Meet Our Team

Ophthalmologists

 

Ivan A. Baumwell, M.D.

With well over 20 years of experience with microsurgical and laser procedures, Dr. Baumwell is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He attended the State University of New York, Binghamton and received his medical degree from State University of New York, Buffalo. Dr. Baumwell did an internship in Internal Medicine at Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo, New York and completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Baumwell and his partner Dr.Bowers are the Medical and Surgical Directors of the Cataract and Eye Surgery Center of Pittsburgh’s Ohio Valley General Hospital. He has extensive experience in refractive surgery and Lasik and has studied with the recognized world leaders in this field. He is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and teaches at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology.


Richard A. Bowers, M.D.

Dr. Bowers, board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, completed his undergraduate degree at The College of Wooster and attended Hahnemann University School of Medicine.

Dr. Bowers completed an internship at Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh, a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh and a postgraduate fellowship in cornea external disease and anterior segment surgery at the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Presently he and his partner Dr. Baumwell are the Medical and Surgical Directors of the Cataract and Eye Surgery Center at Pittsburgh’s Ohio Valley General Hospital. He is also a clinical instructor at Eye and Ear institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Bowers has published national articles and lectures nationally. He serves on the Board of Trustees at The College of Wooster in Ohio. He has been a keynote speaker at civic functions and in the public school system.

Dr. Bowers resides in Sewickley, has three children, likes to sing and do “full-contact” gardening. He and his family have done mission trips to Africa and Honduras where he performed many eye surgeries.


Thierry C. Verstraeten, M.D.

Dr. Verstraeten a retina-vitreous disease specialist received his medical degree from the University of Louvain, Belgium. He completed his residency at Eye and Ear Hospital University of Pittsburgh and completed a Retina fellowship at the William Beaumont Hospital, in Michigan. He has been a member of the Sewickley Eye Group team since 2005.

Dr. Verstraeten is affiliated with the retina department at Allegheny General Hospital, where he also is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology. He serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases at the University Of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Additionally Dr. Verstraeten lectures internationally and is currently involved with numerous studies pertaining to the treatment of retinal diseases including Macular Degeneration. He uses the latest surgical, laser and injection therapies for Macular Degeneration and other Retinal problems.


Leanne Labriola, DO, MBA

Dr. Labriola, received her board-certification in ophthalmology in 2012. Her past training includes undergraduate at Duke University, medical school at the Philadelphia
College of Osteopathic Medicine (where she served as the President of the Student Government Association), ophthalmology residency at the University of Pittsburgh, and fellowship training in the subspecialty of Medical Retina at the University of Southern California. In addition, Dr. Labriola received her MBA degree in 2018 from Haub Business School in Philadelphia. She joined the Sewickley Eye Group in 2020.

Dr. Labriola specializes in care of the retina including macular degeneration, diabetes and ocular inflammation. She has experience in clinical and translational research and has published numerous, nationally peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Labriola previously worked at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center where she served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Then moved to Illinois with her husband to join Carle Hospital Staff and became faculty at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. In this position, she started the Ophthalmology Clinical Trial Department at Carle where she led over 20 different nationally sponsored trials as the Principal Investigator. These trials studied new treatments for patients with retina disease. Her translational research is focus on improving methods for ocular diagnosis. She has received over $1.1 Million of funding for this work through the National Science Foundation. She is the co-founder and President of two biotechnology companies, InnSight and Visionaire Products, that are focused on the development of novel diagnostic devices in ophthalmology.


Optometrists

 

Lonie M. Staines, O.D.

Dr. Staines is a Pennsylvania licensed optometrist and graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. She completed her undergraduate work at Duquesne University.

Dr. Staines specializes in contact lenses and also has extensive training in low vision and pediatric optometry. Dr. Staines also has extensive training in therapeutic optometry and has years of experience treating anterior segment medical issues.

She has abundant experience fitting complicated, toric and specialized contact lenses for patients with keratoconus and corneal transplants. Children and young adults especially appreciate her gentleness.


