When Kelly Cooper, OD, graduated from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in 2020, the ceremony was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Cooper was devastated to miss this milestone event that she had been looking forward to, but she says that it motivated her, as well, to create something special and set herself apart. “It lit a fire under me to open a practice.”
Dr. Cooper and her future husband (and former lab partner) Phillip DeMott, OD, often talked about where they may want to settle after optometry school. Originally from south Florida, she wanted to be somewhere rural but also near the beach. Dr. DeMott had the perfect location in mind, a town called St. Michaels, Maryland, not far from where he grew up. “I never thought I would find a place like this, with farms on the water,” she says. “We moved up this way and planted our roots.”
She started working as an associate OD nearby, gaining confidence and experience that empowered her ownership journey, and Dr. DeMott purchased a practice founded by his aunt in his hometown. After the office where Dr. Cooper practiced was acquired by private equity, she started considering her next move and felt like an opportunity had presented itself. She had to consider a non-compete clause as she searched for a storefront, and found she was in luck when St. Michaels happened to be just far enough away to open a practice.
WHERE SMALL BUSINESSES SHINE
Dr. Cooper found the future home to Route 33 Eye Care & Optical Boutique in May 2023. In July, construction began to transform the former YMCA dance studio. Dr. Cooper made her goal of opening in 2023 with just days to spare on December 27.
St. Michaels offers a unique place to practice as the entire town is full of small businesses. “People around here really support local. It’s a perfect fit,” Dr. Cooper says. “Every business supports each other. Word of mouth is the biggest thing,” from her neighbors spreading the word to the local marina owner hanging her banner on the dock. “Being from south Florida, I’ve always felt like a little fish in a big pond. I wanted to find a place to practice where I could really bring something unique to the community and fill a need.”
DESIGN DETAILS
Water surrounds St. Michael’s. Dr. Cooper found inspiration on it—in the mallard duck—for the style and design of her space. The office features an Eastern Shore rustic feel inspired by the mallard’s beautiful palette of blues, grays and greens, which highlight the space throughout. The design and style also tie back to the community, where duck hunting is quite popular. The metallic aspect of the duck’s coloring can be found incorporated in details such as mixed metals on cabinets and light fixtures. Dr. Cooper worked closely with designer Ana Betancourt from Karina K Studio. She brought Dr. Cooper’s vision to life.
The space, 2,500 square feet, has four exam lanes, a pretesting room, a lab for same-day glasses and a contact lens fitting suite that is frequently used for specialty contact fits. Her practice is the only one on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that specializes in custom contact lens services. “There’s a huge need for specialty contact lenses; whether they’re for dry eyes, corneal diseases, or just for better vision, we want to provide access to this type of technology.”
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE NEEDED CARE
With her passion for providing access to quality healthcare, Dr. Cooper also does pediatric eye exams. “It is important that the entire family has access to good healthcare. As much as older generations depend on eye care, the future generations depend on us, too.” Dr. Cooper’s personal experience with vision therapy as a child, having dealt with a turned eye, has shaped her understanding of the ocular system. It’s also fueled her passion for helping others. She remembers the challenges she faced growing up. She wants to ensure that children today receive the support and explanations they need to understand their vision issues. “The earlier the intervention, the better.”
At the heart of the practice is her assistant, Betsy. They met at her previous place of employment and have developed a strong bond, Dr. Cooper says. Dr. Cooper feels incredibly fortunate that she chose to follow her as she established her practice. The community has warmly received her commitment to providing an exceptional experience.
Looking ahead, Dr. Cooper plans to turn one of her exam lanes into a dry eye suite. She wants to incorporate advanced treatments like intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy and aesthetic services to enhance their offerings. Additionally, she aims to expand the optical showroom, currently featuring around 450 frames, as the practice grows and evolves.
A CELEBRATION WORTH WAITING FOR
Dr. Cooper proudly shared a special moment with her family and friends at her official grand opening and ribbon cutting event, making up for missing her commencement ceremony. More than 100 people came for the celebration of her new business in January 2024. “It was even more special than graduation would have been,” she says. “I could not have done it without the help and support from my iCare Advisor’s, family and friends.”
Connect with Dr. Cooper and Route 33 Eye Care & Optical Boutique online:
Website: route33eyecare.com
Instagram: @route33eyecare
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