Optometry care residency | veterans affairs

MATTHEW SIMPSON, OD, FAAO ACTING CHIEF OF OPTOMETRY  Dr. Matthew Simpson graduated from the Indiana University School of Optometry in 2007. After graduation, he completed an ocular disease

residency at the Huntington, West Virginia VA Medical Center. Following residency, Dr. Simpson served as a staff optometrist at the Lexington, KY VA Medical Center and the Huntington, WV VA

Medical Center. While at the Huntington VA, Dr. Simpson served in multiple capacities including: student extern program coordinator, optometry residency director and chief of the optometry

service. He became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 2014. He is a member of the Armed Forces Optometric Society and the American Optometric Association. Dr. Simpson served

five years in the Indiana Air National Guard at the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne, Indiana and is currently a Major in the US Army reserve. Dr. Simpson has been in practice at the VA St.

Louis Health Care System since 2015.   KRISTEN BUSKIRK, OD ACTING ASSISTANT CHIEF OF OPTOMETRY Dr. Buskirk was born and raised in Springfield, IL and received a bachelor of science at

Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.  She earned her OD (doctor of optometry) at Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, IL in 2014.  During her optometric training she had external

rotations at Harry S. Truman VA, the University of Kentucky department of ophthalmology, and Family Vision Center.  She completed her ocular disease residency at the Cincinnati VA.   Dr.

Buskirk has spent her entire career at the St. Louis VA.  She enjoys all aspects of optometry and currently splits her time between primary care optometry and low vision optometry.  She is

an active member of the AOA and AFOS.  In her spare time Dr. Buskirk enjoys rooting for the Indiana Hoosiers (!!!), traveling, spending time with her family, and learning to cook. ALLISON

SCHAFERS, OD, FAAO RESIDENT COORDINATOR Dr. Schafers graduated from the University of Missouri –St. Louis College of Optometry in 2016. After graduation she completed her residency training

in primary care at the St. Louis VA Medical Center in 2017.   She serves as adjunct faculty at the UMSL College of Optometry and was the externship coordinator at the St. Louis VA from 2018

to 2019. She became a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry in 2019. Dr. Schafers is a member of the American Optometric Association, National Association of VA Optometrists, Armed

Forces Optometric Society, Missouri Optometry Association, and St. Louis Optometric Society. She serves on the membership committee of the Armed Forces Optometric Society. MY-CHAU NGUYEN, OD

EXTERNSHIP COORDINATOR Dr. Nguyen graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2018 and completed her residency in primary care at the St. Louis VA from 2018-2019. She has been in

practice at the St. Louis VA since 2018 and her areas of interests are primary care and low vision. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the UMSL College of Optometry. Dr. Nguyen is a

member of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the National Association of VA Optometrists (NAVAO). UTHAM BALACHANDRAN, OD, FAAO Dr. Balachandran graduated from the Southern College

of Optometry in 2013. Upon graduation, he completed his Residency at Salus University in Primary Care. Dr. Balachandran is a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry. He participates in

patient care for the Department of Defense at Scott Air Force Base as well as oversees the Compensation and Pension Optometry Clinic at Scott. Dr. Balachandran is also involved in teleretina

examinations for the St. Louis VA. Dr. Balachandran serves as adjunct faculty for the UMSL College of Optometry and is a member of the National Association of VA Optometrists. JENNIFER

SUTTER, OD, FAAO Dr. Sutter graduated in 2014 with clinical honors from the Illinois College of Optometry. She completed her residency at the Marion VAMC in Southern Illinois. Following

residency, she accepted a staff optometrist position at the Evansville Health Care Center (Marion VA). During her time in Evansville she was the externship coordinator, adjunct faculty at

the Indiana University School of Optometry, a member of the visual impairment services team, and volunteered on various committees.  After 4 years in Evansville, Dr. Sutter accepted a

position with the Saint Louis VAMC and is adjunct faculty at the UMSL school of optometry. As a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry she serves on the admittance committee evaluating

submissions from candidates and performing oral examinations at annual meetings.  Dr. Sutter is also a member of the American Optometric Association, Armed Forces Optometric Society,

National Association for VA Optometrists, and Beta Sigma Kappa.   RAMYA NATARAJAN, OD CONTACT LENS COORDINATOR Dr. Natarajan received her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of

Missouri – St. Louis College of Optometry in 2018. She then completed a residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease Management at the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks in

Fayetteville, AR and the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry in 2019. She currently serves as adjunct faculty at the UMSL College of Optometry. Dr. Natarajan is a

member of the American Academy of Optometry, American Optometric Association, and Missouri Optometric Association.  JESSICA HANSON, OD LOW VISION CLINIC COORDINATOR Dr. Hanson earned her

Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences at Minnesota State University, Mankato where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Dr. Hanson then attended Midwestern University Arizona College

of Optometry where she graduated in the top of the 2018 class with multiple clinical honors and a Doctorate in Optometry. Following graduation, Dr. Hanson completed a residency focusing on

ocular disease and primary care at the Marion, IL Veterans Affairs Medical Center. During residency, she had the opportunity to work clinically with student externs and provide low vision

exams. Dr. Hanson is adjunct clinical faculty with the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry. MARY CHIVETTA, OD Dr. Chivetta graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the

University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN.  She earned her Doctorate of Optometry in 2019 from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN.  During her optometric training, she

completed clinical rotations in ocular disease and surgical co- management at Bennett and Bloom Eye Centers in Louisville, KY and in specialty contact lenses at Advanced Eye Care in Tulsa,

OK. After graduation, Dr. Chivetta completed her primary care residency at the St. Louis VA Medical Center in 2020.  She serves as adjunct faculty at the UMSL College of Optometry and is an

active member of the American Academy of Optometry, the American Academy of Optometry, National Association of VA Optometrists, Armed Forces Optometric Society, Missouri Optometric

Association, and St. Louis Optometric Society.