BLOOMINGTON, Ill.—Encouraged by the strong operational performance of its growing portfolio of practices, Keplr Vision has announced the addition of 43 partnerships in the first half of 2021, with 10 of the practices located in Washington state and six in New Mexico. The addition of these new practice organizations increases the Keplr Vision management portfolio to more than 230 locations across more than 30 states, the firm’s announcement late last week noted. “Our alignment with medically-focused, full-scope optometry practices has been a key factor to our stability, resilience and growth,” Keplr Vision chief executive officer Nick Williams said. “The high-quality medical care provided by our partner doctors has become the hallmark of Keplr Vision’s success.”
 
Including its recent partnership transactions, Keplr Vision has now partnered with nearly 300 private practice optometrists who “focus on pushing the practice of optometry forward,” the group noted. The terms of the recent partnership transactions were not disclosed. 
 
Keplr Vision’s strong entrance into the state of Washington is substantiated by partnerships with Dr. Michael Chow and Dr. Joseph Zelasko in the Seattle area, Dr. James Schrader of Everett, Dr. Derek McTyier and Dr. Raj Patel of Vancouver, and Dr. Rick Baxter in Olympia.
 
Dr. Chow’s Northwest Eye Care Network is comprised of West Seattle Vision Clinic, Optic Gallery, Lake Union Vision Clinic and Lakeland Vision Clinic. Reflecting on his February 2021 partnership with Keplr Vision, Dr. Chow said, “Our strategic alliance with joining Keplr Vision has empowered us to retain our founding culture and mission to provide the best patient experience. Moreover, we are now able to provide top-level benefits for all of our teammates that were out of reach before.”
 
Additionally, Keplr Vision has established a formidable presence in New Mexico over the past several months, with partnerships in the Santa Fe and Albuquerque areas.
 
These include Accent Vision Specialists, which is led by Dr. Dwight Thibodeaux, Dr. Paul Tachau and Dr. Sean Hamashige. It encompasses some of the most advanced medical eye health assessment and finest eyewear collections in the Santa Fe area, according to the Keplr Vision announcement. “We built our practice around offering leading-edge technology and full-scope eyecare,” Dr. Thibodeaux said. “Our partnership with Keplr Vision not only aligns with that objective but strengthens it.”
 
Also in New Mexico, Dr. Bobby Jarrell and his wife Robin founded Orbit Eye Care Group in 2003. The single-office expanded to three locations over the next 10 years, providing exceptional care to patients across Albuquerque’s North Valley, Westside and Los Alamos neighborhoods.
 
“Starting with our humble beginnings, our guiding principles have always been centered around service and integrity, and I have seen those same qualities and substance in Keplr Vision,” Dr. Jarrell said.  He has served on the board of trustees for the Southwest Council of Optometry, the New Mexico Optometric Association, and various committees of the American Optometric Association. Before moving to Albuquerque, he served five years in the U.S. Army with tours of duty in Korea, Kosovo, and with the Army’s elite 101st Airborne Division.
 
In California, Dr. Gary Gold in Silicon Valley also partnered with Keplr Vision in April 2021. Dr. Gold leads a team of six optometrists with the distinction of the oldest small business in Downtown Sunnyvale.
 
“Our office has a strong history and presence in our community,” Dr. Gold said. “Keplr Vision provided me with a partnership that not only preserves my legacy as an optometrist, but also one that embraces the cutting edge technology, exceptional service and premier eyewear required in the high-tech area we serve.”

Through a collaborative partnership model, Keplr Vision offers OD partners robust business support services and supply chain management that allows doctors to focus on their practice and their patients while retaining their legacy, the announcement noted. For more information about partnerships with Keplr Vision, contact chief growth officer Claude Labeeuw at (415) 381-5845.