Dr. Nicholas Colatrella, CO-CEO and Medical Director at PineCone Vision Center, recently was named the Optometrist of the Year by the Minnesota Optometric Association (MOA). Dr. Colatrella received his doctorate degree with honors from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. He and Dr. Stacy Hinkemeyer opened PineCone Vision Center in 2004 which now has 6 doctors providing the most memorable and pleasant experience to patients. ?The [MOA] Optometrist of the Year Award recognizes deserving individual doctor of optometry for performance of outstanding services on behalf of the profession and to the visual welfare of the public.? Nominees for the Optometrist of the Year award are judged based several criteria: public service, service to the visual welfare of the public, service to optometry, and service to MOA or state affiliates.
Dr. Colatrella is board certified by the American Board of Optometry and the American Board of Certification in Medical Optometry, and a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry. He was also the first optometrist in the country to attain Diplomate status in Anterior Segment diseases of the eye, from the American Academy of Optometry, and acknowledged as a leader in his field.
Dr. Colatrella has received numerous awards throughout his career including ?Young Optometrist of the Year? in Ohio and Minnesota as well as ?Best and Brightest Forty Under 40? in Vision Monday Magazine. Dr. Colatrella has also held numerous leadership positions and generously gives his time back to the community. Additionally, he has participated in missions to third world countries who are underserved in eye care through Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) whose mission is to bring vision to every person on the planet.
He contributes to his areas of expertise by presenting to professionals and peers, and is a nationally recognized lecturer and published author on the topics of corneal diseases, dry eye, LASIK surgery, cataracts, and glaucoma. He is also an adjunct professor for several Schools and Colleges of Optometry, and routinely mentors optometry student externs.