EYE ASSOCIATES - Key Persons

Anhtuan "Tuan" H. Nguyen, M.D. is a fellowship-trained ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist. He performs glaucoma surgery including the latest minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries. Dr. Nguyen is an expert in laser glaucoma procedures and in the medical management of glaucoma. He also provides comprehensive ophthalmology services including cataract surgery. Dr. Nguyen has a degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and went on to receive his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he was then chosen to complete a residency in ophthalmology. His academic excellence and achievements led to his selection in the Medical Honor Society, Alpha Omega Alpha. The research he conducted was selected for presentation at the National Glaucoma Society Meeting. After completing his residency in Ophthalmology, Dr. Nguyen was selected for and completed a fellowship in medical and surgical glaucoma at the University of Pittsburg Medical Center. He then returned to San Antonio to join the Eye Associates practice and also became affiliated with the department of ophthalmology at UT Health, where he served as a glaucoma specialist and taught ophthalmologists-in-training. He is also actively involved in glaucoma clinical research. Dr. Nguyen is a volunteer at the I Care San Antonio Eye Clinic, a non-profit organization providing free eye care to the indigent and underserved people of South Texas. Also, as a member of the American Glaucoma Society CARES program, he provides surgical glaucoma care at no cost to uninsured and underserved patients.

Charles "Chaz" D. Reilly, M.D. is a board certified ophthalmologist. Dr Reilly is fellowship trained in Cornea/External Disease and Refractive Surgery; he provides the full range of ophthalmic services including LASIK, PRK, Premium Cataract Surgery, Corneal Transplants and laser treatments. Dr Reilly is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He received his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland and was named the Outstanding Air Force Graduate. He completed his ophthalmology residency training at Wilford Hall Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center where he was honored as the outstanding resident graduate. He completed his fellowship training at the University of California, Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California. Dr Reilly served as the Air Force Surgeon General's Consultant for Refractive Surgery, Chairman and Flight Commander for Wilford Hall's Ophthalmology Department, Flight Surgeon of the Year for Air Mobility Command and received the Air Force Surgeon Excellence Award. He is a member with thesis of the Cornea Society, member of the Refractive Surgery Clinical Committee for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, serves on the Board of Directors of the San Antonio Eye Bank and is a physician trainer for both Excimer Laser and femtosecond laser platforms. He is a dedicated researcher and teacher with numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He created the first refractive surgery curriculum for both the Air Force and the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio. His research led to lasik approval for Air Force Pilots and he is the recipient of the Educator of the Year Award for the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium. He also serves as a consultant to numerous ophthalmic corporations and serves as an Associate Examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is an internationally recognized expert in his field and has been an invited lecturer to numerous conferences and universities worldwide.

Edward R. Rashid, M.D. (Retired 12/31/2020) is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons with over 25 years experience and advanced fellowship training in corneal and external disease and refractive surgery. Dr. Rashid performs the latest techniques involving small incision and no-stitch cataract procedures, including the newest presbyopia correcting Multifocal lens implants. A pioneer in the field of refractive surgery for vision correction, Dr. Rashid has always been on the forefront of the most current laser vision technologies. After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Dr. Rashid received his medical degree in 1976 from the Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. During his career at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Dr. Rashid became the Chief of the Refractive Surgery section and of the Cornea and External Disease Service. He also served as the Residency Training Director and the Vice Chairman of the USAF Ophthalmology Department. After retiring from the USAF in 1990, he continued as a special consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General for refractive surgery. Dr. Edward Rashid is currently in private practice in San Antonio, Texas where he has performed thousands of the latest laser vision correction procedures including PRK and Custom Intralase LASIK. He established the Alamo Laser Vision Center in 1999 where he currently serves as President and Medical Director. This state-of-the-art facility is one of the most technologically advanced laser centers in the U.S. Dr. Rashid was selected and listed as one of "The Best Doctors In America" and also chosen as one of the "Top Ophthalmologist" in America. Texas Monthly has just named Dr. Rashid as a Texas Super Doctor. He is also honored to serve as the Team Eye Surgeon for the San Antonio Spurs NBA basketball team. But the real key to Dr. Rashid's success is his philosophy of providing quality personal care. His reputation for being a highly skilled corneal physician is uniquely complimented by a true humanitarian nature and a commitment to giving each and every patient his undivided attention.

George Nick Nicolas, Jr., O.D. is a residency-trained therapeutic optometrist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Dr. Nicolas joined our practice after a long and distinguished Air Force career. He offers a wide range of services including family vision care, contact lenses, evaluation and treatment of eye disease and postoperative eye care. Dr. Nicolas received his Bachelor of Science degree from Ferris State University in 1974. He then earned a Doctor of Optometry from Michigan College of Optometry in 1983. Following graduation, he began an Air Force career and completed a hospital-based residency with Pennsylvania College of Optometry. As an Associate Professor for Michigan College of Optometry, Dr. Nicolas trained fourth-year optometry students in addition to his Air Force clinical duties. When assigned as the Director and lead instructor for Air Force paraoptometric education, he graduated over 250 technicians from a premier, nationally accredited program. Dr. Nicolas led the mission that provides optometric care for thousands of underserved Alaskan Inuit.s north of the Arctic Circle. Dr. Nicolas also started the Air Force Frame of Choice program. It allowed, in addition to standard issue glasses, the issue of stylish civilian eyewear to active duty members. In 1996, he was recognized with the Colonel Floyd M. Morris Air Force Optometrist of the Year Award. As a recognized leader in his field, Dr. Nicolas went on to command four medical units culminating with the 325th Medical Group at Tyndall AFB, Florida. His unit was recognized as the .Best Large Clinic in the USAF. two years in a row. While maintaining clinical skills, Dr. (Colonel) Nicolas finished his Air Force career as the Assistant Deputy Surgeon General for Healthcare Operations and the Director of the Biomedical Sciences Corps. His alma mater honored him with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012.

