Once upon a time, in a place not far from where this post is being written, two ophthalmologists met, and little did they know that they would form not only a friendship, but an alliance. An alliance that would change the face of patient care in the world of ophthalmology, and one that would bring a crew of eyecare lovers together to serve and help those in need. They may have been born in different states, led different lives, and joined two different branches of the armed forces, but there is one thing they have always had in common: An extraordinary, otherworldly passion for patient care and serving those in need. Here is the origin story of how Dr. Matthew Hammond and Dr. Michael Herion, the two mighty MHs (And yes, they do have the same initials), came together to bring Carrot LASIK and Eye Center to life on August 15th, 2019.
So, how was that? I know it’s not quite as extravagant an intro as a superhero movie, but I think it illustrates how two amazing doctors came together to form the amazing office that I get to work at every week. While I was not there on opening day when we welcomed our first patient through the door, I have had the honor and pleasure of working alongside Dr. Herion and Dr. Hammond for the past three and a half years, and during that time I have come to deeply understand who Carrot is, not only as a medical practice, but as a place of learning, teaching, and compassion, for both the employees and the patients. For our five year anniversary, I thought we would mix our usual blog post up and tell you all about this wonderful practice that I have been a part of for almost four years, and hope to be a part of for a long time to come. I thought I would start with telling you a little bit about our fearless leaders, their backstories, how they came to meet and form Carrot, and also give you some insight into the Carrot Crew that works hard every day to help establish a private ophthalmology practice that offers not only advanced care and technology, but also delivers that care with compassion, kindness, and love. So, without further ado, let’s venture into the past before we learn about what Carrot has in store for the future.
Dr. Michael Herion: Veteran and Multifaceted Physician
When I take the time to consider all that I have come to know about Dr. Michael Herion, I find it hard not to be impressed, not only by his many exceptional accomplishments as a Lt. Col. in the Air Force Reserves, a skilled ophthalmologist and vein physician, and wonderful employer, but as by his humility and willingness to teach and serve others. Okay, I know that sounds cheesy, and while I am paid to work for our wonderful Dr. Herion, I have never felt as if I am someone below him, but rather, I have always been treated as an equal team member at our small but mighty office. As someone that has a disabled child, and medical issues of my own, I have spent a lot of time in doctors offices, hospitals, and care centers, so I have come to know many physicians and their personalities. I can say that while there are many exceptions to the stereotypical doctor-type; You know what I mean, the one that has no sympathy, terrible bedside manners, and a lack of empathy for their patients, there is a reason that stereotype has been perpetuated throughout the years. While there are many reasons why healthcare workers have a focus that isn’t providing compassionate care for their patients (And trust me, I know there are many reasons those in the healthcare system become callus to the field), regardless of the reason, as a somewhat professional patient, I can say that how I am treated by my doctors can change the trajectory of my life, for the better, or for the worse. Now, what did I go on that little tangent? Well, simply because I wanted to illustrate that Dr. Michael Herion is not your stereotypical doctor, and along with Dr. Hammond, he has proven that there are doctors out there that can be the exception to the rule. Before I get into what makes Dr. Herion exceptional, let’s take a quick look at what he has accomplished, not only in his professional life as both an ophthalmologist, but also a vein doctor, but also in his personal life, as a husband, sibling, and proud pet owner.
I’m sure most of us have heard the phrase, “A jack of all trades, but a master of none”, referring to the fact that most people cannot be great at everything they set out to accomplish, but rather end up being mediocre at most things, especially when they spread their focus too thin on too many endeavors. How can a person master everything they try? Well, Michael Herion happens to be one of those people that has become a master at all of his professional aspirations, including being a doctor, not only of ophthalmology, but of veins, as well as a published author of medical literature, a decorated Air Force veteran, and the owner of the best ophthalmology practice in the entire world. Okay, the last part may be a biased opinion, but what can I say, my confidence in our practice is unwavering. Dr. Herion attended Arizona State University for his undergraduate degree (Don’t worry, we still love our Wildcat patients), then attended Saint George’s University School of Medicine for medical school, Saint Louis University for his residency in ophthalmology, finishing with a fellowship in retinal disease at The Retina Group Ltd. Basically, not only did he attend a thousand years of medical school, but he also decided to go even further and specialize in retinal disease, with even more learning and training. Let’s also not forget that Dr. Herion, along with being an accomplished ophthalmologist, he has also been trained and certified as a vascular doctor, having treated those with venous diseases and conditions. Dr. Herion’s training in vascular conditions was done while serving our country as a Lt. Col. in the United States Air Force Reserces, and he even received an Air Force Commendation Medal for his service and contributions in the Global War on Terror.
Color me impressed, right? Not only has he been able to reach all of these admirable professional goals, but he has done all of the above with a kind, humble, and compassionate attitude, not only towards his patients, but also his coworkers and employees. I have had the pleasure of working under Dr. Herion for a little over three and half years, and in that time I have come to see that the humility and kindness I witnessed from Dr. Herion when I first came to the practice is indeed who he truly is as a person, an employer, and an accomplished physician. I knew that I was working for an exceptional doctor when every single patient of his sang his praises when they came into our office, whether they were coming in for a routine eye exam, retinal injections, cataract surgery, or refractive surgery. As all of our patients know, Michael Herion has a way of making you feel like family, even after spending only minutes with him.