Melissa C. Kressley, O.D.

Dr. Melissa Kressley is a Pennsylvania licensed optometrist and is a member of the American Optometric Association, Pennsylvania Optometric Association, and Western Pennsylvania Optometric Association. Dr. Kressley serves as a grader for the National Board of Examiners of Optometry. She is also a panel member of the Cataract and Eye Surgery Center at Pittsburgh’s Ohio Valley General Hospital. At the Sewickley Eye Group one of her specialties is low vision exams.

She is a graduate of Indiana University School of Optometry where she was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society. Dr. Kressley also attended Saint Francis College in Loretto, PA.

She brings to our practice a warm, friendly patience that is appreciated by children, adults and senior citizens.

Dr. Kressley is a member of the Sevedah Adult Tamburitzans and swam competitively at Saint Francis College.


Brook T. Kressley, O.D.

Dr. Kressley graduated from Indiana University School of Optometry, where he published papers on physiology. Dr. Kressley brings to the Sewickley Eye Group extensive experience in ocular disease, contact lens fittings including the Paragon Refractive Therapy lenses, pediatric and low vision examinations.

He is presently a grader for the National Board of Examiners of Optometry and has excellent training and great experience in treating medical eye diseases. Dr. Kressley is a member of the American Optometric Association and has participated in mission trips to Honduras with the Fellowship of Christian Optometrists.

Dr. Kressley’s cross cultural experiences and training make him especially adept at bringing quality care to patients of all ages and backgrounds.


The team at Sewickley Eye Group proudly provides Western Pennsylvania and the Tri State area with complete medical and surgical eye care. Committed to excellence, we go above and beyond to tailor our treatments to our patients’ needs. Our doctors and staff have the tools and experience necessary to help you see the world at its best.

 

Affiliations

  • Heritage Valley Health System
  • Ohio Valley Hospital
  • Allegheny General Hospital
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

The team at Sewickley Eye Group proudly provides Western Pennsylvania and the Tri State area with complete medical and surgical eye care. Committed to excellence, we go above and beyond to tailor our treatments to our patients’ needs. Our doctors and staff have the tools and experience necessary to help you see the world at its best.

Affiliations

Heritage Valley Health System

including,

Heritage Valley Sewickley &

Heritage Valley Kennedy (former Ohio Valley Hospital).


Ophthalmologists

 

Ivan A. Baumwell, M.D.

With well over 20 years of experience with microsurgical and laser procedures, Dr. Baumwell is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He attended the State University of New York, Binghamton and received his medical degree from State University of New York, Buffalo. Dr. Baumwell did an internship in Internal Medicine at Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo, New York and completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Baumwell and his partner Dr.Bowers are the Medical and Surgical Directors of the Cataract and Eye Surgery Center of Pittsburgh’s Ohio Valley General Hospital. He has extensive experience in refractive surgery and Lasik and has studied with the recognized world leaders in this field. He is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and teaches at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology.


Richard A. Bowers, M.D.

Dr. Bowers, board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, completed his undergraduate degree at The College of Wooster and attended Hahnemann University School of Medicine.

Dr. Bowers completed an internship at Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh, a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh and a postgraduate fellowship in cornea external disease and anterior segment surgery at the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Presently he and his partner Dr. Baumwell are the Medical and Surgical Directors of the Cataract and Eye Surgery Center at Pittsburgh’s Ohio Valley General Hospital. He is also a clinical instructor at Eye and Ear institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Bowers has published national articles and lectures nationally. He serves on the Board of Trustees at The College of Wooster in Ohio. He has been a keynote speaker at civic functions and in the public school system.

Dr. Bowers resides in Sewickley, has three children, likes to sing and do “full-contact” gardening. He and his family have done mission trips to Africa and Honduras where he performed many eye surgeries.


Thierry C. Verstraeten, M.D.

