Doctors and Staff | Texas State Optical

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G.D. Phillips, O.D.

Dr. Phillips is a native of southeast Kansas. He attended the University of Kansas before enrolling at The University of Houston College of Optometry. After graduating in 1972 Dr. Phillips served two years in the Navy Medical Service Corp before moving to Bryan where he was employed by Dr. Erwin Luedemann at Texas State Optical. He became part owner in 1978, and primary owner in 1984.

Dr. Phillips is a certified Therapeutic Optometrist and is experienced in refraction, contact lens fitting and management, anterior segment eye disease management, posterior segment eye disease diagnosis, and cataract and LASIK surgery co-management. He has twice been voted the best Optometrist in the Brazos Valley in a Bryan/College Station Eagle survey.

He has been married to his wife Susan for 34 years, and they have a son, Patrick, who has recently returned to the states after serving in the Peace Corps teaching visual arts and information technology in Damongo, Ghana.

In November 2007 Dr. Phillips and Susan worked for two weeks at medical clinics operated by Salud y Paz to provide eyecare and glasses to the indigenous Mayan people of the western highlands of Guatemala. They spent the month of April 2009 visiting their son in Ghana, West Africa and operating a free clinic with Unite for Sight to provide eyecare in Damongo, Daboya, and Larabanga. To view photos of their volunteer work in West Africa click here.

Susan Phillips

Susan has been working with Dr. Phillips for the past 20 of their 31 years of marriage. She is an experienced optical lab technician and is noted for her meticulous attention to detail and perfection in her work. Her knowledge of frames and lenses gained from years of experience qualifies her as a true asset. These qualities have led Dr. Phillips to ask her to bring those skills to the front desk to provide an unexcelled level of patient care and service.

Christine Alvarado

Christine has been with TSO since 1997. She is a very fast learner, and through hard work and study, she received her American Board of Opticianry certification in 2000. Chris is involved in all aspects of the smooth running of our office. In addition to her skills as an optician, she oversees the operation of the office and the filing of insurance claims. Chris is fluent in Spanish, and as such is an invaluable asset to our office.

Linda Ellis

Linda has lived in the Bryan/College Station area her entire life. She brings 13 years of extensive customer service relations experience to our practice having previously served as a performance assessment specialist at West Corporation. Linda's responsibilites include running our reception desk as well as assisting Dr. Phillips in patient care. She always has a smile for everyone, and she does her best to make our patients feel at home while assuring we give them the very best customer service possible.

Jeff Cheshire

Jeff Cheshire, ABOC, FNAO has been with the TSO Bryan team since September 2007. He has been a certified optician through the American Board of Opticianry since 2002. He brings ten years of optical experience and knowledge to our practice along with a smiling face and a Yankee sense of humor that keeps life interesting. Along with his skills as an optician, Jeff's expertise in American Sign Language are an asset greatly appreciated by our hearing impaired patients.

His wife, Dr. Debbie Cheshire, is a clinical psychologist with Scott & White Clinic in College Station. Jeff & Debbie welcomed their second child in February 2010 and are currently enjoying parenthood and all the antics and adventures that go with it.

Jackie Schulman

After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, Jackie returned home to Bryan/College Station and came to work for us as a doctor's assistant. Her long term plan is to earn a registered nurse degree from the TexasA&M Health Science Center.

Lana Fisher

Lana grew up in Muenster,Texas and moved to College Station to attend TexasA&M University. She graduated in August 2009 with a degree in biomedical science. Lana assists Dr. Phillips in patient care, and she plans to pursue a doctorate degree in Optometry.

Carolyn Williams

Carolyn joined the TSO team in 1993. In 1998 Carolyn became a board certified optician by the American Board of Opticianry. After taking a few years off to pursue her own business career she has recently returned to us to provide her exceptional expertise to our patients.

Chace Butler

Chace works part-time for us while pursuing her degree at Texas A&M. She's gaining experience in all aspects of the business as she prepares for an expected future career in Optometry.