This cannot happen, however, without first identifying those individuals who deserve our thanks and recognition for their high level of devotion and attainment. So take this opportunity to review the criteria for our awards and nominate qualified and deserving individuals. Their contributions have gone unappreciated long enough! The deadline for the submission of nominations for our Academy and American Optometric Foundation awards is April 1, 2013.
In addition to our traditional awards listed below, the Academy has a new award—the Vincent Ellerbrock Clinical Educator Award.
Vincent Ellerbrock Clinician Educator Award – recognizes a distinguished clinician who has made outstanding and sustained contributions to the Academy’s Lectures and Workshops Program. Individuals considered for this award will be widely recognized by both Academy peers and the profession for their clinical expertise and willingness to share their knowledge for the benefit of improved patient care. Awardees are required to be active in direct patient care. Additional contributions to the ophthalmic literature relative to sharing clinical knowledge may also be considered.
***
Charles F. Prentice Medal Award - recognizes a distinguished scientist or clinician scientist in recognition of a career-long record of advancement of knowledge in vision science. The recipient need not be a Fellow of the Academy nor an optometrist.
Glenn A. Fry Award (AOF) - given to a distinguished scientist or clinician scientist (typically mid-career stage) in recognition of the quality, significance, impact, and relevance to optometry of his or her current research contributions. The recipient need not be a Fellow of the Academy nor an optometrist.
Irvin M. and Beatrice Borish Award - recognizes an outstanding young scientist or clinician scientist (usually in the first 6 years of their career) who has shown exceptional promise to conduct independent research directly related to etiology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, or management of clinical ocular disorders. The recipient need not be a Fellow of the Academy nor an optometrist.
Essilor Award for Outstanding International Contributions to Optometry - recognizes an individual(s) or organization whose direct efforts and contributions have resulted in unquestionably significant and extraordinary advances in optometry and eye care internationally.
William Feinbloom Award - presented to an individual who has made a distinguished and significant contribution to clinical excellence and the direct clinical advancement of visual and optometric service and thus, the visual enhancement of the public. The recipient need not be a Fellow of the Academy nor an optometrist.
Carel C. Koch Memorial Medal Award - awarded to a person who has made outstanding contributions to the enhancement and development of relationships between optometry and other professions. The recipient need not be a Fellow of the Academy nor an optometrist.
Eminent Service Award - honors those who have rendered extraordinary and/or distinguished long-term service to the Academy.
Honorary Fellowship - honors individuals who are not Academy Fellows for distinguished contributions to the Academy and/or the science and art of optometry.
Life Fellowship - recognition to Fellows who have rendered distinguished service to the science and art of optometry.
Also included, but nominated by deans and presidents of the Schools and Colleges of Optometry is the Michael G. Harris Family Award for Excellence in Optometric Education (AOF) and the Julius F. Neumueller Award in Optics (AOF).
May we have your nominations, please?