Okay, before we say too much and let it all go to his head (Even though I know nothing ever does), let’s learn more about our other exceptional doctor, Dr. Matthew Hammond.
Dr. Matthew Hammond: Army Man and Energizer Bunny
“How’s it going, team?”. Anyone that has worked for Dr. Matthew Hammond has probably heard that phrase more times than they can count, and it usually is accompanied by running after him while he starts his day juggling surgery and clinic patients. I remember when I first started at Carrot, and I was being trained by one of the technicians that helped out in both clinic and refractive surgery, and I distinctly remember being amazed that she could be working with a patient, and yet she would be able to tell exactly where Dr. Hammond was in the office; And it was all by the sound of him rushing around the office. Not only was I amazed that my trainer appeared to be able to hear a pin drop from across the office, but I was amazed that not only was Dr. Hammond able to see so many patients in the day, surgical and non-surgical, but he was able to do it efficiently, with compassion and kindness, and with the energy of a thousand suns (Seriously, I still don’t know where he gets the energy from). I realize now that after almost four years of working with Dr. Hammond, that I, like my trainer before me, am now able to tell where Dr. Hammond is in the clinic, just by the way he walks/gallops down the hallways, how he opens doors, and how he is always checking on his staff and his patients. Now, why do I bring up how he appears to have the energy of ten people all in one? Well, it helps me understand just how he has been able to accomplish all he has throughout his life, which is actually quite impressive (Also, don’t tell him I said that!). Before we finally get into how Carrot came to be, let’s learn a little more about Matthew Hammond, the Energizer Bunny.
Dr. Hammond is originally from Logan, Utah, which is where he opened his first practice and began seeing patients. After attending Utah State University for his undergrad, and George Washington University for medical school, Dr. Hammond completed his internship and residency in ophthalmology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. As you probably guessed, Dr. Hammond is also a military man, like Dr. Herion, however, he has been active duty army for many years, and has accomplished great things in the armed forces, including being the Chief of Ophthalmology and leader of the Warfighter Refractive Program at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, serving in the Global War on Terror, and receiving a Meritorious Service Medal and the Humanitarian Award for relief work after Hurricane Katrina. Along with these amazing achievements, Dr. Hammond was also raising a family of five children, four boys and one wonderful little girl (Okay, they are all amazing, but us girls have to support each other!), and was able to successfully relocate from Logan, Utah to Arizona and start serving the community here in Mesa. In fact, Mesa, Arizona is not only the location of Carrot today, but it is the city in which Dr. Hammond and Dr. Herion came to not only work together, but come to realize that they shared a vision for what healthcare should look like; And this is how Carrot LASIK and Eye Center came to fruition.
Carrot LASIK and Eye Center: From Then to Now
The world of ophthalmology and optometry is actually a small world, and as many healthcare providers across many disciplines know, most specialists know each other, even if they have never worked together. And here in Arizona, that is no exception in ophthalmology. In fact, over the past decade or so, many of the ophthalmology practices here in the state have been purchased by large private equity companies, and many practices have been brought together under this managed care system. Now, I am not here to speak any negativity against any practice, as I believe patients have the right to make their own decisions about their healthcare providers and whether they wish to continue their care with them. However, what I will say is that while there may be amazing and compassionate doctors working in these larger managed care companies, there are times when patients can feel more like a number, rather than a person that is seeking medical attention and care. This is not usually the fault of an individual doctor, but rather due to the fact that larger managed care organizations, or MCOs, can be focused more on their bottom dollar, rather than the actually care that patients are receiving on a day-to-day basis. And it is due to this disappointing fact that when Dr. Hammond and Dr. Herion met, they knew that their vision of being able to treat every patient like family, and to get to know ALL of their patients on a more personal level, meant they were going to have to forge their own path and start their own practice; Carrot Eye Center, as it was called when we first opened.
Before Carrot could open its doors and see its first patient on August 15th, 2019, our doctors knew they had to assemble a team of individuals that felt the same way they did about patient care, from the person greeting patients at the front desk, to the technicians working the patients up, to the person handing them the instruments in surgery, and so Carrot grew from two men, to a team of six, and it has only grown since then. Our doctors knew from the beginning that they wanted to commit to not only having the most compassionate, kind, and knowledgeable staff, but they also wanted to ensure our office had the most up-to-date and state-of-the-art equipment, which is one of the reasons I believe Carrot is unlike any other ophthalmology practice in the state of Arizona, if not in the nation. I know, I know, that sounds like quite the braggadocious brag, but I’ll get into why I can say that with confidence here shortly. But I can say with great confidence that the technology and equipment that we have at Carrot is truly the best-of-the-best, and one great example of why that is true: We are currently the only office in the state of Arizona that can perform the SMILE procedure. Not only is the VisuMax laser able to perform this incredible and minimally invasive refractive procedure, but it also allows our doctors to perform LASIK in the safest way possible, creating a flap in the fastest and least invasive way possible. As Dr. Hammond tells all our refractive patients, it is not okay for patients to be having LASIK done on 20 year-old lasers (Yes. There are many practices still using lasers that are older than some of their patients.), so we have ensured that we always have the safest, and most beneficial equipment for our patients.
