our doctors & staff
 

In May 2019 joined Groton Eye Center as clinical director and practice owner. A New England native, Dr. Kallinen grew up in Mystic, CT. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Connecticut with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Biological Sciences, he focused his passions on eye care, receiving his doctorate from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University.

Dr. Kallinen’s rotations at The Brown Center of East Providence RI, Blackfeet Community Hospital of Browning MT, Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Manchester NH, and at The Eye Institute of Philadelpha PA provided extensive training in managing a wide array of ocular conditions and diseases. Training at Pascarella Eye Care and Contact Lenses provided a wealth of knowledge in hard and soft contact lens fitting.

Dr. Kallinen maintains an Advanced Practice Certification for Optometry allowing him to treat eye conditions, injuries, and pathology at the highest level allowed by CT law. He is a current and active member of the Connecticut Association of Optometrists and the American Optometric Association.

Dr. Kallinen is the team Optometrist for the Connecticut Sun Basketball team and the New England Black Wolves Lacrosse team.

In his spare time Dr. Kallinen enjoys reading, the outdoors, cooking, gardening, and staying fit.

Eager to pursue a career in optometry, Dr. Jessica Fretto, enrolled in the accelerated three plus four program at the University of Hartford obtaining her bachelors degree in Health Sciences. She obtained her Doctorate of Optometry degree from SUNY (State University of New York) College of Optometry in New York City.

Dr. Fretto completed internships focusing on a variety of specialities including advanced ocular disease management  at the West Haven VA in Connecticut, anterior segment pathology and refractive cases at Keller Army Hospital at West Point, NY, pediatric eye exams at the University Eye Center at SUNY, and speciality contact lens fittings at a private practice in NJ. These internships provided Dr. Fretto with the clinical skills necessary to diagnose, treat, and manage ocular and refractive conditions as well as proving care to a diverse patient population.

On her days off, Dr. Fretto enjoys spending time with friends and family, beach trips, and hiking adventures. 

Dr. Nardella was born and raised in Avon, CT. She graduated from the Honors Program at Boston College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She stayed in the Boston area to pursue her doctorate at New England College of Optometry, graduating Valedictorian of her class.

Dr. Nardella completed her training at rotations including MyEyeDr in Wilmington, NC, Fenway Health Center in Boston, MA, Martha Eliot Boston Children’s Health Center in Jamaica Plain, MA and Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Brockton, MA. This provided her with extensive experience in the treatment and management of ocular conditions in diverse medical settings.

Dr. Nardella enjoys painting, playing piano, cooking, and hiking in her free time.

Dr. Adrian retired on April 1, 2020 after leading the Groton Eye Center for more than twenty five years. In retirement, Dr. Adrian looks forward to spending more time with his family, running more marathons, and traveling. He will also continue his important volunteer work with Sofia Sees Hope, a foundation dedicated to the treatment of rare inherited retinal diseases.

Jen is certified by the American Board of Opticianry and has been in this field for over 22 years. Jen has worked in every position at GEC since starting with the practice in 2001. She has been our Optical Lead, Insurance and Billing Manager, and she is now the Practice Manager. Jen is extremely knowledgeable in all things Optometry and Optical. She cares for our patients, staff, facilities, and the community, with compassion and integrity.

Kelli has been with Groton Eye Center since 2014, and has over 15 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, a Nationally Certified Contact Lens Examiner, and along with being our Technical Manager, she leads our staff training and education modules, compliance, and most recently, our social media platforms. Kelli has worked every job from front desk, optical, scribe, primary technician, to office manager; throughout her career in Optometry. Kelli is a valued member of the GEC team. She is always there to answer questions, assist the staff, and protect our patients and staff with comprehensive safety protocols.