About Our Staff

Elias Almeida, MD - Refractive Fellow

Dr. Almeida received his MD from Universidad National Experimental Francisco de Miranda in Coro, Venezuela. He worked as a General Practitioner at the Petare Population Clinic and was a Chief Resident in Pediatrics at the Perez de Leon Hospital in Caracas. He moved to the US and worked as a Medical Assistant, X-Ray Technician, Medical Interpreter and Front Office Coordinator for Aaron Hurowitz, DO in Atlanta. Dr. Almeida had LASIK himself in 2007 in Venezuela, so can answer your questions both from a MD & patient point of view! Dr. Almeida enjoys riding his mountain bike and motorcycle in his spare time.

Jytoi Puri, MD - Refractive Fellow

Dr. Puri received her MD from Maulana Azad Medical College at the Delhi University in India. She was a Junior Resident in the Department of Psychiatry as well as Department of Neurology at the G.B. Pant Hospital in New Delhi, India. She went on to be a Vitreo retinal surgeon at the Navjyoti Eye Centre in New Delhi. She moved to the US in 2007 and underwent clinical training at the University Of Wisconsin School Of Medicine. Dr. Puri enjoys spending time with her husband, sketching and cooking.

Lynette Williams - Young, MD Refractive Fellow

Dr. Young received her medical degree at Meharry Medical College, and went on to be a clinical instructor at the college as well as the University of Tennessee for Health Sciences. In 1991 she moved to New York and trained as an ophthalmologist and surgeon at Harlem Hospital Center, an affiliate of Columbia University. In 2001 she completed a glaucoma fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital under the esteemed Dr. Gregory Harmon. Dr. Young has spearheaded the S.A.V.E program at PALV, which designs to educate patients about LVC and maintaining good ocular health. In her spare time Dr. Young is an active member of her church community.

Shannon Reilly, BA - Marketing & Patient Director

Shannon Reilly received a degree in Communications and Business Management from DePaul University. She began her career in the ophthalmology industry as Marketing Director for one of the largest laser vision correction centers in south Texas. Later she consulted for several industry centers focusing on LASIK and LASEK in Chicago; this allowed her to expand her knowledge on patient coordinating, staff training and industry awareness. She has been an industry guest speaker for Alcon, Inc. and completed VISX AMO University in 2006. Shannon is dedicated and focused on making sure Park Avenue Laser Vision provides the highest quality service with the safest and most advanced technology to every patient. Shannon enjoys art, live music and skiing.

Vanessa Alvarado, Optician - Front Desk Manager

Vanessa Alvarado attended the University of Texas at El Paso. She is both an Optician and a certified Emergency Medical Technician; therefore she has extensive optical and medical experience. Ms. Alvarado was also a Medical Biller, therefore well versed in the world of insurance. Her hobbies include wake-boarding, reading comic books, and singing karaoke. Vanessa also had LASEK + CustomVue WaveFront surgery and is having the other eye done this summer!

Natacha Hildebrand, BA - Patient Coordinator

Natacha Hildebrand graduated from NYU with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts. She has experience in sales, public relations and marketing with People's Revolution, Self Magazine, Glamour Magazine and Women's Wear Daily. Natacha enjoys eating out at great restaurants and going to the theater in her free time. She is also one of our Patient Coordinators and is happy to assist you in scheduling your appointments, answering any questions about our various procedures and make your experience with us as enjoyable and relaxing as possible!

Jade Boardman, MFA - Front Desk Coordinator

Jade Boardman received a master's degree in fine art with a concentrating in dance from Sam Houston State University in Texas. She has a great deal of experience with medical office operations and training. Her specialty is client services and is always ready to answer your questions and provide quality care. Jade enjoys both performing and watching modern dance, horseback riding and playing tennis. She has started her own journey towards being 20/20 and is looking forward to being contacts free in 2009!

Meet Park Avenue Laser's mascot: Hershey!

Emil Chynn, MD owner of www.parkavenuelaser.net has had his dog volunteer in St. Vincent Hospital's Pet Therapy program for years, the 1st Pet Therapy Program in NYC. As such, he has also examined many of the other dogs in the pet therapy program, and found many to be misdiagnosed with cataracts, when they actually had some other eye problem. Hershey was featured in an episode of 'Healthy vision' .

Park Avenue Laser Vision has the most highly-trained, best-qualified staff of any laser center in New York - period. Indeed, our patients say this is one reason they have chosen us! This isn't an opinion-it's a fact.

Vanessa, our Front Desk Manager, is both a certified Emergency Medical Technician and Optician. Aren't you more confident that the person helping obtain your old contact/eyeglass information, and giving you your prescriptions have medical and eye training?

At most other centers, your testing-which is used to confirm you are a good candidate, and to obtain the numbers to actually shoot the laser-is conducted quickly by an optometrist (OD) who never went to medical school, or some "technician" who may not know much more than how to push a button. Compare this to our center, where our Laser Team-Dr. Chynn, Dr. Almeida and Dr. Puri-are MDs (which requires a decade more training than an OD, and will spend as much time with you as necessary to make sure that all your testing is both accurate and complete before even booking your surgery).

What if you have some problem along the way, and need to speak to the Practice Manager? Our Practice Manager will help with you whatever you may require. From scheduling a post-op to obtaining previous medical records, we help make your time here relaxing as well as pleasurable.

If you review the bios on the back of this sheet you'll learn about the people who will be working with you to obtain your Best Personal Vision! You'll also know which person to ask to address your specific needs.

Congratulations about taking the first step towards a new life-experiencing the world free from contacts & glasses, seeing how you were meant to see!

Sincerely,
The Park Avenue Laser Vision Correction Team