Gregory M. Brunin, M.D. is a fellowship-trained ophthalmologist with a focus on cornea, cataract and refractive surgery. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Mark G. Carolan, O.D. has been the Director of Optometric Services for Eye Associates since 1996. He offers a wide range of services including family and child vision care, contact lenses, evaluation and treatment of eye diseases and postoperative eye care. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1980, Dr. Carolan earned his Doctor of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1984. He joined the Air Force in 1984 and was stationed at Randolph Air Force Base from 1984 to 1988. He was an Air Force Reserve Colonel at Lackland Air Force Base and served as Chief of Optometry for the Aerospace Medicine Squadron. Dr. Carolan was Director of Optometric Services at the South Texas Family Eye Center from 1988 to 1996, when he joined our group. In the spring of 1992, the University of Houston College of Optometry certified Dr. Carolan in ocular therapeutics and in the year 2000 he became certified as an Optometric Glaucoma Specialist. This training expanded his ability to diagnose and treat eye diseases with pharmaceutical agents. Dr. Carolan is a retired Air Force Colonel and was the former Commander of the 433rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron.

Job Titles:

• Chairman of the Wilford Hall Eye Center

Dr. Caldwell is a Distinguished Graduate of the US Air Force Academy. He received his medical degree from the UT Medical School at San Antonio and then completed internship and ophthalmology residency training at Wilford Hall and Brook Army Medical Centers, and fellowship training at the Duke University Eye Center. Dr. Caldwell has served as the Chairman of the Wilford Hall Eye Center and the San Antonio combined Air Force/Army Ophthalmology Residency Program and is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at UT Health and Associate Professor at the Uniformed Services University. He is a certified physician trainer for LASIK, PRK, and SMILE and has trained over 130 refractive surgeons. He has authored numerous publications and has been a lead investigator on multiple FDA clinical trials of new laser technology which have resulted in advances and approval of technology used around the world. Dr. Caldwell is an advocate of the functional benefits of refractive surgery, having deployed twice to Afghanistan after having surgery on his own eyes. He knows the benefits of customizing treatments to the eyes of patients with high visual demands and has treated numerous members of the special forces, fellow ophthalmologists and other surgeons, pilots, and even an astronaut who has spent extended tours on the international space station. He appreciates the life-altering impact of vision restoring surgery and has led multiple humanitarian missions to several countries in Central America.

Melanie P. Gonzalez-Oliva, O.D. is a residency-trained optometrist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She offers a wide-range of services including comprehensive vision care, evaluation and treatment of eye disease, and fitting of contact lenses including specialty lenses for complex ocular conditions. Dr. Gonzalez received her Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University in 2004. She then earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from New England College of Optometry in 2009. She completed a primary eye care residency with an emphasis in ocular disease at the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2010. Dr. Gonzalez has been an active member of the American Academy of Optometry since 2009. She became a Fellow of the Academy in 2011. She is a section officer as the co-chair for the Comprehensive Eye Care Section's Annual Ocular Photography contest. Before joining Rashid, Rice, Flynn & Reilly Eye Associates, Dr. Gonzalez practiced at UT Health Science Center San Antonio in the ophthalmology department as well as at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. She has taught and trained optometry students and residents from the University of Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry. She teaches optics, contact lenses and low vision to the ophthalmology residents at UTHSCSA. Dr. Gonzalez has received several clinical honors and teaching awards during her optometry training and career. She was honored by her alma mater with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016. Dr. Gonzalez is passionate about her profession and enjoys caring for her patients.

William J. Flynn, M.D. is a board certified ophthalmologist. Dr. Flynn is fellowship trained in glaucoma and provides comprehensive ophthalmology services including state of the art cataract and glaucoma surgery and glaucoma laser treatment. Dr. Flynn has a BS in Chemistry from Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio and a M.S. in Ocular Physiology and Doctor of Optometry degree from The Ohio State University. He received his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland. He completed ophthalmology residency training at Wilford Hall Medical Center and fellowship training in glaucoma and cataract surgery at Dartmouth Medical School. Dr. Flynn is the former Chairman at the Wilford Hall Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology and Chief of USAF Ophthalmology. He has experience as the director of the glaucoma service at Wilford Hall Medical Center for over ten years and also has directed the glaucoma service at the University of Texas Health Science Center and Brooke Army Medical Center where he taught cataract and glaucoma surgery to Air Force, Army, and University of Texas ophthalmology residents. He has received teaching awards from both the military and the University. He is an active clinician-scientist and an author of multiple journal articles and book chapters. He served as the principal scientist on the studies that ultimately led to first ever contact lens wear by USAF aviators in the 1980's. As Chief of USAF Ophthalmology, he oversaw the establishment of the first refractive surgery centers to treat pilots and other aviators. He served on the Advisory Council at the National Eye Institute and is a full Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio and Associate Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine. He is the first faculty eye surgeon to receive the University of Texas Ethics Award. Dr Flynn participates in many international humanitarian surgical missions and is a volunteer at the I Care San Antonio Eye Clinic, a non-profit organization providing free eye care to the under served community of South Texas.