Our Doctors
William J. Dungan, O.D.
Dr. Dungan founded our practice in 2007. He received his Doctorate of Optometry degree and Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University School of Optometry. Dr. Dungan also majored in Chemistry while attending Eastern Kentucky University. While attending IU, he served as president of the Fellowship of Christian Optometrists and published a research paper on Accommodative Testing. While at IU, he served as an Associate Instructor in Diagnostic Procedures of Optometry, teaching underclassmen the skills needed to perform a proficient ocular examination.
He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the South Carolina Optometric Association. He has been recognized by Marchon, Inc. as a leader in the optometric field for offering superior product selections and customer service. He has also been recognized by the Management and Business Academy for providing legendary patient care.
Fun facts about Dr. Dungan
- Dr. Dungan’s Saturday morning routine consists of some quiet reading on his front porch, followed by a bike ride to a local coffee shop for breakfast and coffee, then walking around the Farmer’s Market in downtown Summerville.
- His favorite song is “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding.
- Dr. Dungan loves to renovate old historic houses as a hobby.
- Dr. Dungan’s favorite patient memory is from early on in his career, he thought he saw a possible tumor in the back of a patient’s eye, although she had no symptoms. The patient was a young woman with young children. Dr. Dungan lost sleep for weeks worrying about her and what the outcome would be. He is glad to report that after great treatment at Duke University she is now in remission and doing wonderfully!
Jessica Spearing, O.D.
Dr. Spearing grew up just north of Pittsburgh, PA, and attended college at Ohio University, where she received her Bachelor of Science. She then moved to Philadelphia, PA to complete her Doctorate of Optometry Degree at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University where she received Clinical Honors in both Primary Care and Low Vision and Rehabilitation. Upon graduation, she also received a faculty-nominated award for Clinical Excellence in Primary Care.
Dr. Spearing is a member of the American Optometric Association and provides comprehensive eye exams including the treatment and management of ocular diseases. During her last year as a student, Dr. Spearing participated in a clinical rotation in the Charleston area and decided she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. She and her Dalmatian, Remi, moved south, and love spending time outdoors and at the beach.
Fun facts about Dr. Spearing
- Dr. Spearing likes to spend her Saturdays at the beach relaxing, hanging out with her dog Remi and trying out different local restaurants.
- Her favorite song is I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston
- Dr. Spearing’s favorite hobby is reading crime/mystery books and going for bike rides.
- Her favorite patient memory is helping a young boy in a low vision clinic who was having difficulty in school due to a congenital disorder affecting his vision. Providing the right glasses and devices to maximize his vision really helped him not only with his schoolwork but also navigating on the playground and at home. It was a great experience watching him make the most out of the remaining vision he had!
Kelsey Smith, O.D.
Dr. Smith grew up in Toronto, Canada, and received her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Medicine and Physiology. She then moved to Boston, MA where she earned her Doctorate of Optometry at the New England College of Optometry. While in Optometry School, she served on the executive team for the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association NECO Chapter. She received honors in her primary care and advanced care rotations.
Dr. Smith is a member of the American Optometric Association whose clinical interests include ocular disease management and surgical co-management. She moved to the Charleston area from Colorado and is excited to trade the mountains for the oceanside and explore all the history, food, and culture Charleston offers.
Fun facts about Dr. Smith
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Dr. Smith’s ideal Saturday includes kayaking or a hike, exploring downtown, and enjoying a good meal
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Her favorite song is Landslide by The Chicks
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Dr. Smith’s favorite hobbies include trying new recipes in the kitchen and reading
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Her favorite patient memory was seeing an elderly woman for an exam after she had failed the visual requirements for renewing her driver’s license. I was able to let her know there was an issue with her lenses following her cataract surgery and send her back to the surgeon to clear the film over her lenses. After that, we were able to update her glasses prescription and get her back her driver’s license and her independence.
Jessica Palmer, O.D.
Dr. Palmer grew up just North of Tampa, FL. She majored in Chemistry in undergrad at USF Tampa. She Then Attended IU School of Optometry and worked in the Ocular Lens research lab and Pediatric/binocular vision research lab. She Was Vice President of the Private Practice Club for 2 years. She is currently a member of AOA, SCOPA, OVDRA and NORA. Dr. Palmer also represents SC as a Myopia Control Change Agent representative.
She is Ocean Eye’s Pediatric specialist and enjoys working with all the babies, children and young adults here at our offices.
She loves spending time with her husband and 3 dogs (Sugar, Kona and Cooper). They like to watch new movies and shows and take the dogs on hiking trails.
Fun facts about Dr. Palmer
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She likes to spend her Saturday’s relaxing in the sun, by a pool or at the beach.
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Her favorite song is Thunder by Imagine Dragons
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Her favorite hobby is Watching new series/docu-series of all genres, watching baseball, and listening to Crime Junkies podcast.
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Favorite patient memory: Doing vision screenings on elementary school kids to screen/detect early signs of vision problems. It was a great way to get the kids excited about eye exams and was rewarding to serve the community in the process.
Larissa Simkin, O.D.
Dr. Simkin grew up in Parker, Colorado and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio for undergrad at Xavier University where she graduated with her bachelors in chemistry. She moved to Indianapolis, IN and worked full time as admin and optician at an optometry office for two years before attending Indiana University and completing her Doctorate of Optometry. While attending IU she served as president of the student chapter of VOSH (Volunteer optometric services to humanity) where she helped organize community service days for free eye exams and attended a mission trip to Negril, Jamaica to give eye exams to primary school children.
She is a member of the American Optometric Association and provides comprehensive eye exams including pediatrics and dry eye disease. She also continues mission work with the schools in Negril, Jamaica and has plans to start serving on a mission trip in Kenya as well. She moved to the Charleston area with her husband along with their two 100 pound dogs and their cat to escape the cold midwest winters so we can be outdoors year round. They love spending time at the beach and finding new hiking trails.
Fun facts about Dr. Simkin
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She likes to spend Saturdays going on day trips to the beach or exploring new places with her dogs and husband
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Her Favorite song is Better Now by Post Malone
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Her Favorite hobbies include growing vegetable gardens and playing fantasy football during NFL season
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Favorite patient memory was working in the pediatric clinic to help create a plan for a child with amblyopia. He started out with very poor vision in one eye and after several months of treatment with eye patching he was finally able to see perfect 20/20 out of both eyes. Watching the excitement on his face with his new vision and telling him that he could throw his eye patch away was so rewarding.
