Dr. Michael Gagnon, M.D.
After graduating from Saint Mary’s College of California, Dr. Gagnon received his Doctorate of Medicine from Creighton University School of Medicine. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Wake Forest University, and spent an additional year for sub-specialty training in Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the University of Utah, Moran Eye Center. A board certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Gagnon is on the clinical teaching staff of the Department of Ophthalmology at Stanford University. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a member of the California Association of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the California Medical Association, and the Alameda Contra Costa Medical Association.
Specializing in cornea and refractive surgery, Dr. Gagnon has performed a wide variety of refractive procedures, including LASIK and Advanced Surface Ablation, and no injection sutureless cataract surgery. He has published many papers and has given lectures at national meetings on topics in refractive surgery as well as ocular surface reconstruction. Dr. Gagnon received the Best Paper of Session Award at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting for his investigation of intraocular lens calculations after LASIK. His areas of interest also include LASIK, corneal transplants, sutureless corneal transplants (DSEK), pterygium surgery, artificial corneas, and dry eyes.
Dr. Kala Swamynathan, M.D
After successful completion of Transitional Year internship at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, she worked as a research coordinator at Stanford University department of ophthalmology. Her residency training in ophthalmology was obtained at Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, where she was awarded the prestigious Merrill Grayson Leadership Award for the best outgoing resident. She has authored and co-authored papers in corneal diseases and glaucoma and has been performing functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery since 2008. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Alameda Contra Costa Medical Association.
Prior to joining the staff at Valley EyeCare Center Dr. Swamynathan worked several years in San Joaquin County. A comprehensive ophthalmologist, she brings with her valuable experience in treating a wide variety of eye disease.
Dr. Nicole Lee O.D.
Dr. Lee obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara and her Doctor of Optometry degree from Nova Southeastern University in Florida where she received the Marco Clinical Excellence in Primary Care Award. In addition, she completed a one-year postgraduate clinical residency program at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, where she honed her skills in the treatment and management of ocular diseases and ocular manifestations of systemic diseases. Dr. Lee is a certified therapeutic pharmaceutical agent and a certified licensed optometrist in the State of California. Dr Lee’s clinical experience also includes recent participation in an FDA phase 3 clinical trial for the study and treatment of dry eye.
Dr. Lorraine Yeung O.D.
Dr. Yeung obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from the University of California at San Diego. She then received her Doctor of Optometry degree and graduated with honors at Western University of Health Sciences. After receiving her doctorate, she continued on to complete a one-year residency program at Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates in Maryland where she received extensive training in the treatment and management of ocular disease and preoperative/postoperative care. Dr. Yeung is certified in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. Her variety of clinical experiences has provided her with a diverse knowledge and she is excited to be providing eye care at VEC.
Dr. JenniferZhao, O.D.
Dr. Zhao completed her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, where she earned her B.S. in Molecular Toxicology. She then became a double bear when she received her Doctor of Optometry from the UC Berkeley School of Optometry. Dr. Zhao is passionate about providing comprehensive eye care, tailoring her treatment to the individual, and fostering an empathetic approach with all patients. During her clinical rotations, Dr. Zhao had the opportunity to work with and treat a diverse patient population at the Kaiser Permanente Daly City, San Jose Veterans Affairs Clinic, Southern Oregon Veterans Affairs Clinic, and the Meredith Morgan Eye Center. She is certified to treat and manage various ocular diseases such as glaucoma. Dr. Zhao has special interests in dry eye treatment and myopia control/orthokeratology, and she is also fluent in Mandarin. Outside of the office, Dr. Zhao enjoys spending quality time with her husband and family, exploring new places with friends, and trying new restaurants and foods from various cultures.
Dr. Gurkirat Atkar, O.D.
Dr. Atkar received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Washington State University, then earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University in Oregon. She completed externships at a LASIK center in Denver CO, a hospital outpatient clinic in New Orleans LA, the Navy Base in San Diego CA, and the VA in Spokane WA. She is passionate about specialty contact lens fittings, refractive surgery co-management, dry eye care and ocular disease management. In her free time, she enjoys tennis, travel, reading, and recently, golf.
Dr. Kim Burdick, O.D.
Dr. Burdick obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry. After receiving her degree, she continued as clinical faculty at UC Berkeley, specializing in ophthalmic optics. She also has optometry teaching experience at the Southeast Health Clinic in San Francisco and San Francisco State University.
Dr. Burdick is certified in glaucoma and therapeutics, as well as Paragon Corneal Reshaping Therapy. She enjoys working with patients experiencing low vision due to macular degeneration and glaucoma, and she is passionate about problem-solving complex cases and counseling patients on their vision and optical needs.
Sharing Valley EyeCare Center’s mission of providing eye care to underserved communities, Dr. Burdick has completed optometric mission trips to Ecuador and Palau.