PHYSICIAN CEO Alumni Directory

Alison Renae Tendler, MD is a ophthalmic surgeon and partner of Vance Thompson Vision and the director of

Artisan 57 Skin and Laser Center in Sioux Falls, SD. She was born/raised in South Dakota. Prior to returning

home to join Dr Vance Thompson in 2006, she completed her M.D. training at the University of South Dakota,

ophthalmology residency at the University of Minnesota, and Cornea/Refractive fellowship in Albany, NY. She is

an active member of the SD State Medical Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of

Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and American Society for Laser Medicine

and Surgery.

Believing highly that education is power, Dr. Tendler is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of

Surgery for Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota and enjoys speaking regularly in the

region, as well as internationally, on issues related to ocular surgery and anterior segment ocular diseases,

particularly dry eye. As an extension to this belief, she began her tenure as spokesperson for RESTASIS (North

American consumer campaign, Allergan PLC) eye drops in 2007, which continues to the present.

In 2013 she and her two business partners made the bold move to leave a large vertically-integrated health system

to develop a state-of-the-art ophthalmology practice and surgical center with a truly unique patient experience,

located in Sioux Falls. Under her co-leadership, within three years this practice has grown from 35 to 90

employees and serves over 30000 patients per year. She currently serves her patients and clients by performing

cataract, refractive, and general oculoplastic surgeries. While helping people "see" better, she also hopes to help

them "see themselves" better through invasive and noninvasive aesthetics procedures at Artisan 57. The “Art of

Skincare” grew through her passion for healthy skin and seeing the positive changes she could make in her clients’

self-esteem by creating, preserving, and maintaining the “work of art” that represents them.

Because work only represents a portion of who somebody really is, Dr. Tendler makes sure to include activities

that help stimulate her mind as well as her soul. A day without some form of exercise is infrequent and may

consist of outdoor adventures such as cycling, hiking, regular walks with an aging yellow lab lovingly known as

Cooper, or having Shaun T “coach” her by DVD. Additional passions involve traveling the country and globe

with her husband, discovering bold red wines, unique dining adventures, re-teaching herself to play the piano, the

challenge of a jig-saw puzzle, and getting lost in a really good book.