Our Doctors
Our Vision Therapists
Our Administrative Assistants
Dr. Kristen Robinson, BSc, OD, FOVDR
Optometrist & Founder
Dr. Kristen Robinson was born and raised in Saugeen Shores. She graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry with her Honours Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry degrees in 2011. She was the vice-president of her Optometry class and received the Good-Lite Pediatric Optometry Award upon graduation. Dr. Robinson is a member of the Ontario Association of Optometrists and Children's Vision Committee, the Canadian Association of Optometrists, the Optometric Education Program Foundation, the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association (formerly the College of Optometric Vision Development), Vision Therapy Canada, and she is also the Grey-Bruce area lead for the Eye See Eye Learn children's program.
Dr. Robinson joined her father's Optometry practice, and together with her brother and sister-in-law they founded Saugeen Shores Family Eye Care in 2011. Over the years, Dr. Robinson has developed a passion for vision therapy and pediatric eye care. This passion has grown from a 10x10 foot room within her primary care practice in 2014 and has evolved into what is now Saugeen Shores Vision Therapy Centre. Our renovated and much larger space became a reality in 2018, and we are proud that we can serve even more patients struggling with visual dysfunctions. Dr. Robinson is thrilled that she has been able to expand her team to include an associate doctor who also has her Fellowship in vision therapy and rehabilitation, as well as four vision therapists and a great administrative team.
Dr. Robinson is always looking to expand her knowledge in the area of vision therapy and rehabilitation. She has completed thousands of hours in numerous post-graduate courses through Vision Therapy Canada (VTC), the Optometric Education Program Foundation (OEPF), and the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA). In 2020, she earned her post-doctorate Fellowship in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation through the OVDRA. This will allow her to bring even more knowledge back to her practice and help even more patients discover their potential!
When she's not practicing optometry, Dr. Robinson enjoys reading, paddle boarding, and spending time with her husband, son and dog! She also plays the flute in the Port Elgin Community Band and enjoys spending time at her family cottage at Gobles Grove as much as possible in the summer!
Dr. Heather MacKenzie, BSc, OD, FOVDR
Associate Optometrist
We were thrilled to have Dr. MacKenzie join our team in 2019 as she has brought experience, knowledge, exuberance, and passion that motivates our entire team to be their best selves every day! Dr. MacKenzie cares deeply for her patients, co-workers, family and friends, and we are so lucky that she chose to join our team!
Dr. MacKenzie graduated from the University of Guelph with her Honours Bachelor of Science degree in 2006 and the University of Waterloo School of Optometry with her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2011. She was also awarded the RACH Memorial Award upon graduation. Dr. MacKenzie is originally from Inverhuron and has returned home to be near her family and practice in a more rural setting. She loves being a part of our community and help educate our patients about the important role vision plays in all of our lives.
Dr. MacKenzie received her Fellowship in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation through the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association in 2016. She has extensive experience in vision therapy and rehabilitation, and practiced in a specialized vision therapy practice for four years under some of the country's leading optometrists in vision therapy and rehabilitation.
In her personal time, Dr. MacKenzie enjoys spending time with her son and dog, as well as her immediate and extended family who live nearby in Inverhuron. Dr. MacKenzie loves the lake, listening to podcasts, and watching (and participating in) musical theatre!
Jackie Lootsma
Certified Optometric Vision Therapist & Office Manager
Jackie is our "jack-of-all-trades" and organizational queen! She provides the momentum that keeps our merry-go-round turning. Jackie joined our team in 2018 as an administrative coordinator of both the vision therapy program and our primary care practice. She quickly became indispensable to our whole process and as our vision therapy practice continued to grow, so did she, into our official Office Manager.
Within the first year that Jackie was with us, she had absorbed so much knowledge of vision therapy from simply being surrounded by it day in and day out, that she decided to become a vision therapist herself. She has impressed us with her self-directed desire to learn the vision therapy concepts and procedures, as well as in her ability to apply this knowledge and work hands-on with patients.
Jackie has now successfully completed the most vision therapy courses in our office and we are so proud of her for holding this record! She has done training through the Emergent Online Therapist Training Course, the entire clinical curriculum in vision therapy through the Optometric Education Program Foundation, and has achieved her status as a Canadian Certified Vision Therapist through the Practical Vision Therapist Accreditation Program of Vision Therapy Canada. In addition to these programs, she most recently completed another demanding certification program through the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association, so we are thrilled to say that, as of 2024, she is also a Certified Optometric Vision Therapist (COVT).
You will have a blast with Jackie, but don't think you can pull the wool over her eyes, as she won't let you get away with anything! She is a keen observer, always game to get down on your level (including the floor) and be creative, and she will make sure your hard work gets results!
Katie MacLeod
Canadian Certified Vision Therapist & Registered Psychotherapist (Q)
Katie has been working as a vision therapist since 2015 along side Dr. Robinson at her primary care practice, Saugeen Shores Family Eye Care, and she has continued with us at Saugeen Shores Vision Therapy Centre. She graduated from the Practical Vision Therapist Accreditation Program through the Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy & Rehabilitation in 2017 and has successfully completed the comprehensive clinical curriculum in vision therapy through the Optometric Education Program Foundation. Katie has also completed numerous vision therapy courses through Vision Therapy Canada and the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association. Not only has Katie completed extensive training in vision therapy herself, but she has also helped train not only our vision therapists, but also volunteered with the Practical Vision Therapist Accreditation Program and has mentored other vision therapists-in-training across the country.
