Key-Whitman Eye Center

Since 1982, Heritage Eye Center has been a trusted “medical home” for eyecare in the McKinney community. For decades, their ophthalmologists and optometrists have cared for generations of McKinney residents, helping them preserve, maintain, and improve their precious eyesight. This tradition of excellence continues as Heritage Eye Center has now merged with Key-Whitman Eye Center.

For loyal Heritage Eye patients, the best news is that the eyecare specialists you’ve come to know and trust aren’t going anywhere. The staff and doctors who’ve cared for your eyes are still there to offer continuity of care under the Key-Whitman Eye Center name.

We thought it would be a great time to catch up with McKinney’s favorite eye doctors just long enough to discover how they came to choose their profession and what it has meant to them over the years.

Dr. Sanjay Patel

Sanjay Patel doesn’t have to think long about what led him toward his career in ophthalmology. “When I was about six, growing up in Toronto, Canada, my father and I both contracted an illness which left me temporarily blind,” he said. “I remember waking up. It was a Saturday morning, and, like most kids, I was hoping to watch cartoons. I made my way into the living room, but everything was dark. I asked my mom to turn on the lights, but they were already on.”

It took Sanjay’s parents a while to realize their son wasn’t just joking around. “They took me to Children’s Hospital in Toronto,” he said. “My best guess looking back is that I had optic neuritis. They ran all sorts of tests which were inconclusive, but a week later, my sight was back to normal.”

Sanjay left the hospital with an appreciation of the gift of sight which has never left him. Now, as a board certified ophthalmologist and surgeon, he specializes in cataract surgery, with a special interest in diabetic-eye diseases, glaucoma, and partnering with his patients with the goal of optimum vision — for life. “Sight is the most important of our five senses,” he said. “When I perform cataract surgery on a patient and they tell me, ‘Wow! I can see again!’ I know exactly how they feel.”

When not on the job, Dr. Patel enjoys motorsports and spending time with his two daughters, a college student and a recent college graduate. He supports McKinney Education Foundation, the Lion’s Club, and Pratham, a nonprofit promoting education in India. 

Dr. Joshua Heczko

Joshua Heczko came to ophthalmology a bit later than Dr. Patel, originally pursuing a chemistry career. “I guess more than anything it was my impatience that redirected my path,” he admits. “My goal was to come up with a new medication that would move medicine forward in a significant way. But after I’d worked for a year and a half on a possible new cancer therapy and it failed, I realized I wasn’t the guy who wanted long-term results. I wanted to make a difference sooner rather than later.”

Chemistry’s loss is ophthalmology’s gain. Joshua started medical school and, in his third year, completed an ophthalmology rotation. “I realized it was a good combination of clinics during which I could interact with patients and surgeries which I really enjoy,” he said. “I can perform a 10 or 15-minute operation and have a profound and noticeable impact on someone’s life.” He also realized that while many surgeons don’t have the chance to get to know their patients, as an ophthalmologist, he can follow them throughout their lives and this human connection really appealed to him.

When not on the job, Dr. Heczko enjoys tennis, golf, snowboarding, watching sports, and usually reads 100 to 200 books a year. From the time he was a child, he’s been deeply involved in nonprofit and charity work. And he and his wife are thrilled to have just welcomed their first daughter, Mina.

Dr. Dania Tassabhji

Dania Tassabhji always knew she wanted a career in medicine. She worked at a pharmacy during school and, although she enjoyed it, it wasn’t quite what she was looking for. She was lucky to shadow doctors from many different disciplines, exploring each specialty to see if it was the right fit. It was when she shadowed an optometrist that she knew she’d found her passion. “Optometry combines all the things I was looking for,” she said. “I love science, love patient care, and hoped to find the right work-life balance.” Optometry checked all her boxes.

“Key-Whitman is a high-volume clinic,” Dr. Tassabhji. “I like the pace and love our loyal patients.” She offers routine eye exams as well as post-operative care and treatment for dry eye, glaucoma, and other eye conditions.

Dr. Tassabhji really wants to emphasize the importance of annual eye exams. “Most people are good about regular visits to their primary-care doctor and their dentist, but routine eye exams are just as important,” she said. “Many systemic conditions can be seen during an eye exam, often before the patient is experiencing symptoms.” These conditions include diabetes and high blood pressure. “Diabetes is a common cause of blindness, but it doesn’t have to be,” Dr. Tassabhji said. “The sooner we catch and treat it the better.”

When not on the job, Dr. Tassabhji enjoys hitting the gym for some Pilates, hanging out with family, and trying new restaurants. She stays informed on emerging technology through her memberships in Texas Optometric Association, American Optometry Association, and Northeast Texas Optometric Association.

Find out more and schedule an appointment at HeritageEyeCenter.com (soon to be KeyWhitman.com).