Founded in December 2000 by Dr. Jackie McCall, our practice was built on the belief that eye care should be independent, family-focused, and rooted in the local community.
Over the decades, diagnostic technology has advanced dramatically, and our clinic has grown alongside those innovations to become a trusted fixture in the community. We are honored to be frequently recognized in the Brainerd Dispatch’s Best of the Lakes awards under the Eye Clinic category—having been voted winner by our patients and neighbors, and frequently earning a top finalist spot over the years.
Meet our Team
Proudly serving families in the Brainerd Lakes area with independent, compassionate, and personalized eye care since 2000.
Dr. Jackie McCall, O.D.
Founder & Optometric Physician
Dr. Jackie McCall grew up in the close-knit farming community of Max, North Dakota. She attended undergraduate school in Bismarck at the University of Mary before moving to Southern California to pursue her passion for visual science. She attended the prestigious Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton, where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Visual Science in 1984 and graduated with her Doctor of Optometry Degree in 1986.
Dr. McCall moved to the Brainerd Lakes area in January 1987. She spent the next thirteen years honing her clinical expertise as an independent optometric contractor. In December 2000, she fulfilled her long-term dream of private practice by opening the doors to Midwest Family Eye Center right here in Baxter.
Dr. McCall is a long-standing member of both the Minnesota Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association, and she remains deeply committed to pediatric vision development.
"Optometry is an incredibly rewarding profession because it allows me to work closely with wonderful people every single day. I feel truly privileged to dedicate my life's work to the perfection and preservation of sight for our local families. I want to personally thank our long-term patients for their decades of continued confidence in our practice and extend a warm welcome to all of our new neighbors joining the Midwest Family Eye Center family."
Dr. Torvin Rajala, O.D.
Optometric Physician
Dr. Torvin Rajala spent his childhood in Isanti, Minnesota, graduating from Cambridge-Isanti High School in 2014. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2018. While at UMD, Dr. Rajala's passion for scientific discovery led him to work as a research assistant in the chemistry department—an endeavor that resulted in his core molecular findings being co-published in the prestigious peer-reviewed Biophysical Journal in 2019. He then transitioned to clinical medicine, earning his Doctorate from the University of Missouri St. Louis College of Optometry in 2022.
Dr. Rajala first realized he wanted to pursue optometry during high school after taking a health careers exploration class and shadowing a local optometrist. He instantly fell in love with the combination of advanced medical science and patient communication. Today, he actively treats patients of all age ranges, bringing fresh clinical perspectives and advanced training in ocular disease management to our Baxter clinic.
Dr. Rajala resides locally in Brainerd with his wife, their child, and their two dogs. An avid, lifetime outdoorsman, when he isn't in the office looking after patients, you will likely find him hunting, fishing, or camping. He and his family love exploring regional parks like Gooseberry Falls State Park.
