Doctors & Staff
Meet the experienced and friendly doctors and staff who make Armstrong Eye Care Associates a proud provider of vision care products and services in Kittanning.
Kara J. Shirley, O.D.
Dr. Shirley graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Saint Vincent College. She then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in the Visual Sciences and a Doctorate in Optometry at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia. Dr. Shirley graduated with Highest Honors and was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa optometric honor society. Currently, Dr. Shirley is involved in the Kittanning Rotary and serves as a board member on the Progressive Workshop of Armstrong County.
In her free time, Dr. Shirley enjoys running and spending time with her husband, daughter Lena, and son John.
Nathan W. Steinhafel, M.S., O.D., F.A.A.O.
Doctor Nathan Steinhafel received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters of Science degree in Physiology from Brigham Young University. He obtained his Doctor of Optometry from the Southern California College of Optometry and received his clinical training from the Moran Eye Center, the Southwestern Eye Center, and Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital. He completed his residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in pediatric optometry, binocular vision, and vision rehabilitation, where he also served as a clinical instructor. He served as clinical masked examiner for the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry with affiliation to the Neuro Optometry Section. He has been invited to lecture locally and nationally on the topic of visual and ocular outcomes following mild and traumatic brain injury. He is a clinician in private practice and specializes in the treatment of amblyopia, strabismus, visual dysfunction related to traumatic brain injury, vision therapy and rehabilitation.
When Dr. Steinhafel is not seeing patients he enjoys spending time at home with his wife and 4 children. He enjoys all things outdoors including running, fishing, hockey, his garden, and helping coach his kids sports.
Leah Tatsak, O.D.
Dr. Leah (Hilty) Tatsak was born and raised in Ford City and graduated from Ford City High School in 2014. Dr. Tatsak was in an accelerated program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2017 with her Bachelor of Science degree. She continued her education at The Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in Philadelphia earning her Doctorate of Optometry in 2021.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude and was part of the Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society. Additionally, she joined the advance studies program in contact lenses and specializes in contact lens fittings, including scleral lenses. At graduation she was awarded the Clinical Excellence Award in Pediatrics. Dr. Tatsak is eager to start her career in her hometown and provide exceptional eye care to the community.
In Dr. Tatsak’s free time she enjoys spending time with her husband Adam and their families.