Women We Love: Shannon Franklin

Dr. Shannon Franklin, Doctor of Optometry, loves what she does but finds balance through knowing her priorities: “You must determine your priorities and plan your life according to them. For me, God and my family are the priorities.”

Franklin, wife of Alan, and mother of Spencer, 7, and Emmy, 5, lives and works in Crozet as owner of Crozet Eye Care, Optometrists. She spends most days seeing patients and networking with the community, but also reserves Wednesdays for volunteering in her kids’ classrooms.

Franklin began Crozet Eye Care four years ago and is one of the few doctors in Charlottesville that sees patients under 5 years old. She also serves as the state coordinator for the InfantSEE program that provides no-cost eye exams for infants 6-12 months of age regardless of income. She is also the vice president of the Virginia Optometric Association.

“I appreciate every day I have the chance to help patients,” Franklin says. “Although no parent wants this to happen, my most rewarding experience is correcting a young child’s vision/amblyopia and knowing that it will benefit them for the rest of their lives.”

Franklin’s interest in optometry started early. “When I was 11, I used to go into the bathroom, turn the lights off and shine a light in my eye to watch my pupils constrict and dilate,” she says. “Eyes fascinated me. Also in sixth grade I drew a picture of the anatomy of an eye for science class—which I have kept to this day.”

Her positive attitude is one of her greatest strengths, she says. It’s from that place that she works to get the word out about her practice—and eye care in general.

“Optometrists are primary eye care providers and examine all ages,” Franklin says. “Our scope includes writing medical prescriptions for diseases, such as glaucoma and red eyes, monitoring individuals with diabetes and other medical conditions for eye disease, removing foreign bodies from the eye, writing eyeglass prescriptions and fitting contact lenses. Unfortunately, many people only think of glasses and contacts when they think of optometrists.”

Franklin says she’s noticed something about taking care of herself: “I have recently discovered that taking care of myself physically allows the mental part to fall into line. I try to exercise 3-4 times a week at 6 a.m. This cold weather has not helped, though.”

The best advice she ever received was from Estate Planner Tom Nolan. “He trusts that business will come if he treats people fairly and has faith in God.”

And if she were to give advice for woman considering optometry? “Optometry is a great profession for women. There are many different modes of practice. For example, you can own your own business, work for someone else, work full time or part time; whatever suits you and your family.”

8 Things You Might Not Know About Shannon Franklin…
1. Who is your favorite author and why? I love how Michael Crichton used medicine and technology in his stories.

2. Favorite thing about Charlottesville? Sense of community and knowing people when you go out. I especially feel this way in Crozet.

3. What is your favorite hobby/pastime? I can think of nothing better to do with my spare time than to spend it with my family.

4. What is one of your hidden talents/skills? Baton twirling. I was a national champion for individual and team indoor competitions.

5. What is your guilty pleasure? Although I don’t feel too guilty about this, eating a gingerbread cookie from Chandler’s Bakery.

6. What is your favorite movie and why? Parenthood. I love the part where the kids are chaotic, but the mom just smiles and enjoys the chaos.

7. Where did you grow up? Richmond

8. What is the greatest invention of your lifetime and why? I have to say the Internet. The ability to share information so easily is astonishing. I try not to get too much of my medical info from Wikipedia though.