battle ongoing fatigue due
to my cardiac medications,
heart failure and ongoing
chest pain. I’
m out of breath
from simple acts, such
as walking up or down
stairs, and my new work
restrictions limit my career
trajectory. Every day I take
a myriad of medications to
keep my stents open and help
my heart pump. Moreover,
because of heart failure, I
can no longer have biological
children, and my future
quality of life is uncertain.
When I see my
cardiologists now, they
remark I’
m a medical
miracle; most women with
SCAD as severe as mine do
not live or only live with
cardiac assistive devices or
heart transplants. This, too,
may be my future, but for
now I am trying to live in the
moment.
I hope to raise awareness
of SCAD as a cardiac
emergency that requires
immediate medical attention
from a knowledgeable
provider. More specifically,
women need to know
the symptoms of a heart
attack and understand that
younger, healthy women of
childbearing age, especially
those who have recently had
a baby, are at risk, too. We
as a community of women
need to empower ourselves
with knowledge and change
our understanding to realize
that women can be otherwise
healthy and still have heart
attacks.
It’
s common in American
verbiage to talk about self-
care and “knowing your
body.” Yet, when it comes
to cardiac emergencies, this
is so much more than a
mindful slogan. It’
s critical
for women to know the signs
and trust ourselves and our
bodies when something
seems wrong. While SCAD
can present as mild and thus
the mortality rate is low, the
chance of recurrence is high.
Let’
s take a moment to
empower ourselves with
knowledge. Let me be a
warning and a beacon of
hope.
Health
continued from page 43
LEFT: At one point, doctors gave her only a 10% chance of survival.
RIGHT: Morgan faces a long road of recovery.
44 | MARCH 26 • 2020
CATARACT AND EYE CONSULTANTS
OF MICHIGAN
23133 Orchard Lake Road, Ste. 205
Farmington, MI 48336
Phone: (248) 478-8990
AND
29753 Hoover Road
Warren, MI 48093
Phone: (586) 573-4333
www.eyeconsultantsofmich.com
By Esther Allweiss Ingber
Amanda Salter, MD, a comprehensive ophthalmologist specializing in cataract
surgery, will mark her second anniversary with Cataract and Eye Consultants of
Michigan on April 1. It’s also the date that she will begin seeing patients at the
brand new Farmington practice location.
A native of Farmington Hills, Dr. Salter, 36, “will take a leading role” in the new
office. Joining her at both locations will be Dr. Sarah Muenk-Gold and Dr. Alan
Parent. The three physicians are board-certified ophthalmologists and fellows of
the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Salter, daughter of Adrea Benkoff, MD, is a second-generation ophthalmologist
at Cataract and Eye Consultants.
“I began seeing my mother’s patients after she retired in March 2018,” Dr. Salter
said. Dr. Benkoff spent nearly 30 years with the practice.
Dr. Salter’s medically-oriented family also includes her husband, Matthew Salter,
DO, an anesthesiologist; father, David Benkoff, MD, a gastroenterologist; sister,
Reesa Benkoff, JD, who practices healthcare law, representing physicians; and
father-in-law, Michael Salter, DPM, a podiatrist.
Growing up, Dr. Salter and her Benkoff family belonged to Adat Shalom Syna-
gogue. She and her husband are Temple Beth El members now, along with daugh-
ters Liora, 5, and Daphne, 3.
Dr. Salter graduated from North Farmington High School and continued her studies
at the University of Michigan. She earned her medical degree at New York Uni-
versity and did her ophthalmology residency training in the Ivy League at Brown
University in Rhode Island. She practiced in Massachusetts before returning home
to continue her practice in the Detroit area.
The doctors on staff at Cataract and Eye Consultants are “excellent surgeons and
clinicians,” said Dr. Salter. “We all do everything within the field of ophthalmology
but also have our areas of expertise.”
The focus of Dr. Salter’s practice is cataract surgery, glaucoma, dry-eye syndrome
and facial rejuvenation, primarily for aesthetic reasons, through the use of Botox
and dermal fillers.
“We strive to stay up to date with technological advances in
ophthalmology, so we can offer the newest advancements to
our patients,” said Dr. Salter.
She’s excited about being able to offer her dry-eye patients a
new eyelid treatment in the near future, to be administered
in the office. For cataract surgery, an out-patient procedure,
the ophthalmologists are utilizing state-of-the-art technology
with more precise accuracy. Astigmatism is managed with-
out requiring needles or stitches.
Regarding facial rejuvenation, “when people age 30
to 50 begin receiving treatments, they may reduce
the likelihood of getting deeper wrinkles when
they’re older,” said Dr. Salter.
The Farmington office of Cataract and Eye Con-
sultants is already taking appointments. “My
passion is treating disease in and around the
eye, and I work hard to care for my patients,”
she said.
DR. AMANDA SALTER
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