AOA honors optometric leaders

SEATTLE – The first African American female optometrist in Mississippi and a clinician who has spent nearly four decades of his life teaching budding optometrists were two of the profession’s leaders who were honored during the Opening General Session of the annual American Optometric Association Congress, Optometry’s Meeting here.

Arol R. Augsberger, OD, MS, president of the Illinois College of Optometry, was given the Distinguished Service Award for his career of teaching and mentoring young students that has lasted 37 years, as well as implementing a mobile vision testing station to reach out to the underserved.

“I love what I am doing and I think it makes a difference,” Dr. Augsberger said on a short video montage shown before he received the award.

History maker Linda D. Johnson, of Jackson, Miss., took home the Optometrist of the Year Award for her tireless efforts to educate her patients about the effects of poor health on their vision. Dr. Johnson opened the first community health center optometry clinic in Mississippi where she still works today.

“I’m very humbled and honored to receive this award recognition,” she said. “I’m proud to have the opportunity to be able to stand in the presence of the many giants who have received this honor before me.”

Elizabeth Draper Muckley, OD, of Uniontown, Ohio, was honored as the Young Optometrist of the Year and urged students in the audience to set high expectations.

“Pay it forward by giving back to the profession, your community and, most of all, your patients,” she said.

James Kesteloot, executive director and president of Chicago Lighthouse for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired, was bestowed the Apollo Award for public service, the highest award given by the AOA to the general public. It was a moment with Alfred A. Rosenbloom, OD, a Primary Care Optometry News Editorial Board member, that helped shape the direction of his life, Mr. Kesteloot recalled.

Mr. Kesteloot, who is legally blind, went as a teenager to see Dr. Rosenbloom, who outfitted him with low vision lenses in trial frames and held up a book in front of him.

“I was immediately stunned that I could read regular print for the first time,” he said. “That was the most important event in my life.” Mr. Kesteloot went on to lead an agency that provides education, referrals and other services to more than 70,000 people in the Chicago area.

Beverly Roberts, CPOA, of Magee, Miss. was named Paraoptometric of the Year. Mrs. Roberts is president of the Mississippi Paraoptometric Association and works at Family Vision Clinic in Magee, Miss.

“I stand here, a small town wife and mother from Mississippi, representing all the paraprofessionals in our industry and I am humbled and proud to stand before you to say thanks to those who believe in us, who recognize we are professionals who are dedicated to optometry and to the patients that God allows us to serve each day.”