Meet the Team - Ballard

Dr. Eric Bergstrom grew up in the Chicagoland area before attending Auburn University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. Dr. Bergstrom graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2000 after completing externship programs at the Veterans Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., and at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, LA. He then returned to New Orleans when he was selected to complete a medical residency program at the Ochsner Clinic. Dr. Bergstrom’s emphasis during the program was in retinal and neuro-ophthalmic diseases, as well as primary care optometry. Upon completion of the program he continued to practice hospital-based optometry until he purchased the Queen Anne Eye Clinic in December 2001. Dr. Bergstrom is an active member of the Optometric Physicians of Washington and the American Optometric Association. He has lectured/published papers in the areas of uveitis, herpes symplex, AIDS, and papillophlebitis. Dr. Bergstrom lives in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle and has two daughters, Anya and Elina. He enjoys snowboarding, tennis, golf, travel, and cooking.

Dr. Philip Lo is an experienced and respected optometrist who is recognized by his patients and peers for his personal care. Dr. Lo grew up in Palo Alto, California and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from University of California Los Angeles. He graduated with a Doctorate of Optometry (with honors) from Illinois College of Optometry in 2002. Before relocating to Seattle, Dr. Lo practiced in a corneal and refractive surgery clinic in San Diego. He served as Clinical Director at TLC Laser Eye Center in Bellevue where he counseled, managed, and lectured in the topic of refractive surgery.

Dr. Lo is an active member of the American Optometric Association, former Trustee of Optometric Physicians of Washington, and past president of King County Optometric Society. His clinical interest includes primary eye care, contact lenses, dry eye treatment, co-management of cataract and refractive surgery, and coordinating visual care for local PRI (Postural Restoration Institute) physical therapy practices. Born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, Dr. Lo is fluent in conversational Chinese (Cantonese). Dr. Lo now resides in Magnolia with his wife Jennifer and their children Dylan and Kaylin.

Dr. Chelsie Russ is a Seattle native who completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She earned her Doctorate degree from SUNY College of Optometry where she was a member of Beta Sigma Kappa (International Optometric Honor Society). She completed a residency at the Northport VA Hospital on Long Island, New York and gained specialized training in identifying and treating ocular complications secondary to aging, stroke, traumatic brain injury, systemic disease, and medications.

Although her residency training had a strong focus on geriatric care, Dr. Russ cares for patients of all ages. She has been with the Northwest Vision Clinic since 2016 and receives joy from forming bonds with her patients and their families. She strives for each person to leave their eye exam feeling informed about their specific visual needs and fully cared for. She is especially enthusiastic about helping patients to feel and see great in contacts even when they have had barriers to contact lens wear in the past.

Dr. Russ is a member of the American Optometric Association and the King County Optometric Society. She lives in Magnolia with her husband Danny, their daughter Molly and sons Jackson and Micah. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends and is passionate about health and fitness. When she is not in the office and the kids are asleep, she is in her kitchen attempting to turn unhealthy but delicious recipes into healthy ones that are toddler approved.

Dr. Stephanie Michalko grew up near Toronto, Canada and received her Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree from The University of Western Ontario. Dr. Michalko then relocated to Boston, MA to complete her graduate degree from New England College of Optometry, where she was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa Honors Society. She relocated to the Pacific Northwest upon completion of externships at the Veteran Hospital in Vancouver, WA and Buffalo, NY in addition to several placements at community health centers in Boston, MA. Dr. Michalko practiced medical-based optometry at an Ophthalmology clinic on the Eastside for several years before joining Eye Clinics of Seattle. Dr Michalko strives to provide full scope eye care with interests in contact lenses,dry eye and glaucoma. She now resides in West Seattle and enjoys spending time exploring new hikes in the PNW, traveling and cooking.

Dr. Luong was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. There she attended the University of Texas where she graduated magna cum laude in biology. She then moved to Boston where she attended and graduated with Honors from the New England College of Optometry. Dr. Luong has experience diagnosing and managing ocular diseases in underserved and diverse populations, fitting specialty contact lenses, and performing vision therapy, primarily for traumatic brain injury patients. Currently, Dr. Luong focuses on primary eye care, dry eye treatment, contact lenses, and pediatric examinations.Dr. Luong is fluent in English and Spanish. She is passionate about providing the best eye care to her patients by listening to their needs with attentiveness and compassion. She enjoys educating her patients about their ocular health and taking the time to address their concerns.When not seeing patients, Dr. Luong loves hiking, biking, and exploring other cultures through food and travel with her partner.