Meet Our Optometrists
South Florida Vision offers state-of-the-art eye care delivered by board-certified optometrists and licensed opticians who truly care. Our optometry experts are available to help with all your eye care needs and find just the right frames or contacts to fit your unique lifestyle.
Mitchell S. Biderman, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Mitchell Biderman received a bachelor of science in chemistry from Brooklyn College in 1975, and his doctor of optometry from SUNY in 1979. He is TPA-certified in Florida and New York. Dr. Biderman is fluent in English and Spanish.
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Diana P. Camargo, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Diana Camargo received dual bachelor of science degrees – in science and vision science – from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, followed by her doctor of optometry at Nova’s College of Optometry in 2007. She has volunteered her time, performing vision screenings for Special Olympics athletes in Tampa and Davie, Florida, in addition to other ocular charitable work.
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Robert C. Coppola, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Robert Coppola is a board-certified optometrist with more than 35 years of experience in the field. He founded South Florida Vision Centers in 1985. He specializes in geriatric vision, vision rehabilitation, and fitting patients for specialty contact lenses, bifocals, toric, and ketatokonic lenses.
Dr. Coppola received his bachelor of science in biology from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, in 1979. He received his doctor of optometry in 1984 from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee.
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Janel Felipe, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Janel Felipe received her bachelor of health science from Florida International University in 2006. Dr. Felipe received her doctor of optometry from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry in 2012, where she also serves as an affiliated professor. Dr. Felipe is fluent in English and Spanish.
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Harold Mark Forrest, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Harold Mark Forrest is a board-certified optometrist. He received a bachelor of arts from SUNY in Albany, New York, in 1973. He then received a bachelor of science and doctor of optometry from Illinois College of Optometry in 1976 and 1977.
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Pavel Gazdovich, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Pavel Gazdovich received his bachelor of science from the University of Buffalo in 2008, and his doctor of optometry from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, in 2014. He is fluent in English, Ukranian, and Russian. Dr. Gazdovich is proficient in Spanish, as well.
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Farwah Haq, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Farwah Haq is an optometrist with a variety of work experiences in the field. She received a bachelor of science from University of Florida in Gainesville in 2006. Dr. Haq received her doctor of optometry from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Launderdale in 2010. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Urdu.
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Quoc Nam Huynh, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Nam Huynh is an optometrist who received a bachelor of science from Nova Southeastern University in 2013, and his doctor of optometry from SUNY College of Optometry in 2017.
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William H. Kahn, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. William Kahn is an optometrist with more than 50 years’ experience in the field. He received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University, followed by his doctor of optometry from Southern College of Optometry in 1965.
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Kurt G. Kull, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Kurt Kull is an optometrist who received two undergraduate degrees, in political science and biology, from Florida Atlantic University in 2007 and 2010. Dr. Kull went on to earn his bachelor of vision science and doctor of optometry from Nova Southeastern University in 2012 and 2014.
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Michele Holland McLin, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Michele Holland McLin received her bachelor of science in microbiology and molecular biology from the University of Central Florida in Orlando in 2003. She received a bachelor of science in vision science and doctor of optometry from Nova Southeastern University in 2008 and 2012. She performs advanced rotation in glaucoma and advanced imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT).
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Shari Neufeld, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Shari Neufeld is an optometrist who is licensed in Florida, New York, and New Jersey. She received her undergraduate degree from Columbia University’s Barnard College in New York in 1987. Dr. Neufeld then earned her master of science in vision science, along with her doctor of optometry, from SUNY College of Optometry in 1992. She is proficient in Spanish.
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Ashley Nochomson, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Ashley Nochomson received her bachelor of science from University of Florida at Gainesville in 1999. She earned her doctor of optometry from Nova Southeastern University in 2005. She has worked in South Florida since earning her OD.
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Joseph O’Connor, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Joseph O’Connor is an optometrist with a passion for improving his patients’ quality of life with the right type of vision correction. Dr. O’Connor received a bachelor of science in biology from the Governors State University in University Park, Illinois. He received his doctor of optometry from the Rosenberg School of Optometry in San Antonio, Texas.
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Russell J. Raye, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Russell Raye is a board-certified optometrist who received his undergraduate degree from Kent State University in Ohio, followed by his doctor of optometry from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1978.
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Sherri Rockower, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Sherri Rockower is an optometrist with more than a dozen years’ experience in the field. She received her bachelor of science in biology from Florida State University in Tallahassee in 1999, followed by a master of science in biomedicine from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton in 2003. Dr. Rockower earned her doctor of optometry from Nova Southeastern University in 2008.
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Matthew Rodriguez, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Matthew Rodriguez earned a bachelor of science from the Virginia Military Institute in 2010, where he was recognized with the Academic Distinction award. He received his doctor of optometry from Nova Southeastern University in 2014. He has worked with South Florida Vision since earning his OD.
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Patricia Ruiz, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Patricia Ruiz is an optometrist who received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida International University in 2013. She received a bachelor of science in vision science and her doctor of optometry from Nova Southeastern University in 2017. Dr. Ruiz is fluent in English and Spanish.
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Heather R. Schaffer, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Heather Schaffer received a bachelor of science in human biology from the University of Kansas in 2001, and a bachelor of science in biology from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, in 2003. Dr. Schaffer received her doctor of optometry from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2005. She joined South Florida Vision in 2008.
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Scott H. Schecter, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Scott Schecter specializes in optometry, with more than 32 years of experience in the field of medicine. He graduated from New England College of Optometry with his medical degree in 1989.
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Ingrid Simshauser, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Ingrid Simshauser received her bachelor of science in biology from the University of South Florida in Tampa in 1990 and her doctor in optometry from Nova Southeastern University in 1994. Her clinical rotations included geriatric and low vision care.
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Claudia Soto, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Claudia Soto is an optometrist who earned her undergraduate degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2006, and her doctor of optometry from NSU College of Optometry in 2013. She is certified in vision shaping therapy (VST), retainer contact lenses worn during sleep for gentle corneal reshaping. Dr. Soto is fluent in English and Spanish.
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Christopher Tran, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Christopher Tran is an optometrist who has been professionally involved in the industry since 2011. He received his bachelor of science in biology from Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Georgia, in 2011. Dr. Tran then earned his bachelor’s in vision science and doctor of optometry from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in 2017 and 2019. He has received certifications in bloodborne pathogen training and Paragon corneal refractive therapy (CRT). Dr. Tran is fluent in English and Vietnamese.
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Karen Villagomez, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Karen Villagomez received a bachelor of science in biology from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 2002. She then received her bachelor of science in vision science and doctor of optometry from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale in 2006 and 2007.
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Ronie J. Zaruches, OD
Doctor of Optometry
Dr. Ronie Zaruches is an optometrist with more than 35 years’ experience in the field. Dr. Zaruches received a bachelor of arts from Brooklyn College in 1978, followed by a bachelor of science and doctor of optometry from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1985.
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Schedule your visit with a South Florida Vision optometrist by contacting the optometry location nearest you – or simply request an appointment now.
