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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