Our Doctors

Paul H. Ernest, M.D. - Surgeon

After receiving his medical degree at the Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Ernest continued his education completing his internship at Detroit's Grace Hospital. He completed his ophthalmology residency program and a fellowship in Cornea and Anterior Segment Surgery at Wayne State University, Kresge Eye Institute.

In 1978, Dr. Ernest founded an ophthalmology practice in Jackson, which is now known as TLC Eyecare of Michigan. Dr. Ernest was the innovator of the No Stitch Cataract Surgery in February, 1990 and has performed over 30,000 cataract operations including surgery overseas in more than 30 countries. The instrumentation used today for cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation has been developed using Dr. Ernest's expertise. Dr. Ernest has been the primary investigator on several intraocular lens designs and has assisted through animal and laboratory studies in the development of many advancements in Phacoemuisification equipment.

Dr. Ernest also specializes in refractive surgery. He was involved in the original investigations of Epikeratophakia, Laser Thermal Keratoplasy (LTK), and Phakic Refractive Lens (PRL implant). Dr. Ernest currently uses the excimer laser to perform the LASIK procedure, the Sunrise Technology to perform the LTK procedure, and is performing the PRL implant procedure.

Dr. Ernest was voted one of the top 100 physicians in the nation in 1994-1995, 1998-1999, and 2000-2001. He was the first recipient of the distinguished alumni award from Kresge Eye Institute. Dr. Ernest is now a Clinical Associate Professor at Wayne State University, Kresge Eye Institute, where he teaches resident physicians.

Dr. Ernest is a member of the American Medical Association, American Board of Ophthalmology, American Intraocular Implant Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Michigan State Medical Society, Jackson County Medical Society, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American College of Eye Surgeons and the Michigan Ophthalmological Society. Dr. Ernest has lectured in over 30 cities, and has over 70 publications in ophthalmic textbooks and journals.

Kevin T. Lavery, M.D. - Surgeon

Dr. Lavery left Rutgers College in 1982, while in the top 1% of his class, and a member of the Henry Rutgers Scholars program. From there he attended New Jersey Medical School where he graduated among the top 20 students.

After completing an internship in internal medicine he went on to complete his residency at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. He then moved to Michigan in 1990 for fellowship training in cornea and refractive surgery under Dr. John Cowden at Wayne State University, Kresge Eye Institute. Dr. Lavery came to Jackson in 1991, and now is a partner of TLC Eye Care of Michigan. He specializes in refractive laser surgery, no-stitch cataract surgery and glaucoma. He was one of the first doctors to perform laser vision correction in Michigan and is a TLC Lasik proctor who has taught many leading Ophthalmologists the art of Lasik.

Dr. Lavery is a Diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology and the National Board of Medical Examiners, a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Michigan State Medical Society, and the Jackson County Medical Society. He is also a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society.

Dr. Lavery is currently an associate clinical professor at Wayne State University and is on the faculty of Ferris State University. He not only teaches locally, but is also a faculty member for ORBIS international and has performed eye surgery in front of hundreds of local doctors in China, Russia, India, Peru, Cuba and other countries as part of a project to improve the quality of ophthalmic care worldwide.

Of the many awards that he has received, the Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America and the Michigan State Medical Society's 2000 Community Service Award are his two most treasured.

Dr. Lavery is active in the community. He is currently a Trustee for the Jackson Community Foundation, where he is also Chairman of the Distribution Committee. He is on the Board of Directors for the Jackson YMCA and is past president and board member of the Region One Fitness Council. He is the Race Director for the TLC New Year's Eve Midnight Run, which he started in 1995. He is also on the Surgical Executive Committee for Foote Hospital.

In the past, he was Development Manager for Blake Woods Medical Park Surgery Center and its founding Chairman. He was Chief of Surgery at Doctors Hospital of Jackson and has served on the Ethics Committee and IRB for Foote Hospital.