Katie has a background in psychology and counselling that she has found very applicable to her work as a vision therapist. She is a great listener and will make you feel right at home! We are also so proud to share that Katie completed her Masters in Counselling and Psychology in 2025, and is now a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). She is still working with us while she grows her own business as a Psychotherapist.
Katie loves working with kids, seniors and everyone in between. Whether you're visiting our practice with family or a friend, attending your own therapy session, or simply popped in to say hello, you are sure to hear Katie's laughter and excitement bubbling out of the therapy room. It's hard not to have fun in vision therapy when you've got a therapist like Katie! Her caring, empathetic and compassionate understanding resonates with her therapy patients and always allows them to feel safe (and be a little silly!) during their journey through vision therapy.
Megan DeMarco
Canadian Certified Vision Therapist
Megan joined our team in 2018 and quickly became a full fledged vision therapist. She started her training in the office with Dr. Robinson and Katie, and has now completed the entire clinical curriculum in vision therapy through the Optometric Education Program Foundation, and has achieved her status as a Canadian Certified Vision Therapist through the Practical Vision Therapist Accreditation Program through VIsion Therapy Canada.
Megan has an extensive background as a yoga instructor and is very familiar with biofeedback and the importance of listening to one's body and gaining control from within one's self. She has incorporated her experience with breathing techniques, body awareness and movement, and a restorative healing approach to her vision therapy sessions. It is through her yoga and vision therapy training that she has learned how to facilitate an experience for patients that is built on a journey of self discovery.
Megan helps her patients to discover the source of their tension and resistance in vision, mind and body to reach a place of inner equilibrium. When one can discover new visual abilities within themselves, that is where we start to see the changes in their visual system and in the relationships within that person’s life. You can be sure that you will feel relaxed and at ease with Megan, but don't worry, she also knows how to crank it up a notch with some laughs too!
We are also happy to share that in her personal time Megan has also begun her own journey to completing a Masters in Counselling and Psychology. We look forward to watching her grow through this learning experience and we know the skills she will gain through this program will also benefit the patients she works with in vision therapy.
Danielle Trudell
Vision Therapist & Ontario Certified Teacher
Danielle has been working as a vision therapist with us since 2023. She originally joined the team at our sister office, Saugeen Shores Family Eye Care, in 2020 and has always had a strong interest in becoming a vision therapist, so she was thrilled when the opportunity became available to begin her training. Danielle is a very quick learner and has become an excellent vision therapist, receiving training through the Optometric Education Program Foundation and Emergent VT where she completed two certification courses. She has also received plenty of hands-on training in-office with our senior vision therapists.
Danielle has an extensive background in education, as she is a certified Ontario Primary/Junior Teacher. She loves working one-on-one with people, especially children, to help them develop new skills and realize their full potential. She loves helping people and is incredibly caring and compassionate. She is always thinking of others and will go out of her way to make you feel special. She’s an excellent listener and is very empathetic. Being an educator, Danielle truly sees the importance of vision in learning, and how you need to have good binocular vision skills and visual processing skills to set you up for success with reading and learning.
When Danielle isn’t working as a vision therapist, she loves spending time with her family and friends, and enjoying this beautiful area!
Tiffany Krause
Administrative Assistant
Tiffany is our primary administrative professional! Tiffany has great communication skills and comes with a substantial background working with people of all ages. Staying healthy and active has always been a part of her life, both personally and professionally. She is a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, as well as a dance teacher and choreographer at Sandra Belanger’s dance studio. Some of our team members have been lucky enough to join some of her adult dance classes and we thoroughly enjoy learning from, and dancing with, Tiffany regularly!
In her spare time, Tiffany, her husband and their two children keep very active with their farm and many, many animals. To say she’s an animal lover is an understatement! Tiffany certainly keeps herself very busy with her many passions and we are so glad she has found time to work with us as well.
Tiffany brings a wonderful, honest, and "straight-to-the-point" attitude to our team and we can’t wait for you to get to know her and see her smiling face at our front desk! We are excited for her to help our patients have an excellent experience at our office.
Rachel Gallagher
Administrative Assistant
Rachel joined our team as an administrative assistant in 2019, and she has loved learning more about vision therapy and how it can help so many people. Rachel has a thirst for knowledge and has jumped into her work with us wholeheartedly, so much so that she also works at our sister office, Saugeen Shores Family Eye Care. She has brought laughter, sarcasm and so much joy to both of our offices! She can always lift our spirits and get us all laughing, even at ourselves.
Rachel is an active member of our community and teaches a variety of fitness classes in town. Her favourite class is teaching Spin at Fitness Corner! Rachel loves staying active and spending quality time with her wonderful husband and her incredibly smart and mature daughter. Rachel also loves traveling and exploring new places with her family and friends, and wow does she ever know how to find a good deal on flights!
Rachel has enjoyed getting to know our team and our patients! She is smart, witty, and will always hold the title as our grammar police! Despite making sure our spelling and grammar are immaculate, Rachel is also incredibly easy-going and knows how to "roll with the punches". Rachel definitely enjoys life to the fullest and we are so happy she decided to join our team!