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Dr. De Rojas is a board-certified, fellowship-trained cataract, refractive and corneal surgeon who also serves as the Director of Cornea and Ocular Surface Disease at Center For Sight. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston College, graduating at the top of his class and from the Honors Program, and then received his medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his surgical internship and ophthalmology residency training at Columbia University Medical Center, where he was Chief Surgical Resident, followed by a Cornea, External Diseases, and Refractive Surgery fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute.

Dr. De Rojas specializes in premium cataract and lens replacement surgery, as well as laser vision correction with LASIK, Epi-LASEK and implantable lenses. He is an expert in the diagnosis and management of severe dry eye and ocular surface disease, Fuchs’ Dystrophy and Keratoconus. Dr. De Rojas employs the most advanced treatments available for his patients including Corneal Cross-Linking and corneal transplantation with Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK). Furthermore, Dr. De Rojas performs minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) and often attends to patients with issues from prior laser, cataract or corneal surgeries.

Dr. De Rojas has extensive scientific research experience, authoring peer-reviewed publications, chapters, reviews, editorials, and paper presentations. In addition, he has presented his research at national and international academic conferences and has received funding from the National Institute of Health. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the International Society of Refractive Surgery.

In his spare time, Dr. De Rojas enjoys exercise, golf, outdoor activities, travel, as well as helping design medical and surgical devices. He and his wife Priya, also an ophthalmologist, and daughter Isabella are new to the area and are happy to call Sarasota home.

Foreign Languages: Spanish (fluent), French (working knowledge)

Locations served: Sarasota, Venice, Englewood

Awards & Honors

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Dr. Banker is a fellowship trained retina surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal disease and ocular oncology. He was the Valedictorian and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Georgetown University, where he completed his undergraduate degree. He was accepted early into medical school and attained his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, graduating Cum Laude. Dr. Banker remained in Washington D.C. to complete his internship at Washington Hospital Center and was selected to serve as the Chief Resident of the Ophthalmology Residency program at Georgetown University Hospital.

Dr. Banker completed his Surgical Retina Fellowship at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, FL; the number-one ranked eye hospital in the United States. While studying at Bascom, Dr. Banker performed extensive research on topics including retinal detachments, ocular trauma, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, macular degeneration and retinal diseases. Dr. Banker has comprehensive training in complex surgical cases, having practiced in a high volume environment with the nation’s leading surgeons at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Dr. Banker is quite active in research and education in the Vitreoretinal field. He has authored several publications and presented research at over twenty national and international academic conferences on subjects such as macular holes, epiretinal membranes and retinal detachments. He has received numerous honors and awards for his work. Most recently, he was named a Retina Society Advocacy Ambassador, he was awarded a research travel grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI), and received the “Resident Excellence Award” from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS). While at Georgetown University Hospital, Dr. Banker was a multi-year recipient of the prestigious “Patient Care Award,” an honor he was nominated for by patients and hospital staff members for excellence in patient care. He also served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Georgetown University Journal of Health Science.

Dr. Banker is a member of the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), the Prevention of Blindness Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Outside of his involvement in professional organizations, he has volunteered his time and surgical expertise at the Agarwal Eye Hospital in India.

Dr. Banker resides in Sarasota, where he enjoys the outdoors, gardening and traveling in his free time.

Locations served: Sarasota, Venice, North Port, Englewood, University Park

Awards & Honors

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Kalie Kosek is a Florida-licensed physician assistant (PA-C) and is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Kalie earned her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies from The University of Florida’s College of Medicine in June 2014. Prior to her graduate schooling, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences from the University of Florida, graduating cum laude.

Physician assistants are healthcare providers who practice in collaboration with their physician. They are, however, independently licensed and do not require the direct supervision of a physician. Kalie has joined the team of John Fezza, M.D., Cosmetic Facial Surgeon at Center for Sight.

Prior to joining Center for Sight, Kalie practiced as a general and cosmetic dermatology physician assistant in Jacksonville, Florida. As a PA working with Dr. Fezza, Kalie performs a broad range of office-based procedures and provides diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative treatments for her patients. She is also qualified to administer today’s modern injectables, including Botox and Juvederm.

She is an active member of the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Florida Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants.

Kalie lives in Sarasota with her husband, Dave, who is a local dentist. Outside of work, Kalie enjoys paddleboarding, playing tennis, traveling, cooking, and watching Gator football.

