Daniel J. Schimmel, O.D., grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He received a B.S. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville followed by Doctor of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. Upon completion of optometry school, he entered private practice in Knoxville, Tennessee for nine years. He then left private practice and completed a one-year fellowship at Omni Eye Services of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the diagnosis and management of ophthalmic diseases.

Dr. Schimmel has been involved, since 1987, in both the administrative and the direct clinical care of clients at large referral centers in Knoxville, Nashville and Chicago. He has managed over 6,000 clients pre and post-surgically for both cataract and laser vision correction. He has articles published on the management of corneal keratitis and lectured on a variety of topics including low vision, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Tennessee Optometric Association.

Dr. Schimmel has served as board member to optometric associations at both the local and state level. Dr. Schimmel is a huge sports fan as well as a world traveler. He and his wife reside in Gallatin, TN.