RMEC Expands in Trinidad

Posted by: Rocky Mountain Eye Center in News on May 5, 2020

Rocky Mountain Eye Center is increasing its commitment to the eye care needs of the Trinidad community, announcing plans to expand and relocate two doors down from its current Freedom Road location after acquiring Dr. Hagen’s practice previously at 1114 Main Street in Trinidad.

With Rocky Mountain Eye Center’s increasing footprint in Trinidad, RMEC offers three doctors in the community with the possibility of adding a fourth fulltime doctor to the staff. The center intends to bring a total of six new jobs to Trinidad to help staff the center, welcome news as the community navigates the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

“We’re excited to offer even more exemplary eye care to Trinidad’s residents,” Rocky Mountain Eye Center Executive Director Scott Wilson said, “and adding new jobs during this uncertain time is an added bonus. With the unfortunate recent closure of Hibbett Sports, these new jobs will more than replace those lost from that closure.”

Rocky Mountain Eye Center was selected by Dr. George Hagen, who has served Trinidad for three decades, to take over his practice after his retirement. Hagen has been a community staple, giving of himself to not only the residents of Trinidad, but to those in need through his tireless work with the Trinidad Rotary Club, which includes providing eye care to needy children from Nicaragua. 

“We consider it an honor and privilege that Dr. Hagen has entrusted Rocky Mountain Eye Center to carry on the rich tradition of quality eye care that he provided Trinidad for decades,” Wilson said, “and we will strive to continue this great service for the community.”

Dr. Cory W. Smith will continue to serve patients at the RMEC Trinidad location, as well as Dr. Nathan Stevens and Dr. Anna Clark. Both doctors Stevens and Clark are military veterans, and Clark has previously volunteered eye care to needy and homeless patients, certainly following in the tradition established by Dr. Hagen. 

To celebrate its Trinidad expansion, Rocky Mountain Eye Center will host a “virtual ribbon-cutting,” the first ever of its kind in Trinidad, on Monday, June 15 at 3 p.m. The event will be hosted by the Latino Chamber of Commerce (on its Facebook page: (Facebook.com/PuebloLCC), and video of the event will be carried live by the Trinidad Chamber of Commerce, Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, and the Pueblo West Chamber of Commerce on their respective Facebook pages. Anybody who marks that they are “attending” on the Latino Chamber’s Facebook event for the ribbon-cutting will be entered to win “virtual door prizes,” as well. 

With the expansion of the new Trinidad office, Rocky Mountain Eye Center has 11 locations serving the eye care needs of Southern Colorado and North New Mexico. Its other locations include La Junta, Pueblo West, Canon City, Alamosa, Salida, Raton, N.M. and three locations in Pueblo in addition to two Trinidad locations. Rocky Mountain Eye Center’s current, seven board certified ophthalmologists diagnose, treat and help to prevent diseases of the eye. Its ophthalmologists complete annual eye examinations, perform surgical procedures, assist in specific areas of eye care and prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. Rocky Mountain Eye Center is also Southeastern Colorado’s only LASIK surgery center.