Dr. Anthony McDonald
A graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Dr. McDonald has extensive experience in primary eye care, glaucoma treatment, and pre- and post-operative care for Lasik and cataract surgery patients, and contact lenses. As a former teacher and father of three, he has cultivated a large pediatric patient relationship. Having been trained in sports vision and vision therapy through the Baltimore Academy of Behavioral Optometry (BABO), he integrates his appreciation for sports, learning, and his desire to see children succeed. Dr. McDonald is a charter member of Lakeville Rotary, the Paul Harris Fellowship, and the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife Patti have received the Business Persons of the Year award from the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce that they have been members of since 1986. Dr. McDonald served on the Lakeville Community Corp for fifteen years and was instrumental in the building of Ames Hockey Arena in Lakeville.
Dr. Molly McDonald (Staack)
President, Vision Performance Center of Minnesota
Dr. Molly McDonald is a developmental optometrist passionate about helping patients unlock their full visual potential – whether improving reading and learning, recovering from concussion, or gaining a competitive edge in sports. As President of the Vision Performance Center of Minnesota, she leads a team dedicated to advancing vision therapy, sports vision training, and neuro-optometric rehabilitation.
A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Optometry (2012), Dr. Molly’s clinical experience spans primary eye care, contact lens management, and ocular disease treatment. Early in her career, she worked at Minnesota Eye Consultants, focusing on cataract, corneal, and glaucoma surgical care, and co-authored chapters in Limbal Relaxing Incisions: A Practical Guide alongside Drs. David Hardten and Richard Lindstrom. Her expertise also includes pre- and post-operative LASIK management and complex refractive care.
Dr. Molly’s passion for vision therapy was inspired by joining her father, Dr. Anthony McDonald, in the specialty he has practiced since 1991. Together, they have continued to expand and innovate in the field of behavioral and neuro-optometric care, helping patients strengthen how their eyes, brain, and body work together. Through advanced training with the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF), she has furthered her expertise in treating patients with convergence insufficiency, amblyopia, post-concussion visual dysfunction, and visual processing difficulties – helping patients see not just better, but better for life.
Her clinical interests naturally extend into the world of athletics. Drawing from her background as a Division I women’s hockey player at Cornell University and as the inaugural Herb Brooks Award recipient, Dr. Molly brings a unique understanding of the visual demands placed on athletes. She now serves as a vision consultant for the Seattle Kraken and Nashville Predators, helping professional hockey players optimize their visual performance on the ice.
Named “Young Optometrist of the Year” by the Minnesota Optometric Association and Lakeville’s “Best Eye Doctor” by Reader’s Choice, Dr. Molly is honored to serve the Lakeville community that shaped both her athletic and professional journey.
Outside the office, Dr. Molly enjoys spending time with her husband Luke, their daughters Lainey and Liza, sons Eli and Zeke, and their dog Shooter. She’s thrilled to stay involved in the Lakeville hockey community – this time from behind the bench and in the cheering section.
Dr. Meg McDonald (Mains)
Born and raised in Lakeville, Dr. Meg takes pride in serving her community. Dr. Meg is a graduate of Lakeville North High School. She spent her undergraduate years at The University of Wisconsin- Madison where she was the captain of the UW Dance Team. After a year of working as an optician and gaining experience in all aspects of a private practice, she went to optometry school in PA. She graduated from Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University with honors in 2017. She has extensive training in primary care, specialty contact lenses, pediatrics, and treating ocular diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and dry eye.
Dr. Meg enjoys being involved in the community. Her free time is spent with her husband Anthony, sons AJ, Macklin and Grady, and their dogs Luci and Dutchie.
Dean Bruemmer
dean@vpcmn.com
Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Therapist / Sports Vision Specialist
A graduate of Winona State University and Warrior Football team member, Dean Bruemmer brings an enthusiasm for problem-solving to his patients. Certified through the Baltimore Academy of Behavior Optometry (BABO), Dean works one-on-one with 25+ patients per week while specializing in TBI, Autism and Sports Vision. Over the past few years, Dean has had the opportunity for advancement in Sports Vision by assessing the athletes for the Washington Redskins at the NFL combine as well as those who participated in the Jr. Olympics. He attended sports vision training at Harvard Medical School and the Human Performance Lab at the US Air Force Academy. Individually, he has worked with several players from the NHL to develop their visual skill to perform at a higher level on the ice. He is currently training athletes remotely in Canada, Russia and across the USA. His patient base ranges from 5 years of age to 82. Dean currently resides in Lakeville with his wife, Kelsey, and children, Trey and Aubrey. Dean enjoys playing golf in the summer. Dean has recently attended and completed The Sanet Seminars which was a year long process to further his continuing education in neuro-optometric rehabilitation therapy.
Bjorn Carlson
bjorn@vpcmn.com
Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Therapist / Sports Vision Specialist
Bjorn is a graduate of St. Olaf College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Science. He played on the Varsity men’s soccer team all four years while attending St. Olaf. He joined the practice in November of 2009 and has attended training at Harvard Medical School- Sports Vision Symposium, and at the Human Performance Lab at the U.S. Air Force Academy. His clinical training includes VT I (Visual Dysfunctions), VT II (Learning Related Visual Problems), VT III (Strabismus & Amblyopia), Traumatic/Acquired Brain Injury and Autism through the Optometric Extension Program. Bjorn has worked with athletes at the Junior Olympics, and many local athletes at the youth and college level. He is currently working with a number NHL players and teams. Bjorn lives in Plymouth with his wife, Elizabeth, son, Finnbjorn and daughter, Annika. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, and spending time at the cabin.
Nicole Hoagland
nicole@vpcmn.com
Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Therapist
Nicole Hoagland (Valencia) joined the practice in June of 2015 following her graduation from St. Olaf College. Originally a vision therapy patient, Nicole understands the patient’s perspective and has a passion for making the activities engaging and enjoyable. She enjoys serving people of all ages and abilities. Her favorite part of patient care is helping others to achieve their goals. It is a joy to see patients exceed their expectations, like when kids who struggle to read turn into enthusiastic bookworms, or when vision exercises help recover a portion of lost visual field for a patient post-stroke.
Nicole is certified in the full clinical curriculum of courses through the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF) and has completed additional coursework through the Southwest Congress of Optometry and the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) on the topics of post-concussion and Autism.
Nicole and her husband live in Apple Valley with their sons, Jonathan and Joshua. She is a guardian to her two special-needs siblings, who have taught her the joy of connecting with others in their own unique ways. Nicole is an avid reader, a weekly Bible study attendee, and a frequent volunteer in the church nursery. She loves spending her time outside of work with family.
Michelle Schmitz
michelle@vpcmn.com
Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Therapist
Michelle joined the practice in July 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Minnesota Crookston and is fully certified in the complete clinical curriculum offered by the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF). She has a particular passion for learning-related visual dysfunctions and is committed to helping patients overcome the challenges they face.
With a strong background in child development and behavioral management, Michelle brings both expertise and compassion to her work. She enjoys connecting with people of all ages and abilities, and her favorite part of patient care is seeing individuals achieve their goals. Nothing makes her day more than watching her love of reading spark enthusiasm in her patients!
Michelle lives in Cannon Falls with her husband, Aaron. When she’s not working—or devouring a cheesy romance novel—she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, especially over a competitive board game night. A true local at heart, Michelle loves discovering new restaurants and supporting small businesses in the community. When she’s not out exploring, you’ll likely find her in the kitchen baking something delicious or stitching up a bit of sass with her latest cross-stitch project.