By By Adrienne McKenzie
Dr. Steve Gross, owner of Atmore Vision Center, received nationwide recognition for his many years of practice as an optometrist.
Gross attended a recent meeting of the Cleinman Performance Network where he was given a clock engraved with "In honor of five years of membership and for reaching new heights of performance."
When asked why he was recognized, Gross said it was due to the community accepting the practice and also his staff at Atmore Vision Center.
"The community has been so nice to us allowing us to grow," Gross said. "Our main thing here is having good repoire with our patients and taking care of their problems. The reason we got that award was because of our staff."
The Cleinman Performance Network (CPN) is a group of business experts who offer services to owners of optometry practices. CPN is the only organized, national information-sharing network within the eye care industry.
CPN members join peers in a business education network in which all members gather to make their practices thrive even more.
Alan H. Cleinman, president of Cleinman Performance Partners out of Oneonta, N.Y., said Gross's successes are apparent in his work, according to a news release.
"Dr. Gross's commitment to excellent patient care is evident in the growth rate he's achieved in his practice," Cleinman said. "We are proud to be associated with a professional of his caliber."
Gross was one out of four eye doctors that were honored for five years of membership as a Cleinman Performance Partner, which is a nationwide network of successful eye doctors.
Gross grew up in Mobile and has been an optometrist since 1981, which is when he bought the Atmore Vision Center. He said he feels he made a great choice is careers. He also has an office in Monroeville.
"I wanted to go into the medical field and help folks that needed care," Gross said. "This field was recommended by good friends of mine. It's been very rewarding, we see patients who need help, especially those who can't get out of town to see an eye doctor. My father was a family practice doctor and I didn't want to work 24/7 like him."
Gross was surprised about his acknowledgement for his achievements at the Cleinman Performance Network meeting in Minneapolis but said it was all because of his topnotch staff and his advanced technology.
"We received this as a result of taking care of our patients and having a great staff here to take care of them," he said. "My staff is one of the best in the nation and they do a great job. And, we have the latest technology people could find at any eye doctor in Pensacola, Mobile or even Atlanta."
For more information about Atmore Vision Center on Lindberg Avenue, call 368-8767.