Each Tuesday, The

Citizen features a health professional from the

Finger Lakes community

in The Banks:

This week, we spotlight optician Mark J. Lawn.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A. Helping people any way that I can visually. I also do low vision and magnifiers. At one time I was on the Aurora of Central New York board, helping people that are visually and hearing handicapped.

Q. What is the most challenging?

A. Making sure I'm doing the best I can for the people I take care of.

Q. Describe your ideal patient.

A. Somebody that allows me to do what I'm licensed to do and that's to give them the best possible pair of glasses for their needs.

Q. When you're sick, would you want someone like you to be your doctor?

A. Yes, because it's all about knowledge.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you could give someone to keep their eyes healthy?

A. Follow their doctor's instructions.

Q. What's the most common misconception you hear from patients?

A. People don't realize that price makes a difference, which means a big difference in the quality of frames and lenses.

Q. If you weren't in the health care field, what career or field would you do?

A. I'd be a used car parts dealer like my father.

Q. For someone considering a career like yours, what advice would you offer?

A. You have to be mechanical and get as much education on the subjects as you can. And you have to deal with John Q. Public. The student in my class with the highest GPA couldn't hack it with the public, he'd rather be in a lab.

Q. What's your ideal cure for the common cold?

A. Vitamins and good nutrition.

Q. Despite being in the health care field, people would probably be surprised that when I'm off the job, I _________.

A. Work on cars.

Mark J. Lawn

Hometown: Auburn

Family: Wife, Bonnie; son, Stephen

Education: Associate in applied science from Erie County Technical Institute, New York State Licensed Ophthalmic Dispenser

Occupation: Optician, 21 E. Genesee St., Auburn

Hobbies: Working on cars