MEET OUR EYECARE TEAM:

Dr. Darlyne H. Fujimoto, Optometrist

In a (coco)nutshell: She was born in Hilo, Hawaii and raised in the tiny village of Pahoa populated by kind and loving people who infused her with the spirit of Aloha. Her childhood was idyllic, but it was not an easy life. She worked hard at school, home and her grandparents' bakery; hard work was not punishment, but valued, expected and not open to bargaining or discussion. By their own lives, her parents and grandparents taught her the values of honesty, family life, respecting others, loyalty, and self-discipline.

She feels that she was born to be an optometrist, and for the last 25 years, she has been serving the Cerritos, California community and surrounding cities with Aloha. These days, her patients also come to see her from Hawaii, across the country and from a number of foreign countries (Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Canada, Korea, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Russia, Dubai, India, Africa, Brazil and Indonesia). Her returning and referred patients keep her busy and inspired. She is deeply in love with her patients and her profession and considers it a privilege, joy and grace to be of service to others.

She defines a successful doctor as one "who delivers excellent care not only with the mind and body, but especially with the heart and soul" and she strives to be that doctor with every patient. Such a humanistic, caring approach takes time, empathy and understanding and has forged incredible, lasting friendships between her and her patients.

"People come first... I want my patients to live their lives seeing well, she says. "I don't want them missing out on any of life's beauties and joys, whether it be nature's wonders, sports, a good book or website. I'm not in it for the money; I am doing what I love," she says. In spite of an ever-growing demand for her services, she refuses to overcrowd her schedule. She has never been tempted to double up her schedule (which would double her income), as doing so would shortchange her patients. Instead, she has sought out and employs excellent associate doctors who, sharing her ideals, work alongside and collaborate with her.

She also tangibly expresses her devotion to her patients by providing them with the newest and the best in eyecare technology, knowing that doing so can avert much pain and suffering by detecting and nipping problems in the bud. She laughingly speculates that she may well be the least compensated doctor around, as she keeps plowing her assets back into the practice. Lest you feel a twinge of sympathy, know that she is a believer of storing up one's treasures in heaven.

Her patients are very knowledgeable as she constantly updates them on the latest developments in eye care, contact lenses, nutrition and eye health, the effects of stress on eye health, and computer-related vision problems (Computer Vision Syndrome). Although quiet by nature, she'll talk up a storm if she believes you will benefit from knowing more about your eyes.

Grateful for the loyalty and support of her patients and community, she enthusiastically gives back by giving talks on eye health, eyes and computers, nutrition for eye health, and VSP insurance availability to the uninsured to community organizations, local schools, churches, health care professionals, Cerritos College, senior citizen centers, and Scout troops. She believes in empowering people with knowledge so they may know how to protect, preserve and enjoy their most precious sense�sight! If you would like her to speak to your group or organization, call the office at 562/860-1339.

Prone to overwork, Dr. Fujimoto strives to live a balanced and consciously prioritized life. She is a voracious reader; writes for fun; is an almost daily communicant; and loves wide, open spaces where she indulges her joys of mountain biking and taking long walks with her husband and Shelties. She describes her husband as the nicest, most supportive guy on earth. They share the ups and downs of life with their family, immediate and extended, and cherished friends and neighbors. They are presently experiencing the unadulterated joy of being "G-Ma" and "G-Pa" to their g-kids, Austin Kai (4) and Makena Grace (2).

In view of the evidence of God's purpose being clearly woven into her life, she is content to leave any future plans in the hands of the Master Planner, while trusting in Providence and Grace. Always with an eye to the future, she speculates that she will devote her golden years to teaching, studying theology, rescuing dogs, and continuing to fulfill the Scout promise of "Leave a place better than you found it." As a baby boomer, she thinks she's still in her silver years and as long as she is able and enjoys her work, she plans to continue empathically caring for her patients.

