Member Profile - Murphy Grotewold, OD

April 21, 2023
April Member Spotlight

Where do you currently practice?
Carlson Tillisch Eye Clinic in Mankato, MN

Where are you from originally?
Gowrie, IA

What school did you graduate from (undergraduate and optometry)?
Undergraduate: Minnesota State University, Mankato;
Optometry: Indiana University

What are your hobbies?
Trivia, community theatre, and attending live music

Describe your local community involvement?
I’m the Board President of Merely Players Community Theatre Mankato, a Greater Mankato Growth town Ambassador, and a Social Committee member of Young Professionals Mankato. I really enjoy being involved in the town and giving back to the community.

Tell us about your family and pets?
I’m married to my husband, Blake. We have two dogs (Brock and Tachi) and a cat (Momo).

Why do you choose to be a member of the Minnesota Optometric Association?
I think it's important to advocate for our profession to protect its future, and I want to be a part of a group that is working towards that.

What do you like best about the profession of optometry?
I really enjoy the variety. I see infants to elderly and everything from specialty contacts, disease management, LASIK care, myopia control, and much more. Each patient is unique and it's amazing to feel like I've made a difference and helped someone see their best possible.

Describe your favorite memory from your optometric career.
My scleral lens patients have been really rewarding. One was a HIGH myope (-30.00) with some cyl and slight maculopathy. She had previously been managed with the closest rx soft lenses but they were beginning to cause corneal damage and her BCVA had decreased to 20/60- (greatly affecting her vision and driving abilities). With sclerals she was 20/25 and so happy.

What fun fact would you like to share about yourselves that your colleagues may not know about you?
I have been on four optometric service trips: Jamaica, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama! It's been such an honor to get to provide eye care to those truly in need. I've worked with both Gunderson Health Global Partners and VOSH and highly recommend the experience!

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