Locations served: Sarasota, AMARA

Awards & Honors

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Shannon Bednarz is a Florida-licensed Physician Assistant. She works in collaboration with the Director of Dermatology Services at Center For Sight/AMARA, Joshua Newman, M.D. Shannon graduated Cum Laude from the University of Central Florida, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology and Microbiology. She then earned her Master of Clinical Medical Science (MCMS) graduate degree and completed the Physician Assistant program at Barry University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Shannon completed the Diplomate Fellowship program; a prestigious comprehensive training program developed specifically for Physician Assistants working in the field of Dermatology. Physician Assistants with this certification have demonstrated a broad knowledge base of dermatologic conditions and treatment options to offer the highest level of patient care.

Shannon’s previous work experience as a Physician Assistant includes urgent care and family medicine environments, where she was responsible for providing healthcare for patients of all ages. Additionally, prior to her Physician Assistant studies, Shannon worked as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant at Center For Sight. She is thrilled to see her career path lead her back to Center For Sight to work in the newly established AMARA dermatology practice.

Physician Assistants (PAs) are healthcare providers who practice in collaboration with their physician. They are independently licensed and do not require the direct supervision of a physician. As a PA working with Dr. Newman, Shannon offers various medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatologic services, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of the full range of skin diseases, with a keen eye for skin cancer detection.

Shannon is a fellow of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants and a member of the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Locations served: AMARA, Englewood

Dr. Campbell Gaunt is a board-certified optometric physician who has served the Englewood community since 1975. A fifth-generation native of Dunedin, Florida, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dr. Gaunt is a spinning and rowing enthusiast, and a former spinning instructor at the YMCA for seven years. He served in the United States Coast Guard for four years and has combined his commitment for service with his professional skills through participation in the Eyes for the Needy mission to Haiti, as well as mission trips to Mexico and Guatemala. Above all, Dr. Gaunt believes it is an honor and privilege to provide vision care to the people of Englewood.

Dr. Gaunt lives in Englewood with his wife, Patty. Dr. and Mrs. Gaunt have three adult children, Natalie, Alan and Andrew Campbell. Dr. and Mrs. Gaunt are members of The Bridge Church of Venice and are active in the Young Couples Mentoring small group program. An enthusiast of nature and the outdoors, Dr. Gaunt enjoys boating, rowing, camping and hiking, and points proudly to his participation in the New York City Marathon in 1981.

Location served: Englewood

Awards & Honors

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Dr. Lori Long is a board-certified optometric physician who has been practicing optometry in Florida for over 20 years. She has recently returned to practice at Center For Sight, where she began her career. Dr. Long received her Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Education degrees from Millersville University in Pennsylvania, and earned her Doctorate in Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. In addition, Dr. Long completed residency training in ocular diseases at the Lebanon Veterans Administration Medical Center in Pennsylvania, where she was the only optometry resident working alongside eight ophthalmology residents.

Dr. Long is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Florida Optometric Association. Passionate about mission work, she is also a member of Volunteers of Optometry Serving Humanity.

Dr. Long lives in Sarasota with her husband, Steve, and daughter, Risdon. She enjoys reading, cooking, running and yoga.

Location served: Englewood

Awards & Honors

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Dr. Elizabeth McVey is a residency-trained and board-certified optometric physician who provides a wide range of primary eye care to Center For Sight patients. As part of the integrated optometric and ophthalmology physician team, she works cooperatively in the ongoing treatment of macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, cataracts and other ocular diseases.

Her services include vision testing, eyewear prescriptions, contact lenses, vision therapy, and the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases such as glaucoma. In addition, she manages pre-operative testing and follow-up care for both cataract surgery and laser vision correction patients.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Dr. McVey went on to earn her Doctor of Optometry and Master of Science Degree at The Ohio State University College of Optometry in Columbus, Ohio. She also completed a fellowship in binocular vision and pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, and served as an instructor in the College of Optometry. Dr. McVey has donated her time to performing eye exams and dispensing glasses and eye drops in Nicaragua.

In 2017, Dr. McVey received the Garland W. Clay Award; a national award granted by the American Academy of Optometry. The Garland W. Clay Award recognizes distinguished individuals who have impacted and advanced the profession of optometry.

Dr. McVey lives in Venice with her husband, Sean, and four children. As an Ohio State graduate, Dr. McVey is a diehard “Buckeye” fan. When not cheering on her team, she enjoys volleyball, cooking, and reading, as well as enjoying the Florida sun with her family. She is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Florida Optometric Association and the American Academy of Optometry.

Location served: Englewood

Awards & Honors

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