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Doctors & Staff

Meet the experienced and friendly doctors and staff who make Fireside Eye Care the leading provider of vision care products and services in Benld and the surrounding area.

Dr. Shawna HeddinghausShawna Heddinghaus, O.D., Diplomate, ABO

Dr. Heddinghaus received a Bachelor of Science degree in Life Science/Pre-Optometry from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, in 1993. She received her Doctor of Optometry degree from University of Missouri in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1999. Dr. Heddinghaus is a Board Certified Optometrist, a member of the American Optometric Association, Illinois Optometric Association, and Vision Source.

Dr. Heddinghaus received the Coal County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award in 2006 and the 2004 Macoupin County Board of Health Outstanding Individual of the Year Award. She has been a Director and Vice-President of the Partnership for Educational Excellence since 2001 and has served as a Past-President and Secretary for the Gillespie/Benld Rotary since 1999.

Dr. Heddinghaus enjoys running and biking. She completed the Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska, and several MS 150 bike rides. Dr. Heddinghaus is married and she has two children.


Amanda Gerson, O.D.

Dr. Gerson is an accomplished optometrist who enjoys getting to know her patients and their families year after year. Learn more below.

Dr. Gerson completed her undergraduate studies at Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with her bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. She is a 2019 graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry, where she graduated with many academic and clinical excellence awards.

Throughout the entirety of her four years in optometry school, Dr. Gerson trained at the school’s onsite eye clinic, the Illinois Eye Institute (IEI)– one of the largest eye care providers in the United States that features a large patient volume and case complexity. At the IEI, Dr. Gerson rotated through primary care, advanced ophthalmic care, urgent care, cornea and specialty contact lenses, and pediatric vision clinics.

Dr. Gerson is an active member of the American Optometric Association and the Illinois Optometric Association (IOA). She currently serves as president of both the Southwestern Illinois and Mid State Optometric Societies, serves on the IOA executive counsel, and is the chair for both the Membership and Corporate OD committees. In 2022 she was awarded “Illinois’ Young Optometrist of the Year” and was named Illinois College of Optometry’s “Distinguished Young Alumnus” in 2023.

She enjoys primary care optometry because it allows her to get to know her patients and their families year after year.

Dr. Gerson is a Calhoun County native who currently resides in Jerseyville, IL. It has always been her dream to come back to the Tri-County area; she is so excited to be “home” and have the privilege to provide care for the community that has cared for her. When she isn’t seeing patients, Dr. Gerson can be found boating with her boyfriend, Brad, and her dogs, Gus and Scout, or spending time with her nieces and nephews.