Media release from Harbin Clinic:
For Dr. Jonathan McMullin, an optometrist at Harbin Clinic’s Eye Center, being able to see well was an eye-opening experience.
McMullin, who recently moved to Rome from the state of Washington, can empathize with his patients. He didn’t always have good vision and wasn’t even aware it was off.
“I was in my 20s when I got my first pair of glasses. It turns out I was really farsighted and my eyes were working way too hard,” McMullin said. “As a kid I didn’t realize I had a vision problem, I just thought I was a bad reader. I never thought to say anything to my parents. So, I went without glasses when I really needed them.”
He said as an optometrist he really enjoys being able to see a patient leaving his office feeling and seeing well.
“There are some conditions we see fairly frequently where we can provide immediate relief,” McMullin said. One example he cited was when a patient has a corneal abrasion.
“They are brutal, extremely painful. It’s incapacitating,” McMullin said. “You can’t keep your eyes open, and they’re watering. Eye doctors can almost always provide instant relief. It’s pretty cool when we can fix a problem that quickly.”
McMullin’s wife, Janette, lived in Rome previously and still has family here, which was one reason he moved from the northwest. He has also been impressed with the culture at Harbin Clinic, which is Now One Team with Atrium Health Floyd.
“When I talked to the doctors and the staff, I felt like they were kind, compassionate people. I feel like I am coming into a place where people care about each other and their patients,” McMullin said.
He also speaks some Spanish and Portuguese.
“That is another reason why I was excited about working here,” McMullin said. “I used Spanish quite a bit back in Yakima and I was told there was a Hispanic population here, too.”
When he isn’t caring for patients, McMullin spends time with his wife, three children, and two dogs. He also plays the piano, sings in a choir, and occasionally accompanies other singers, including his oldest daughter.
“I always try to treat people with love, whether they are patients or staff members. I like making sure people are cared for and listened to, and I try to work as effectively and efficiently as I can.”
McMullin received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, Oregon. He has a bachelor’s degree in English from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
Harbin Clinic Eye Center, 550 Redmond Road, sees patients Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make an appointment call 762-235-3200.