Dr. Emde is a 1992 biology graduate of Southern College of Seventh-day Adventists (now Southern Adventist University). He received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center School of Optometry in 1997. He currently lives in the countryside of beautiful East Tennessee. He owns East View Eye Care, P.C., a private group practice in Greeneville, and has been in practice there for 20 years. His wife of 24 years, Angela, teaches high school at Greeneville Adventist Academy where their three daughters attend. Dr. Emde has a passion for missions and has traveled to Costa Rica, Peru, and Mongolia (and soon to Moldova) providing free eye care and glasses to those in need.