Our Practice in Peoria

Dr. Richard Kern is a lifelong Peorian. He comes from an Optometric family, having practiced with his father for over twenty-five years. He attended Bradley University and received his Doctor of Optometry from Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. Dr. Kern joined Bixby Eye Center in 2018.

Dr. Kern was a figure skater for many years and volunteered as a teacher at Owens Center in Peoria. He received the Rhodell Owens Award from the Peoria Park District for his efforts. He continues to serve skating as a national level judge for US Figure Skating and travels the country judging competitions. In his spare time, he plays duplicate bridge and walks his Shih Tzu, Max.

The one thing Dr. Kern thinks all our patients should know is that he is much taller than he looks!

Dr. Steven T. Jensen joined our practice in 2018.  He provides excellent eyecare to his patients, specializing in difficult contact lens fits, medical eye conditions, and routine eye care. Dr. Jensen received his Doctor of Optometry from Illinois College of Optometry in 2011. Dr. Jensen has been working in the Peoria area since his graduation.  He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to The Bixby Eye Center, along with a compassionate and caring attitude.

Dr. Jensen and his wife Nicole reside in Washington, Illinois with their sons, Jacob and Zachary. He likes spending time with his family and friends, and watching the White Sox and Cardinals play baseball.

​The one thing Dr. Jensen thinks all our patients should know is that contact lens wearers should not only be changing the contacts themselves regularly, but also changing the cases! When you change your bottle of solution, you should start over with a new case, too!

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Rebekah Yu to our esteemed team of optometrists at The Bixby Eye Center! Allow us to introduce you to our new optometrist and share the benefits she brings to our patients:

1. Dr. Yu holds a degree in Optometry from Illinois College of Optometry.  She completed specialized training in complicated contact lens fits, myopia management in the adolescent population, managed eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and dry eyes.  
2. Dr. Yu is dedicated to providing personalized and compassionate care to each patient.  She takes the time to listen to patients’ concerns, thoroughly assess your eye health, and tailor treatment plans to meet individual needs. 
3. Keeping up with the latest advancements in optometry, Dr. Yu is well-versed in utilizing cutting-edge diagnostic technology.  By leveraging state-of-the-art equipment, she can provide accurate diagnoses, early detection of eye diseases, and precise prescriptions for vision correction. 
4. Dr. Yu has a special interest in management and treatment of eye diseases. Therefore, she is an ideal choice for primary eye care of patients of all ages. 
5. Dr. Yu believes in a collaborative approach to eye care. She works closely with other optometrists in our practice, ophthalmologists and other healthcare professionals to ensure seamless coordination of care, particularly for patients requiring multidisciplinary treatment or referrals. 

We invite you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Rebekah Yu to experience her exceptional care firsthand.  We are confident that she will be a valuable addition to our practice!

Jenna was born and raised in the Peoria Area, and she has been around the eye care business all her life. She started working at The Bixby Eye Center at the age of 14. She then pursued a career in nursing and healthcare administration. She graduated from Bradley University with a Bachelor of Science in nursing and a Master of Science in Health Service Administration from the University of Saint Francis. She has experience in the hospital and clinical setting for both clinical and administrative roles. She returned to The Bixby Eye Center in 2012 to fulfill a life-long dream to work in the family business and service our community with their eye care needs.

Jenna lives in Lacon, Illinois with her husband, Brian, and their dogs Shelby and Kourtney. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, fishing, boating, playing with her dogs and traveling.

The one thing Jenna thinks all our patients should know is how much we care about them (and not just their eyes!). Our overall goal is to provide excellent care, and make sure all our patients leave the office happy!

Don joined The Bixby Eye Center team in 2019, bringing seven years of eyecare industry experience with him. Born and raised in Fairbury, IL, he has enjoyed a varied career in several states that includes retail experience with large companies such as Hallmark and specialized retail in the music industry.

Don’s favorite parts of his job include selecting and buying fabulous frames for our patients and providing phenomenal customer experiences. Don attended Western Illinois University, and graduated from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA with their Certificate of Completion!

Don lives in Mackinaw, IL with his wife, Dawn, and their Jack Russel terrier, Dexter Allen. When he is not helping patients up their eyewear game, he enjoys books, gardening, yard work, fishing, composing music, and perfecting his drumming skills (we hear he is quite good!).

The one thing Don thinks all our patients should know is how many pairs of glasses the really need: ophthalmic (regular, every day, dress glasses), sunglasses, readers, computer glasses, and a backup pair!

Sarah joined the Bixby Eye Center in September of 2020. Although this was her entry into the eyecare industry, she has been in the medical industry for over 20 years. She comes to us with a background in Practice Administration, which includes skills in budgeting, finance, strategic growth planning, MACRA/MIPS, HR, marketing, contract negotiations…. basically, every facet of running a business! Her strengths lie in making sure all the important details of the practice are seen to.

Sarah graduated from Bradley University with a degree in Public Relations/Business Management and is currently completing her BSRN at Methodist College.

Sarah lives in Peoria Heights with her daughter, Lauren, and their puppy Avett. When Sarah has downtime, she enjoys reading, painting, cooking, hiking, and taking in live music festivals.

The one thing Sarah thinks all our patients should know is how much the Bixby team really cares about our patients!

Alicia joined the Bixby team in February of 2021, but has worked in healthcare since 1996. Immediately before coming to The Bixby Eye Center, she ran the business office for a long-term care facility, and prior to that she worked for an ophthalmologist in Peoria until he sold the practice. She is well versed in all things insurance, coding, billing, clinical testing, customer service, and optical services.

Alicia has an Associate’s Degree in Sciences from Illinois Central College, and is completing at Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from SNHU.

Alicia lives in Dunlap with her husband, Chris, their son, Brogan, and their cat, The Dread Pirate Roberts (Buttercup has sadly crossed the Rainbow Bridge). When not a t work, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family. She has also known our own Dr. Kern for most of her life through the figure skating world; she was a competitive figure skater for over twenty years!

The one thing Alicia thinks all our patients should know is that when it comes to eyecare, you really do get what you pay for. We are not trying to just spend your money; we want to give you the best options for you only pair of eyes!