Catching Up With Dr. Forgnoni: Soldier and Optometrist
In March 2017, we featured Frank W. Forgnoni, OD as our veteran of the month.
In that blog post, Dr. Forgnoni told us a little about his military career and what it was like to be an Optometrist practicing in the National Vision Doctor of Optometry network. He also shared with us that he was the recipient of the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal – awarded to him for over 10 years of volunteer vision services to local Lions Clubs in Upstate South Carolina.
Dr. Forgnoni has practiced with Doctor’s Exchange of South Carolina, P.C., an independent optometric practice with multiple offices located inside America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses in South Carolina, since December of 2016; and he has also served our country since May of 2009 as an Optometrist in the Army Reserves. He is a 1996 graduate of Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
In honor of Military Appreciation Month, we recently caught up with Dr. Forgnoni who is now serving in his 10th year in the Army Reserves.
Tell us how your military career has advanced since we last spoke.
“I am currently a Major at the 3rd Medical Command near Atlanta, GA. In July 2018, I completed a year-long course by the Command and General Staff College, which focused on military history, strategy and leadership. I was also awarded two Army Commendation Medals. The first medal in September 2018 was for outstanding achievement as an Optometry Consultant, noting ‘exceptional leadership, selfless devotion to Soldiers, and unparalleled dedication to mission accomplishment that were instrumental in the overall success of the unit.’
The second medal in January 2019 was for outstanding achievement as the Senior Optometrist, noting ‘my commitment to excellence was instrumental as part of the joint component innovative readiness training mission.’”
Tell us a little more about your work with Vision Therapy (VT).
“I actively performed VT for nearly 20 years in two private practices I owned, initially in Delaware and then later in South Carolina. It was a unique season of my career utilizing visual exercises and techniques to help children and adults with visual problems such as lazy eye, crossed eyes, double vision, convergence insufficiency and other visual anomalies related to learning disabilities and brain injury. My Fellowship in VT from the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (FCOVD), was designated as ‘Fellow Emeritus’ in December 2018. I now refer patients to other VT providers when the need is detected during my primary care exams performed at my office inside America’s Best.”
Anything else you would like to share with us?
“I would like to acknowledge special appreciation to my loving and supportive family, especially my wife and three kids, and my mom who encouraged me to pursue Optometry as a career; and to my dad, who served honorably in Vietnam as a combat veteran. And special thanks to National Vision – especially for fostering a culture of excellence and military appreciation.”
Thank you, once again, Dr. Forgnoni for your service to our country. It is an honor to have you as a partner and Happy Military Appreciation Month!
Jessica Altamirano
Latest posts by Jessica Altamirano (see all)
- Meet the 2019 National Vision Scholarship Recipients - October 14, 2019
- America’s Best Honored by Department of Defense for Guard Support - September 18, 2019
- Meet our Summer Interns - August 7, 2019