Dr. Verstraeten a retina-vitreous disease specialist received his medical degree from the University of Louvain, Belgium. He completed his residency at Eye and Ear Hospital University of Pittsburgh and completed a Retina fellowship at the William Beaumont Hospital, in Michigan. He has been a member of the Sewickley Eye Group team since 2005.

Dr. Verstraeten is affiliated with the retina department at Allegheny General Hospital, where he also is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology. He serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases at the University Of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Additionally Dr. Verstraeten lectures internationally and is currently involved with numerous studies pertaining to the treatment of retinal diseases including Macular Degeneration. He uses the latest surgical, laser and injection therapies for Macular Degeneration and other Retinal problems.


Leanne Labriola, DO, MBA

Dr. Labriola, received her board-certification in ophthalmology in 2012. Her past training includes undergraduate at Duke University, medical school at the Philadelphia
College of Osteopathic Medicine (where she served as the President of the Student Government Association), ophthalmology residency at the University of Pittsburgh, and fellowship training in the subspecialty of Medical Retina at the University of Southern California. In addition, Dr. Labriola received her MBA degree in 2018 from Haub Business School in Philadelphia. She joined the Sewickley Eye Group in 2020.

Dr. Labriola specializes in care of the retina including macular degeneration, diabetes and ocular inflammation. She has experience in clinical and translational research and has published numerous, nationally peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Labriola previously worked at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center where she served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Then moved to Illinois with her husband to join Carle Hospital Staff and became faculty at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. In this position, she started the Ophthalmology Clinical Trial Department at Carle where she led over 20 different nationally sponsored trials as the Principal Investigator. These trials studied new treatments for patients with retina disease. Her translational research is focus on improving methods for ocular diagnosis. She has received over $1.1 Million of funding for this work through the National Science Foundation. She is the co-founder and President of two biotechnology companies, InnSight and Visionaire Products, that are focused on the development of novel diagnostic devices in ophthalmology.



Optometrists

 

Lonie M. Staines, O.D.

Dr. Staines is a Pennsylvania licensed optometrist and graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. She completed her undergraduate work at Duquesne University.

Dr. Staines specializes in contact lenses and also has extensive training in low vision and pediatric optometry. Dr. Staines also has extensive training in therapeutic optometry and has years of experience treating anterior segment medical issues.

She has abundant experience fitting complicated, toric and specialized contact lenses for patients with keratoconus and corneal transplants. Children and young adults especially appreciate her gentleness.


Melissa C. Kressley, O.D.

Dr. Melissa Kressley is a Pennsylvania licensed optometrist and is a member of the American Optometric Association, Pennsylvania Optometric Association, and Western Pennsylvania Optometric Association. Dr. Kressley serves as a grader for the National Board of Examiners of Optometry. She is also a panel member of the Cataract and Eye Surgery Center at Pittsburgh’s Ohio Valley General Hospital. At the Sewickley Eye Group one of her specialties is low vision exams.

She is a graduate of Indiana University School of Optometry where she was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society. Dr. Kressley also attended Saint Francis College in Loretto, PA.

She brings to our practice a warm, friendly patience that is appreciated by children, adults and senior citizens.

Dr. Kressley is a member of the Sevedah Adult Tamburitzans and swam competitively at Saint Francis College.


Brook T. Kressley, O.D.

Dr. Kressley graduated from Indiana University School of Optometry, where he published papers on physiology. Dr. Kressley brings to the Sewickley Eye Group extensive experience in ocular disease, contact lens fittings including the Paragon Refractive Therapy lenses, pediatric and low vision examinations.

He is presently a grader for the National Board of Examiners of Optometry and has excellent training and great experience in treating medical eye diseases. Dr. Kressley is a member of the American Optometric Association and has participated in mission trips to Honduras with the Fellowship of Christian Optometrists.

Dr. Kressley’s cross cultural experiences and training make him especially adept at bringing quality care to patients of all ages and backgrounds.


To learn more about our doctors and staff or the services we offer, contact us today. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.