Although I was not there when we first opened our doors, I can say that from the beginning, Dr. Herion and Dr. Hammond have thought through every detail possible to try to ensure that every patient who comes through our office knows that we will care for them in the same way we would care for our own family members: From a smaller waiting room, as we never want our patients to wait for more than a couple minutes, to multiple patient rooms that are big enough for patients to bring a family member for support, to requiring their technicians to continue their learning and receive their certification as Ophthalmic Assistants, to ensure that all patients are being cared for by the most knowledgeable staff in the field. And since our doctors know that the field of medicine is always changing, they know they need to continually address any new details or changes that may make Carrot a better healthcare office, so know that we are always doing our best to make the patient experience the best in the business. And this is really something that I want to focus on for a second, and go back to why I feel like I can brag and say that I work at the best ophthalmology practice… well, anywhere, in my very humble opinion.
Our doctors and our staff care about our patients above all else. While Carrot is a business, and while we obviously do what we need to do to keep our lovely and pretty newly renovated doors open, what we care about most is the patient experience. This is the reason that I have been at Carrot LASIK and Eye Center for the past (almost) four years, and why I will be here until they kick me out, and I will go kicking and screaming. But as I was saying, what I believe sets us apart from any other medical practice, whether it be ophthalmology or any other specialty, is the care and concern we have for every single patient that walks through our doors. I know that so many offices out there claim excellent patient care, and while there are many that are excellent, how I know we truly deliver on patient care, is what I hear directly from our patients. It is when we get patients that have been with Dr. Herion for the past decade that say they will follow him wherever he goes, and when patients come in from Utah and other states just to see Dr. Hammond and get an eye exam from him, that I know what we have at Carrot is something special. It is when I walk through the office and can hear other technicians talking with patients, not just about what is going on with their health, but also asking them how they have been since they last saw them, and remembering the important things from their personal lives. And it is when I see our doctors spend as much time as very individual patient needs with them, to not only ensure they understand their eye health, but to ensure they know that we care about them as people, not just another number or dollar sign.
When I started in the medical field almost six years ago, I really had no idea where optometry or ophthalmology would take me, but I did know one thing: I wanted to work for doctors that cared for their patients as much as I care for them. Having a medically fragile and disabled child, and having chronic issues myself, has led me to many doctors offices over the years, and I have seen a wide spectrum of healthcare providers over that time. While I would love to say that every experience my daughter and I have had have been good ones, that would be a far cry from the truth. In fact, I have spent years being ignored, downplayed, and even belittled by doctors and healthcare offices, and ultimately, that is what led me into healthcare. I knew from the first day I started working in optometry that I would make it my personal goal to provide patients with the best care possible, whether that means spending more time with them, listening to their stories about their personal lives, being a shoulder to cry on, or to be the efficient tech they need that day (Okay, while I can be efficient, my coworkers will tell you that I tend to chat maybe just a little too much. But hey, we learn and we grow!). Why do I say all of this? Simply because I want to illustrate that Carrot LASIK and Eye Center has been the fulfillment of everything I believe patient care should be, and not only that, but they have exemplified what an employer should be. Every day I get to walk through the doors, I get to work with doctors and coworkers that love what they do, and love the people they do it for. I get to laugh, joke, encourage and share with the people I have come to call my family, all while doing what I love; Serving those in need.
Where Is Carrot Going?
I hope that through reading this post you have been able to see just how much I care about our small, but mighty office, and how much we truly care about you. I know I may not have focused too much on what we do as an office, and while I’ll touch on that just a little before we wrap up, what I really wanted to focus on was who our founders are, and why we do what we do. We do what we do because we love people! Although we focus on your eyes and sight, we are here for you as a person as well, so know that you can always reach out, no matter what! Carrot will continue to be here for all your eyecare needs, including routine eye exams for glasses and contacts, medical eye exams to monitor conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, and we will always be here to perform your refractive and cataract surgeries.
One more thing I would like to share with you before I go, is something that we as a Carrot team came up with at our company retreat we had just a few days before I started writing this post, and it is the “Why” statement that we came up with. We spent a good amount of time really considering and thinking on why we do what we do, and after going through many iterations, this is what we came up with,
“To provide unparalleled and individualized care with compassion and integrity, so that patients feel educated and empowered to participate in their care as part of our Carrot Family.”
Dr. Herion, Dr. Hammond, and out entire staff want you to know that while Carrot may have new goals in the future, like all practices, our first and primary goal will always be to ensure we are treating every patient with respect, kindness, dignity, and the compassion that we would treat our own family and friends. Please know that we are here for all of you, your awesome eyeballs, and anything you need! If you’re already part of the family, we can’t wait to see you at your next appointment, and if you’ll be new to us when you come in; Welcome to the Carrot Family!
