Celebrating Sandeep Cheema’s 15 Years of Dedication at Atwal Eye Care
At Atwal Eye Care, our team is the heart of everything we do. From their compassion and dedication to their expertise and professionalism, each member plays a vital role in helping us deliver life-changing vision care. We are proud to celebrate the individuals who go above and beyond to make a difference, not only in our practice, but in the lives of the people and families we serve.
We are proud to recognize Sandeep Cheema as our April Employee of the Month. With 15 years of service, Sandeep’s journey reflects not only professional growth, but a deep passion for patient care and a commitment to excellence. Sandeep currently serves as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, where she plays an important role in guiding patients through their refractive surgery journey. From educating patients about LASIK and other vision correction options to preparing them for their exams and assisting with scheduling and questions, she helps ensure every patient feels confident in their care.
Healthcare has always been where Sandeep knew she belonged. After graduating college as a Medical Assistant, she began her career helping patients and quickly realized how meaningful it was to be part of a field that changes lives every day. Her path to Atwal Eye Care began when she heard positive feedback about the practice from a colleague. At the time, she was working at another ophthalmology office but wasn’t feeling fulfilled. Taking a leap of faith, she joined Atwal Eye Care and it was decision she says she has never regretted.
During her 15 years with the practice, Sandeep has grown tremendously both professionally and personally. She began as a work-up technician and quickly demonstrated leadership potential, earning a promotion to Lead Technician. In that role, she worked closely on the surgical side of the practice, gaining valuable experience for more than a decade.
More recently, she transitioned into the LASIK department, where she now works alongside Dr. Atwal helping patients through refractive surgery procedures.
Through these experiences, Sandeep says Atwal Eye Care helped her develop confidence and leadership skills.
“Atwal Eye Care has taught me so much over the years, especially how to be a leader. I’m proud to say I’ve become independent and confident when helping patients and answering their questions.”
When asked about her favorite part of working at Atwal Eye Care, Sandeep doesn’t hesitate in answering. She says it’s the people. She describes her LASIK team as not just colleagues, but as close friends who have become like family.
“Atwal Eye Care is different because they truly care about their patients and their needs. The doctors take their time listening. It’s not just about business. It’s about people.”
Sandeep credits two individuals in particular for helping shape her career: Kelly Heberlein, who helped guide her through the surgical side of ophthalmology and develop her technical skills, and Preet Bhullar, who encouraged her to continue growing within the practice and explore the refractive surgery specialty.
For Sandeep, the most rewarding part of her job is seeing the impact that quality vision care has on patients’ lives. She says there is nothing more meaningful than seeing patients become emotional after their procedures, often expressing gratitude for the life-changing results they experience.
One patient interaction stands out in particular. While assisting with Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) treatments, Sandeep noticed a patient had a large cyst on her eyelid that was deeply affecting her. She took the extra step to let the patient know it could be removed. The patient had the cyst successfully removed by Dr. Atwal and was incredibly grateful, even sending a personalized thank you card to Sandeep and the team. It’s moments like these that show how Sandeep consistently goes above and beyond for her patients.
Sandeep strongly believes everyone deserves access to quality eye care because of how essential vision is to everyday life.
“Good eyesight is essential for learning, working and staying safe,” she says.
After 15 years of dedication and compassionate care, being named Employee of the Month is a meaningful honor for Sandeep. “I am very honored to be recognized with the ‘Above & Beyond In Vision Care’ award.”
We are incredibly grateful for Sandeep’s commitment to our patients, her colleagues and our mission. Congratulations, Sandeep, and thank you for 15 wonderful years of service to Atwal Eye Care!