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Before reading on, PLEASE scroll ALL THE WAY DOWN this page to meet our wonderful team members and then, for those so inclined, come back here to read the following that details how our practice came to be. (LONG)

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THE HISTORY OF OUR 75-YEAR OLD PRACTICE: Or, how our practice is what it is

The first glimmer of Dr. Fujimoto's call to optometry came at age 13, when she was awed by how the clarity of vision imparted by her first pair of glasses made her grades soar. She learned first-hand what it is like to be relieved of a handicap. Her optometric aspirations were shortlived and dashed by a school counselor who informed her that it was a men-only profession.

A self-described nerd-geek, she graduated with honors from Mid-Pacific Institute, a non-denominational Christian boarding school in Honolulu. She went on to earn a BA degree in Psychology (Honors Program) and Fine Arts from Indiana University, Bloomington; and pursued graduate studies at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, where she taught a third year Educational Psychology class, EP311, and worked as a researcher.

Just when she thought that she was grooved into her life's path, she experienced an insistent, "out of the blue" call to optometry, accompanied by an unbidden spiritual conversion. Without any religious affiliation and very much "in the world" at the time, she was an unlikely person for this to happen to and very much to her surprise, she willingly and fully surrendered the reins of her life to God's Will.

With crystal clarity and to her deepest core, she came to know that she would best serve people by helping them see well and appreciate their most precious sense, sight. Doors opened and opportunities presented themselves, so amazingly and swiftly that she is quick to give ALL glory and credit to God, as she realizes and fully acknowledges: "Of myself I am nothing, the Father doeth the works."

To get into optometry school she spent two years immersed in a pre-med curriculum. When the going got rough, this became her mantra: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

As long as she worked hard and prayed, the graces flowed. She attended Southern California College of Optometry on a full ride academic (WICHE) scholarship and graduated with a BS degree, Magna Cum Laude, and was a "Top 10%" graduate, earning a Doctor of Optometry degree with distinction. As a student, she served as a teaching assistant; guest lectured in Psychobiology; was a member of the BSK honorary society; and made lifelong friends. Since then, she has guest lectured on the subjects of practice management and contact lenses at her alma mater.

Upon licensure, vowing she would only work in a professional (vs. commercial) office, Dr. Fujimoto patiently waited for the right opportunity. Via a circuitous series of coincidental events, the Alumni Director of her college told her about meeting a doctor over the weekend; that doctor had just been honored for 50 years in optometry and was described as a "fine, older gentleman, who, at age 75, just might be looking for an associate doctor."

That doctor was Dr. Wm. Murray Schofield, Cerritos' first optometrist. Unbeknownst to the Alumni Director, Dr. Schofield had vowed to only take on an associate doctor who shared his faith-based professional values and ideals who had "the courage to be different from the rest and and was willing to make the necessary sacrifices to practice optometry the way it was meant to be practiced."

He had already interviewed and/or "apprenticed" 51 associate doctors, hoping to find his eventual successor but to no avail.

In preparing her resume, Dr. Fujimoto was forthright in expressing her heart's desire: "Consider me IF AND ONLY IF this is an ethical, professional practice and there is a real possibility that this position will lead to partnership/ownership."

After her first and only interview, she was offered the position. Before she accepted it, she stopped at the local library to see if Cerritos was a community that she would want to live in. Like her parents and grandparents, she wanted be an active, contributing member of the community that she worked and lived in. Upon learning that Cerritos was a vibrant, model community --and within driving distance to Cal Poly University where her professor husband taught, she accepted the position.

Within a month, they moved to Cerritos and plunged right into the life of the community.

Three months later, Dr. Schofield determined that he had indeed found his match. So she could buy his practice, Dr. Schofield offered her a deal that could not be refused. Although she had neither assets, nor collateral, he offered to personally finance the purchase of his practice. She is forever indebted to Dr. Schofield as her mentor, role model, benefactor and friend.

He worked on a part-time basis for almost two years before retiring at age 77. The transition was seamless and in the years that followed, they cultivated a sweet and abiding friendship.

