This is one of three stories Father’s Day stories about area children following in their fathers’ footsteps

Once a profession gets in your blood, it is hard to shake it. For several Miss-Lou sons and daughters, that profession — be it law enforcement, physical therapy or ophthalmology — was something with which they were born.

William Mitchell IV, Summer Milliken Thompson and Dr. Aaron Smith all tried to fight their father’s profession for various reasons, but ultimately all were called to professions they love, and their fathers could not be more proud.

This is Smith’s story:

Of Dr. Douglas Smith’s three children, Aaron Smith was the only one who did not begin his college career on the pre-medical track. However, Aaron’s the only one who became a doctor.

“I was always interested in ophthalmology, but I thought it was more schooling than I wanted to do,” said Aaron, who is also a father. “I originally started out in political science.”

After he graduated from the University of Mississippi, Aaron said he decided he did want to go to medical school, but even then he was not sure what he would do with the degree.

“Medical school shaped me,” Aaron said. “I found out the thing I liked to do the most was look into people’s eyes and be able to see the diagnosis.”

Douglas said on one hand he wanted his children to follow in his footsteps, but he also did not want to push them into medical school if they did not want it.

“I wanted him to do what made him happy, so I did not push him toward anything,” Douglas said. “I secretly wanted them to follow in my footsteps, but my dreams are not theirs.”

Douglas said when he was 13 he knew ophthalmology was what he wanted to do. Back in fourth grade he had to have an eye exam with Dr. Charles Stern, and ever since then he became fascinated with the eyes.

“Ophthalmology is probably one of the hardest professions to get into because of the competition,” Douglas said. “I’ve been blessed to be successful. I’ve been living my dream job for a long time.”

When Aaron was 13 and younger, he had been working around the office and became familiar with it. He started with filing paperwork and went on to learn how to make lenses.

Stern also had an impact on Aaron.

“I accidentally stuck a stick in my right eye when I was 8 or 9,” Aaron said. “I remember dad thinking I would be blind for life.”

Not trusting himself to be fully rational with his child, Douglas took Aaron to Stern, who was able to make Aaron’s eye better.

“He was indirectly responsible for piquing my interest in what I do,” Douglas said. “He did not know that until I finished med school and moved back to open my practice.”

Douglas has been practicing in the area for 32 years, and Aaron has been working with his father for two years.

“It seems like it was just yesterday,” Aaron said. “I still tell people I just moved back to town. It’s really flown by. People have been very receptive and it has made for a very easy transition.”

Both father and son believe what makes the profession special is helping people.

“Many patients just need cataract surgery,” Douglas said. “As soon as they start being able to see again you can just see the smiles on their faces because of the difference. It can bring them to tears, which of course brings us to tears.”

Aaron said he has learned a lot from his father.

“Just watching him growing up and seeing how caring he is as a person made me want to do it,” Aaron said. “You can really help people. A surprising amount of people have fixable problems.”

Because of the 30 years difference in schooling, Douglas said his son brings a lot of the cutting edge technology to the practice.

“Even though in the medical field you are constantly learning and studying, the experience a recent graduate brings has really expanded some of what we offer,” Douglas said. “It’s been very rewarding to practice with him.”

Douglas said before Aaron joined his practice, he had thought in terms of at some point, he would retire. Douglas said he does not think like that anymore, and his son is also not ready for his go-to consultant and built-in lunch buddy to retire.

‘People told me that when you practice with your children, it’s a life changing experience,” Douglas said. “I still love what I do and I’m still very good at it. Practicing with my child gives me another reason to continue what I do, because I am doing it with someone I love.”