OUR DOCTORS

Dr. Frank

Dr. A. James Frank, III graduated from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 1983 and joined Dr. Forrest Hill in Phoenix. Merging with Dr. Stephen Kantor in 1993 the practice is now Central Phoenix Eye Care. Estrella Eye Care also began in 1993 as a west Phoenix location for Dr. Hill and Dr. Frank and is now in Avondale. Dr. Hill retired in 2005 and now Dr. Frank enjoys practicing with Dr. Steve Kantor, Dr. Beth Pyle-Smith, and Dr. Heather Thompson.

Dr. Frank is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Arizona Optometric Association. He has served as chairman of the state "Give a Day" program, now known as Vision USA, a charitable program of the American Optometric Association, and also served on the continuing education committee. He is a founding board member of Arizona Eyecare Alliance, a statewide panel of optometrists and ophthalmologists providing eye care plans under Vision Care Direct. His volunteer work has included trips to Venezuela and Guatemala providing eye care and used eyeglasses to rural areas of those countries. He has also volunteered eye care to school children in the Phoenix area. The Arizona Optometric Association recognized Dr. Frank for his contributions to the profession and to the community with the President's Award in 1998, and in 2002 the Arizona Optometrist of the Year.

Providing general optometric care to all ages, Dr. Frank particularly enjoys children and contact lens care. His contact lens practice includes Corneal Refractive Therapy, or CRT which utilizes contact lenses to reshape the cornea eliminating the need for daytime glasses or contact lenses. Like all the doctors in both his offices, he is also certified in treatment of eye disease and injury with both topical and oral medications. Dr. Frank enjoys a referral relationship from the Pediatric Ambulatory Care Clinic of St. Joseph's Hospital to care for uninsured children. Additionally, the VA hospital utilizes him for medically necessary contact lens fitting. Dr. Frank especially enjoys the long term doctor patient relationships he has developed through the years, now seeing children of the "children" he saw in his early years of practice.

"Dr. Jim" married Dottie Escobedo in 1979 and they have four children. Being husband and dad are his most treasured accomplishments. He has enjoyed being involved with his wife, a United Methodist pastor, in various church related activities. He has enjoyed being involved with his children's events serving as chaperone, coach, Sunday school teacher, youth counselor, and proud father. As their children are starting to "move out of the nest" Jim and Dottie enjoy traveling and connecting with friends.

Dr. Pyle Smith

Dr. Beth Pyle-Smith started practicing in Arizona in 1993 after she graduated from optometry school. She worked for an HMO in Phoenix for 8 years prior to joining Drs. A. James Frank and Forrest Hill's practice in 2000. She went with Dr. Frank to Guatemala on a Mission Trip in 2000. She began working with Dr Frank at the Phoenix office and then transitioned to their new office in Avondale. She enjoys practicing full-scope optometry, from examining infants all the way up to seniors. She strives to serve her patients to the best of her ability and to make sure you understand your eye conditions. She grew up in Southern California and moved out to AZ for a job opportunity. Now, she enjoys the wonderful weather here but misses the cool ocean breezes. She is married and has two children. Her family loves to raise and train Dobermans and show them in dog shows around the valley. In her spare time, she likes to... wait she has small kids... she has no spare time!

Education and Associations

Bachelors degree in Biology at U.C. Riverside, CA, 1989
Doctor of Optometry degree at Southern CA College of Optometry, 1993
Licensed in Optometry in AZ, CA and TX in 1993.
Member of American Optometric Association since 1989
Member of the Arizona Optometric Association since 1993
Member of Beta Sigma Phi since 1995
Active Church member

Awards

AOA Annual Congress 1993 Research Presentation (Poster)
Bernell Clinical Optometry Award for binocular vision
AZOA/AOA Certificate of Appreciation for 10 years of Membership in 1998
Woman of the Year, Beta Sigma Phi-Alpha Lambda chapter 1997, 2000
Mommy of the Year at the Smith Household- every year since 2003!