Our Doctors
Our Vision Therapists
Our Administrative Assistants
Dr. Kristen Robinson, BSc, OD, FCOVD
Optometrist & Founder of Saugeen Shores Vision Therapy Centre
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 College of Optometrists in 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 room within her primary care practice and has evolved into what is now Saugeen Shores Vision Therapy Centre. This renovated, much larger space will be able to 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 with special training in vision therapy and rehabilitation, and three vision therapists.
Dr. Robinson is always looking to expand her knowledge in the area of vision therapy and rehabilitation. She has completed numerous post-graduate courses through Vision Therapy Canada, OEPF, and COVD and has earned her post-doctorate Fellowship in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation from the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. 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 Scott and their dog Dazy! She also plays the flute in the Port Elgin Community Band and enjoys going paddle boarding as much as possible in the summer.
Dr. Heather MacKenzie, BSc, OD, FCOVD
Associate Optometrist
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 is excited to become a part of our community and help educate our patients about the important role vision plays in all of our lives.
We are thrilled to have Dr. MacKenzie join our team! Dr. MacKenzie received her Fellowship in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation through the College of Optometrists in Vision Development in 2016. She has extensive experience in vision therapy and rehabilitation, and has practiced in a specialized vision therapy practice for the last four years under some of the country's leading vision therapy optometrists.
Katie MacLeod
Canadian Certified Vision Therapist
Katie has been working as a vision therapist since 2015 along side Dr. Robinson at her original 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 the COVT&R. 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!
Not only has Katie completed extensive training in vision therapy, but she has also helped train our newest vision therapists and was indispensable in the transition from our original practice to our new location. We are also so proud that Katie is now sharing her gift of teaching with the world as she has been actively volunteering with the Practical Vision Therapist Accreditation Program and is mentoring other vision therapists-in-training.
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 of the Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy & Rehabilitation.
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 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!
Jackie Lootsma
Canadian Certified 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.
Jackie 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 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.
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 and be creative, and she will make sure your hard work gets results!
Rachel Gallagher
Administrative Assistant
We are thrilled to have Rachel as part of our work family!
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. She will also be beginning her training as a vision therapist shortly. She has brought laughter, sarcasm and so much joy to our office! 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!
Tiffany Krause
Administrative Assistant
Tiffany is our newest team member and we are so excited to have her join us!
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.
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 our patients 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.