THE STORY OF HULL EYE CENTER
The Hull Eye Center has been providing eye care services to the Antelope Valley for 45 years. Founded in 1959 by Dr. Forrest E. Hull, the Hull Eye Center offers a complete range of ophthalmic and optometric services. We provide diagnosis and treatment of ocular diseases and injuries, refractions, laser and surgical procedures, complete contact lens services, and an on-site optical lab. The professional staff is comprised of two optometrists and two. ophthalmologists who work in our Medicare approved surgical center.
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
Dr. Forrest E. Hull was born in 1911 to Mary McLaughlin Hull and Dr. Frank E. Hull. He received an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from the University of Southern California and then followed in his father's footsteps by receiving a medical doctorate from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine in 1938. During his time at USC, Dr. Hull was a star player on the hockey team, which won the Pacific Coast Championship in 1932.
Dr. Hull was a veteran of World War II, where he provided medical aid during the Battle of the Bulge. He served his country again during the Korean War where he was in charge of ophthalmic care for the entire Far East command, including all of Japan and the MASH units in Korea. For his war service Dr. Hull was awarded the Bronze Star and the French Croix de Guerre.
When Dr. Hull came to the Antelope Valley in 1954 he was the first ophthalmologist in town. The Antelope Valley Hospital opened one year later and Dr. Hull became one of the first members of the hospital staff. Shortly after establishing himself in the Antelope Valley, Dr. Hull opened the Hull Eye Center.
Despite a thriving medical practice, Dr. Hull still found time to help those in need. In 1966 and 1970, Dr. Hull volunteered on a hospital ship, "Good Hope", to bring modern medicine to Africa. He also taught at hospitals in Indonesia with the Care-Medico program and was a volunteer instructor at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute.
Throughout all his endeavors and accomplishments in the medical field and his local community, Dr. Forrest Hull continued to build the Hull Eye Center medical practice. His impact in the Antelope Valley Community became apparent when a city park, Hull Park, was dedicated to Dr. Hull early in 2004 in Lancaster, California.
Unfortunately for the Antelope Valley community and the Hull Eye Center, Dr. Forrest E. Hull passed away in October, 2004. He will be greatly missed, but his impact and contribution to the medical field will be remembered at the Hull Eye Center.
CONTINUING SUCCESS
After Dr. Forrest Hull's retirement from the medical field, he passed on the Hull Eye Center to his son, Stephen. Like his grandfather and father, Dr. Stephen Hull attended the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, where he received his medical doctorate. He chose to specialize in ophthalmology and when the time came, was ready to take over Hull Eye Center. Dr. Stephen Hull continued to provide the same high quality of eye care established by his father. Under the guidance of Dr. Stephen Hull, the Hull Eye Center expanded its site to include the Hull Eye Surgery and Laser Center. The new facility provided surgical services in the same caring and friendly environment patients were accustomed to. Sadly for the staff and patients of the Hull Eye Center, Dr. Stephen Hull passed away in 1990.
After Dr. Stephen Hull's untimely death, the practice was sold to Dr. Mary Kay Michelis, a pioneer in the field of ophthalmic surgery. The first woman surgeon in the United States to implant an intra-ocular lens, she spearheaded a legal fight against the FDA in 1976 that resulted in intra-ocular lenses becoming available in America for cataract patients.
Dr. Michelis was among the first to adopt refractive surgery. She studied in Russia with Dr. Svyatoslav Fyodorov when radial keratotomy was still in its formative stages. Later, by invitation of Dr. Jose Barraquer of Colombia, she learned keratomileusis (LASIK) and introduced this revolutionary technique into the US. As a member of an elite group of twenty international eye surgeons, Dr. Michelis was one of the first eye surgeons invited to China to teach specialized surgery to Chinese doctors.
Dr. Michelis has taught, practiced, and donated services in many foreign lands. Her experience and and knowledge have proven invaluable to the Hull Eye Center. Dr. Michelis' caring and professional nature have earned the respect of both patients and colleagues.
Upon Dr. Michelis' retirement, Dr. Reginald Sampson took ownership of the Hull Eye Center. Dr. Sampson was a staff member at the Hull Eye Center for four years before he purchased the practice.
After attending college in Alabama, Dr. Sampson received his medical doctorate from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. He interned and completed his residency at White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles, California. As preparation for his residency, Dr. Sampson spent a year at UCLA in Dr. Bob Foos' ocular pathology laboratory. There he performed detailed examinations on upwards of 4,000 eyes from creatures of as diverse as humans, mice, and whales. He is on staff at Antelope Valley Hospital, Lancaster Community Hospital, University of Southern California, Beverly Hospital, and Whittier Presbyterian. In addition to the Hull Eye Center, Dr. Sampson owns a medical office and surgery center in Montebello, California.
Dr. Sampson is the head ophthalmologist and surgeon at Hull Eye Center. He performs over fifteen cataract surgeries a week, in addition to other surgical procedures such as corneal transplants.
After 45 years of distinguished service, the Hull Eye Center has maintained the same level of quality care for its patients. We are always welcoming new patients, so feel free to call or visit our office to learn how we can help you see and feel.
