Eye Doctors in the Carolinas
Meet the eye doctors of Family Eye Care of the Carolinas below!
Michael John Bartiss, O.D., M.D., F.A.A.O., F.A.A.P., F.A.C.S.
Pediatric Ophthalmologist
Michael John Bartiss, OD, MD is a specialist in medical and surgical pediatric eye care as well as adult eye alignment (strabismus) surgery.
Dr. Bartiss received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana with a major in biology and a minor in cultural anthropology. He received his Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree from the State University of New York State College of Optometry in New York City. After practicing pediatric optometry for four years in Rochester, New York, he decided to further his education and attend medical school. He received his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine where he also received the E.J. Weisenheimer Award for excellence in ophthalmology. He then served an internship in Internal Medicine at the Graduate Medical/Dental Education Consortium of Buffalo, where he also completed his residency training in Ophthalmology. Following the completion of his residency, he received his fellowship training in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at the prestigious Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Bartiss is board certified in ophthalmology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Optometry, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, where he currently serves as chairman of the organization’s Socioeconomic Committee. He is a member of the North Carolina Medical Society. He has served on several committees at FirstHealth of the Carolinas over the years and currently serves as the medical director of the Surgery Center of Pinehurst, president of the Mid-Carolina Physicians Organization and Chairman of the Board of First Carolina Care Insurance company.
Dr. Bartiss resides in Pinehurst, North Carolina with his wife, Katie. His has three adult children (Kelsey, Nolan and Maeve) and is extremely proud of all of them. His youngest child, Maeve, is currently a 3rd year medical student at East Carolina University. Dr. Bartiss’ greatest joy is traveling and spending time with his family. He also enjoys the culinary arts and the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the author of the Sherlock Holmes stories, who was himself an ophthalmologist!)
Medical Education
University at Buffalo (SUNY) School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Buffalo, New York
M.D.; 06/1987
Internship
University at Buffalo (SUNY) School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Buffalo, New York
Internal Medicine (07/1987-06/1988)
Residency
University at Buffalo (SUNY) School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Buffalo, New York
Ophthalmology (07/1989-06/1991)
Fellowships
Wills Eye Hospital – Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (07/1991–06/1992)
Wills Eye Hospital – Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oculoplastics and Reconstructive Surgery (07/1992–11//1992)
Optometric Education
State College of Optometry (SUNY); New York, New York O.D.; 05/1980
Graduate Education
University at Albany (SUNY); Albany, New York 08/1975-06/1976
Undergraduate Education
Indiana University - Bloomington, Indiana B.A. 05/1975
Hospital Affiliations
First Health of the Carolinas Moore Regional Hospital
Surgery Center of Pinehurst
Professional Affiliations
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Association for Pediatric Ophthmology and Strabismus
American Academy of Pediatrics
North Carolina Medical Society
Keith Patrick Poindexter, O.D.
Primary Care Optometry
Diabetic, Allergic & Dry Eye Disease, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration
Contact Lenses and Spectacles
Dr. Poindexter is a native of Lee County, NC. He received his undergraduate degree from NC State University and completed his Doctor of Optometry at the University of Alabama. He currently resides in Moore County with his high school sweetheart and wife, Julie. He has three children. He is dedicated to serving the community at his home church (New Covenant Fellowship) as well as with the Vass Lions Club (vision outreach and diabetes awareness). He enjoys golf, exercising, spending time outdoors, and cheering on his alma mater, the NCSU Wolfpack.
Education
North Carolina State University - Raleigh, NC Bachelor of Science, Biology August 1991-May 1994
University of Alabama - Birmingham, AL Doctor of Optometry August 1995-May 1999
Externships
Veterans Administration Medical Clinic - Fayetteville, NC November 1998-February 1999
Carolina Eye Associates - Pinehurst, NC February 1999-May 1999
Licensure and Certification
Tennessee State License #2018
North Carolina State License #1773
Honors
Wesley-Jessen Excellence Award – 1999
Beta Sigma Kappa Certificate – 1999
Professional Societies
North Carolina State Optometric Society
Sandhills District Optometric Society
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Beta Sigma Kappa International Honorary Fraternity
Benjamin Wacker, O.D.
Primary Care Optometry
Dr. Benjamin Wacker is a native of Pinehurst, NC. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed his Doctor of Optometry at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he was the recipient of numerous academic scholarships and honors, including serving as president of the Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society. Dr. Wacker completed a primary care and ocular disease residency program at the William Chappell Veterans Affairs Clinic in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he trained in areas of glaucoma, retinal disease, corneal disease, pre and post-operative cataract surgery, as well as specialty contact lenses.
During his free time, Dr. Wacker enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, playing golf, and cheering on the Tar Heels.
Education
University of Missouri - St. Louis, Doctor of Optometry, May 2016
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, BS in Biology, May 2007
Licensure
National Boards: Completed and passed, 2015
Licensure: Florida, August 2016 - Pennsylvannia November 2016 - North Carolina, August 2017
Professional Organizations
American Optometric Association 2012-Present
Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society President 2014-2015
Florida Optometric Association 2016 - Present
North Carolina Optometric Association
Awards
Blue Ribbon Award for Excellence in Customer Service, Daytona Beach VAMC OPC Sept. 2016 & Feb. 2017
Anne C. Ream Optometry Scholarship
Robert A. Koetting Optometry Scholarship
William R. Jackson Optometry Scholarship
Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society, 2013-2016