Dr. Kevin Bell, O.D.

Dr. Kevin Bell, O.D., is President and founder of Wake Forest Family Eye Care. He is a native resident of Charlotte, NC and received his Bachelors of Science Pre-medical degree from Appalachian State University in 1980.

He graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1984, where he received the Graduating Class Clinical Excellence Award. As part of his training, Dr. Bell completed externships at Brookville Hospital in Pennsylvania through the Laurel Eye Clinic in 1983 and at the Eye Institute in Philadelphia, PA in 1984.

Dr. Bell began practicing in Louisburg and was an ER Consultant at Franklin Regional Medical Center. In 1985, he opened his own practice in Wake Forest where he served the residents of Wake Forest. In 1994, he expanded his practice to a three doctor location in the Wake Forest Business Park and finally to the current location in 2004 near the Factory.

In the late 1980’s, Dr. Bell was appointed Chairperson of a task force established by Gov. Jim Martin to define vision guidelines for school vision screenings. He was also an Executive Board Member of the Wake Forest Optimist Club and Clinical Examiner for the NC State Board of Optometry for 10 years.

He is now Co-Chairperson for the NC State Board of Optometry for the education of all licensed optometrists in North Carolina. He is currently a member of the American Optometric Association, the NC State Optometric Society, and the Eastern District Optometric Society. Dr. Bell specializes in treatment of eye disease, dry eye, and the fitting of contact lenses.

Dr. Bell established Wake Forest Family Eye Care to not only provide eye care for local residents, but to create a relationship with them and their families. He enjoys treating every patient as a family member and going the extra mile to provide the best care and visual clarity available. His dedication to his patients is evidenced by the rapid growth of his practice and the many loyal patients who have remained with him through the years. “Share the Vision” is Dr. Bell’s ministry to provide sight for the underprivileged, in which one can receive an eye exam and glasses at no charge.

Dr. Bell has been married to his wife Melanie for twenty-three years. They have four children; Lauren, Emily, Martin, and Matthew. Dr. Bell teaches High School Sunday School at Wakefield Baptist Church. He has also directed eleven mission trips to other countries, such as Belize, Guatemala, Trinidad, Canada, and the Caribbean. These trips have included giving eye exams, distributing glasses, and coaching athletic camps. He has also provided hurricane relief through serving to rebuild resident homes.

Dr. Lee D. McPherson, M.P.H., O.D., F.A.A.O.

After receiving his master’s degree in public health, Dr. McPherson graduated at the top of his class from The University of Alabama School of Optometry in Birmingham, Alabama. As part of his training, Dr. McPherson completed externships at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina and at the Duke University Eye Center in Durham, North Carolina.

He completed a residency in ocular disease at the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida, which has been ranked the top eye hospital in the United States for multiple years by US News and World Report. He is highly trained in the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and management of ocular diseases and vision anomalies.

Dr. McPherson provides comprehensive general and urgent eye care for patients of all ages including contact lens fittings and co-management of surgery patients. He evaluates and manages patients for such conditions as dry eye, diabetes, glaucoma, cataract, and macular degeneration.

Dr. McPherson is currently a member of the American Public Health Association, North Carolina State Optometric Society, American Optometric Association, American Academy of Optometry, Optometric Glaucoma Society and Optometric Retina Society.

He is involved in the continuing education of his peers and has presented numerous posters at various optometric conferences across the country. Dr. McPherson enjoys teaching students as well. While a resident, he played an integral role in the education of students, and currently enjoys teaching and mentoring future optometrists. He is now honored to be an externship director, supervising optometric students who choose to travel to Wake Forest Family Eye Care as a part of their clinical education.

Dr. McPherson looks forward to meeting the eye care needs of the Wake Forest and surrounding communities. He resides in Rolesville with his wife and enjoys hard work, cooking, and fast cars.

Dr. Samantha K. Ward, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Samantha Ward, O.D., F.A.A.O. grew up in Napa, California and received her Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Cell Biology and her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of California at Berkeley. She completed internships and was awarded clinical honors at the VA Hospital Puget Sound Health Care System in Washington, OMNI Eye Centers in Atlanta and New Jersey, and at the Dzilth Health Center on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico.

After earning her doctorate, Dr. Ward completed advanced residency training in the diagnosis and management of ocular disease, and pre- and post-operative care at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, FL. The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute has been ranked the top eye hospital in the nation year after year by US News & World Report. The optometric residency there is known as one of the most competitive and challenging available.

Following her residency, she returned to her alma mater to teach in the optometry clinics at the University of CA at Berkeley, where she was granted a teaching award. From 2006 to 2008, Dr. Ward lived in Tokyo, Japan, where she conducted research in dry eye and contact lenses with an internationally renowned group at Keio University. Her work has been published in medical journals and has been presented at various international conferences.

Dr. Ward is active in her profession, with memberships in the American Optometric Association, North Carolina Optometric Society, and the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She has also participated in a volunteer eye care mission to Mexico, performing eye exams and providing eye glasses to those in need. Currently, Dr. Ward provides comprehensive general and urgent eye care for patients of all ages; however she has a special interest in providing state of the art pediatric and contact lens care. It is Dr. Ward’s pleasure and privilege to serve the eye care needs of the Wake Forest community.

Dr. Ward is proud to call North Carolina her new home. She lives in Rolesville with her husband and enjoys cooking, gardening, and exploring the area in her free time.