Dr. Schofield passed on at age 89 and his name remains on the signage to honor and commemorate this fine gentleman. His spirit lives on in his patients' and Dr. Fujimoto's hearts; his living legacy is this practice, its team, and its five generations of patients.

OUR MISSION: To heartily welcome our patients, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, religion, or special needs, and provide eyecare in only one way: to give the best in personalized, compassionate and professional eye care to each and every patient, while delighting in our time together.

Following Dr. Schofield's lead that by serving our patients, we serve God, Dr. Fujimoto thinks of her work as more a ministry than an occupation. Answering to a Higher Authority, she strives to do her best to serve our patients with lovingkindness, patience, gentleness, generosity, gratitude, and humility.

Aware of her human imperfections and limitations and that she is a work in progress, daily, she seeks and learns new ways to serve better, out of love for God and neighbor.

She lives a simple, unostentatious life and her work is her unceasing prayer. Most of her financial resources are directed toward providing our patients with the best of care. She intentionally provides doctors and staff, alike, with enough time to provide unhurried, quality care to our patients, while providing premium services and goods without charging exorbitant fees. Her goals are simple: provide Lexus-quality care at (affordable) Camry fees and create a work scenario that allows her team to always go home feeling fulfilled and proud of the work they've done.

Raised to "Go the Extra Mile!" and "Share the Aloha," Dr. Fujimoto constantly challenges herself to do more for her patients.

Case in point: without being charged extra fees, our patients are provided with the premium services of retinal photography and GDx screening, a cutting-edge method of detecting glaucoma at its earliest (for some, up to eight years ahead of the first symptom!). Our doctors go the extra mile by generously sharing their expertise in preventative eyecare, nutrition and computer eyestrain.

These efforts are regarded as part and parcel of providing the most comprehensive yearly examination possible, thereby keeping the best of care affordable for all their patients, not just the financially well-off.

She avidly supports Vision Service Plan (VSP), a nation-wide insurance plan that serves 42 million members. In her early years, VSP provided her with many of her first patients.

Mid-career, she was asked to serve on VSP's regional professional (peer-review) committee, which she did out of gratitude to VSP. Two years later, the proverbial glass�and bamboo�ceiling was broken when she was asked to serve as the first woman and minority director of VSP's Board of Directors, making bi-monthly trips across the country for policy-making meetings, as well as serving on the VSP Quality Assurance Committee at the national level.

She served VSP, its doctors and patient members, by choice, again without compensation and as her way of saying thanks. She stepped down from the board when her father fell ill and needed her assistance, which in time lead her to another chapter of her life: www.geocities.com/~olelo/twm/adventure.html

These days, over 90% of her patients are VSP members. She continues to serve VSP at the highest level possible by giving her personal best to its patients, participating in VSP-represented health fairs, and by sharing the recent good news of VSP's individual plan availability, especially during these recessionary times when such a coverage can keep quality care affordable and accessible for uninsured patients.

Since mid-2007, she has been actively promoting VSP's premium vision care and eyewear insurance (VSP Consumer Choice Plan) for individuals who do not work for big companies that provide vision coverage. vsp.careington.com She would like ALL of our patients to have access to its premium eyecare coverage�including annual eye exams, prescription eyewear, personalized care and more�at affordable rates from one of the most trusted names in eyecare�VSP.

Just as our founder Dr. Schofield took Dr. Fujimoto under his wings, shared his patients with her and taught her how to create, build and maintain a thriving professional practice, she is committed to "paying it forward" to our associate doctors. Our practice has been abundantly blessed with fine, willing individuals who have learned the professional way of practicing optometry, that is, putting people and health above maximum sales and profit. Some have moved on due to life circumstances; others, to practices of their own. They are not forgotten and we remain indebted to them for their good work.

Because our associate doctors and staff are competitively compensated as those in commercial practices, we can be inundated with applicants when an opportunity arises. Who would you work for, given the same compensation? A professional office that allows one-hour exams to do quality work or a commercial one that demands you to rush, rush, rush because patients are to be herded in and out like cattle?

