I’ll be able to enjoy those things here in Tennessee. I love to travel and enjoy going to the beach.

Can you share a few fun facts about yourself?

My absolute favorite food is pizza—I could eat it every day. I’m 50% Finnish, and Prague is by far my favorite city I’ve ever had the pleasure to visit. I had two horses growing up and their names were Joey and Mister. I’ve known my three best friends since first grade (Lauren, Amy, and Bri). I also have a niece and a nephew, Emma and Jaden, who I love and are so much fun!

Dr. Kelly Herron is passionate about providing quality eye care to each patient she meets and she is looking forward to providing exceptional service to our patients. If you'd like to schedule your next eye exam with Dr. Herron, call us at 423-855-8522. Welcome Dr. Herron! ✨