Dr. Wendel was born and raised in the Stowe Township area, where she graduated from Montour High School. In 1981, she received a degree in Music Education. She then attended Cleveland State University where she studied science, and then in 1986 she graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Soon after she entered into practice with her father, Dr. Russell Wendel, who unfortunately dies months later.

In 1991 she received the Small Business Administration (SBA) "Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award." For the year 2000, she was the president of the Western Pennsylvania Optometic Society. She is currently the Vice-Chairman of the board of Vision Benefits of America, and a member of Beta Sigma Kappa, an international honor society for optometrists. Dr. Wendel is also a certified affiliate in corneal refractive care, a member of the advisory board at Ohio Valley Hospital Cataract and Eye Surgery Center, and she also volunteers her time in the Applications Task Force committee of the Pennsylvanian Optometic Association.

Her most rewarding job, however, is being a mother to her son Ray, who was born on March 19, 1996.

Dr. Jeffrey S. Karlik

Dr. Karlik is a Certified Diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the Duquesne University School of Pharmacy, he completed medical school at the University of Pittsburgh. While enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, he served as an officer in the distinguished Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Following this he completed his medical internship at Mercy Hospital and ophthalmology residency at Saint Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, serving as Chief Resident his final year. Dr. Karlik’s LASIK expertise was built on his post-residency training with the TLC Laser Eye Centers. He is currently in private practice in the Pittsburgh area with hospital staff privileges at Ohio Valley General Hospital, Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Eye & Ear Hospital, Saint Francis Hospital, UPMC-Passavant Hospital, and Suburban General Hospital. He has been active in medical education, being on the teaching faculty at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Saint Francis Hospital Ophthalmology residency. He also serves as an instructor in the internal medicine residency program at West Penn Hospital.