Yes, our patients can be assured that our practice is, with help from above, able to attract and retain the best of the best doctors and staff members.

Dr. Annalisa Fernando-Langit, Optometrist

Dr. Fernando-Langit, is a long time native of Southern California and was born and raised in sunny San Diego. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology at UCLA and then received her Doctorate of Optometry at the Southern California College of Optometry, where she graduated with honors. She then pursued a post graduate residency in Geriatrics and Hospital-Based Optometry at the West LA VA Healthcare System.

Dr. Fernando-Langit believes in providing the best comprehensive eye care possible and strives to educate patients to help them maintain optimal eye health. To do that, she is constantly learning and updating herself on the latest research and technologies in eye care. She believes her calling is to help people live their lives seeing well and has a keen interest in helping those who suffer from various degrees of vision impairments. She understands the visual challenges that the visually impaired community may experience with everyday tasks like reading, driving, and/or watching tv. She provides low vision evaluations for the visually impaired and is able to recommend appropriate optical aids and adaptive technology for those looking to overcome their visual challenges.

In addition to providing low vision services, Dr. Fernando-Langit provides primary Optometric care, medical management of ocular disease, and contact lens fittings. She is also certified to fit Synergeyes hybrid lenses, a new lens technology that combines the crisp vision of a “hard” lens and the comfort of a “soft” lens.

She is a proud member of the Low Vision Section of the California Optometric Association, Cerritos Chamber of Commerce, and the Cerritos Soroptimist Club. In her spare time, Dr. Fernando-Langit enjoys exploring new places with her husband, fishing, reading, landscape photography, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

Dr. Sharon Mallari, Optometrist

Dr. Sharon Mallari received her doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Optometry. She was trained at the VA Portland Medical Center, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Lion's Vision Clinic, and San Diego State University Eye Clinic as part of her clinical experiences.

Dr. Mallari provides primary care and ocular disease detection examinations in our office and is certified to provide Orthokeratology (Paragon CRT) services, which is a reversible and alternative method to eyeglasses or refractive surgery through the use of overnight contact lens wear. In addition, Dr. Mallari can provide dry eye evaluations to pinpoint the exact cause of their dry eye symptoms and recommend the best method of treatment.

She served as president for Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society from 2006-2007 and is currently a member of the California Optometric Association and American Optometric Association.

When she is not in the office, she enjoys swimming outdoors, painting, being an amateur "foodie," and laughing with her loved ones.

Dr. Annie Tran Pangan, Optometrist

Dr. Annie Tran Pangan has been associated with our office for almost seven years. Prior to pursuing her doctorate degree, she worked with us as an optometric technician, gaining valuable on-the-job training and experience.

She has served on the Student Association Board in the Department of Community Health, setting up vision screenings and working at various health fairs.

With a heart of service and strong organizational skills, she has served her peers as a class officer. Her clinical experience includes externships at the Naval Hospital Lemoore, Optometric Center of Los Angeles, and Naval Health Clinic Hawaii.

She serves her patients with quality primary eye care exams and disease detection. In addition to family optometry, she also works with the pediatric and young adult age group to provide specific eye exams catered to their age. She is certified to detect and treat poor eye-teaming skills in children, which not only hinders performance in school, but can also deter children from reading books in general.

On her free time, Dr. Pangan enjoys serving in the youth ministry with her husband. She loves talking to people of all ages in general. She finds the youth bring a fresh excitement and energy to the community, and that those beyond her years offer wisdom, advice, and life experience that is so invaluable.

Dr. Terry Fujimoto, Business Manager

Dr.Terry Fujimoto is the wind beneath his wife's, Darlyne's, wings. Without his support, encouragement and willingness to sacrifice for the greater good, our office would simply not exist.

His "real" job is being a professor of Plant Science at Cal Poly University. When his work day at the university is done and after a long drive from Pomona, he is at our office, making sure the bills get paid, takes care of payroll and taxes, and is the all-around "Mr. Fix-it."

