Our Staff

​​​​​Dr. Louise DiChiara Pastore graduated from the New England College of Optometry, earning the prestigious Clinic Award for clinical expertise in patient care. She then completed a residency program in Atlanta, GA, in a large surgical eye care practice prior to joining her father, Dr. Frank DiChiara in practice. Soon after, she became a member of the American Academy of Optometry by completing advanced testing. She is board-certified through the American Board of Optometry.

Dr. DiChiara Pastore has served as President of the Rhode Island Optometric Association, has presented many educational lectures, and served on the State of Rhode Island Board of Optometry for many years. She is also a registered pharmacist, receiving her degree from the University of Rhode Island.

A graduate of St. Mary’s Bayview, Louise served on the Alumna Board and received the school’s Alumnae of the Year award in 1993.

When Dr. DiChiara Pastore is not working, she enjoys spending time with her 3 adult children and their dog, Tito, at their family home in Cranston. Her community engagement included fundraising for various community needs through the Peter T. Pastore, Jr. Charitable Foundation, which was founded in 2007 in memory of her husband. 

​​​​​Dr. Michael Martinez received his doctorate in optometry from the New England College of Optometry. His graduate training included clinical experience within Boston area community health centers, the New England Eye Institute’s retina clinic, and hospital based training at the Providence VA medical center. Before joining Garden City Eye Care, he was in private practice at an office in Providence. Dr. Martinez completed his undergraduate degree in biology from Providence College. He grew up in Rhode Island and is also a graduate of Classical High School.

Dr. Martinez is certified by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry to practice optometry. He is currently a member of the American Optometric Association and the Rhode Island Optometric Association. He is also a member of the eye care POD for the Rhode Island Primary Care Physician Corporation (RIPCPC).

Dr. Martinez and his wife, Jacquie, have two children, Zachary and Elsie Marie. They love spending time at the beach, traveling to theme parks, and playing with the family cat, Mimi.

​​​​​Dr. Jessica Medina is a native of Rhode Island. After graduating from East Providence High School, she graduated with honors from the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. She then went on to receive her doctorate from the New England College of Optometry. While attending the institution, she received an award from the American Public Health Association for Outstanding Student Project for visual aid training in a consumer establishment. After graduating, she participated in a yearlong Primary Care/Geriatrics Residency at the Bedford VA Medical Center in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Dr. Medina is a board certified through the American Board of Optometry and is a member of the Rhode Island Optometric Association.

Outside of work, Dr. Medina and her family enjoy hiking, kayaking, and playing chase with their dog, Yoshi.

​​​​​Dr. Laura Lakin joined our practice from upstate New York. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science from Elmira College in NY. She received her doctorate from The New England College of Optometry in Boston where she was a member of the Optometric honor society Beta Sigma Kappa and received the Ocular Instruments Award for Excellence in ocular disease. After graduation she completed a primary care and ocular disease residency at the Providence VA Medical Center in Providence RI.

She currently resides in Cumberland with her family and enjoys baking, hiking and the beach.

​​​​​Dr. David Blessington became a member of our practice in August 2023. A native of Rhode Island, he began his educational journey at Bishop Hendricken High School. Dr. Blessington furthered his studies at Iona College, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry. Subsequently, he obtained his Doctorate from the Indiana University School of Optometry. During his academic tenure, Dr. Blessington served as an associate instructor in various clinical skills courses, showcasing his dedication to the field.

Before joining Garden City Eye Care, Dr. Blessington worked at a private practice serving multiple offices across Rhode Island. His experience and expertise have been pivotal in providing quality eye care services to the community.

Dr. Blessington maintains active memberships in the American Optometric Association and the Rhode Island Optometric Association, demonstrating his commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest developments in optometry.

Beyond his professional life, Dr. Blessington enjoys spending quality time with his wife. They enjoy running, beach outings, and spending time with their two cats.

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