Bless his heart, he also frees up our staff's time by making runs to the office supply store and Costco. As a professor he gets summers off, but his wife does not, so he can be found in the office in the summer, often pinch-hitting for vacationing staff members. After 25 years, he can man almost every post. As a guitarist, he is especially good with his hands and has proved to be a particularly skilled optician. He is simply invaluable to our team.

His interests are Hawaiian music, 'ukulele and guitar-playing, biking, and hiking. He is also the beloved G-Pa to g-kids Austin Kai and Makena Grace.

Mary Lou Tellez, Director of Patient Services

Mary Lou Tellez has joyfully worked for Dr. Fujimoto for over seven years. She loves her job and it shows! Her smile lights up a room and lifts many spirits.

Mary Lou's is the sweet voice you hear when you make or confirm your appointment. She, along with the rest of the staff, do their best to make our patients feel welcome and well-cared for.

She consistently goes over and above what is expected of her, touching bases with as many patients as she can and treating them as family. Don't be surprised if she addresses you with "mijo" or "mija" which are endearments in Spanish.

She graduated from school for Medical Assisting with highest honors. Before she switched into the health field, Mary Lou spent seventeen years in banking.

Our office owes Mary Lou a special debt of gratitude for her dedication and loyalty. Thanks to Mary Lou's strong faith in God, she has straightened wayward paths and defended and enforced our business ethics with those who were not so inclined to abide by them.

She is the mother of three and grandmother of five.

Mary Lou's interests include traveling (she recently traveled to O'ahu, Maui, and Europe), the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Cowboys (she hails from El Paso, TX), and playing at the casinos in Laughlin, Nevada. Keno is her favorite game.

Mary Jacobowitz, Head Optician - Optical Manager

Mary Jacobowitz is our most knowledgeable optician. She received her license in December of 1990 and is fully credentialed as an ABO (American Board of Opticianry)-certified optician.

Her gentle personality, wealth of experience, knowledge, expertise, and willingness to go the extra mile for our patients make her an outstanding member of our team.

Her passion for the optical field was ignited when she was first introduced to lens fabrication at an optical laboratory. Since then, she has continued working in the optical profession for nearly thirty years.

When asked how satisfied she was with her work and our office, on a scale of 1 to 10, ten being highest, Mary replied, "My satisfaction level is a 10!"

She is the mother of three and the grandmother of two.

Her favorite pastimes are bowling (she's really good!), dirt biking, camping, and bingo.

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Our office makes a special effort to provide real-life optometric experience to aspiring doctors of optometry. Dr. Fujimoto was generously given two such opportunities by Drs. Kenneth Fujimoto (no relation) and Vernon Shibata in Honolulu, who inspired and immeasurably helped her to become a private practitioner. She is "paying it forward" by creating such opportunities to aspiring optometrists, so be prepared to see a new face or two whenever you come in. Our little office has "produced" 24 doctors over the years!

Nellie Hayin, Optometric Technician

Nellie Hayin received her Bachelor's degree in Biology at the California State University of Long Beach.

She is currently attending Pasadena City College in pursuit of her doctorate's degree in the optometric field. She plans on attending the Southern California College of Optometry in the fall semester of 2009.

With her genuine smile and kind words that welcome our patients, Nellie's caring demeanor is palpable and much appreciated. She is attentive, respectful, and compassionate, and can always be counted on to help out whenever needed.

That she takes pride in her work and does whatever it takes to ensure patient satisfaction points to a successful career as a future doctor of optometry.

Other than her interests in optometry, she enjoys reading, photography, and dancing.

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grace: life is a classroom, we are both student and teacher, each day is a test, and each day we receive a passing or failing grade in one particular subject: grace, grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence, and the list goes on. it's something money can't buy and credentials rarely produce. being the prettiest, the most talented, the richest, or even the poorest can't help. being a humble person can and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude. ~philosophy