Louisiana OD, executive director receives AOA's Distinguished Service Award

ORLANDO, Fla. — The American Optometric Association presented its five top awards Thursday during the opening general session here at Optometry's Meeting.

James Sandefur

Optometric Association of Louisiana executive director James Sandefur, OD, was presented with the AOA's Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Sandefur was in private practice from 1968 until 2005. He was named Louisiana Optometrist of the Year in 1993 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Southern College of Optometry in 2001.

Dr. Sandefur reflected on his career as he accepted his award. "I had no pharmaceutical instruction in optometry school," he said." SCO got its first slit lamp while I was there. Optometry has changed dramatically over the years."

He challenged the young practitioners in the audience to make a difference. "Optometry is not yet where we want it to be; we still have obstacles to overcome and still have some enemies out there," he said. "I challenge you to make the pledge to yourself to do what is necessary to make optometry the profession we want it to be. Continue to sacrifice to make our profession better. Continue to work, as those before you, to make optometry better."

Randall Reichle

Randall Reichle, OD, founder of a group practice of optometrists and ophthalmologists in Houston in 1984, was named Optometrist of the Year. Dr. Reichle was president of the Texas Optometric Association and is serving his second 6-year term on the Texas Optometry Board.

Dr. Reichle told the audience as he accepted his award: "I truly believe my optometric activities are all about you. After 34 years, I realize our work in our profession is a marathon, not a sprint. It's all about people — ODs, colleagues, old friends, new friends, friends in the future. It's all about the people, the AOA family."

Sarah Marossy

Idaho's Sarah Marossy, OD, was named Young Optometrist of the Year. Dr. Marossy was recognized in 2008 by the Idaho Optometric Physicians as Optometrist of the Year. She founded the Idaho Children's Coalition in 2007.

In her acceptance speech, Dr. Marossy recognized Larry Benton, the executive director of the Idaho Optometric Physicians, saying, "He is my most important role model who encouraged me to give back to my profession in a number of different roles.

"The greatest lesson I learned is that life should not be measured by what you've got, but by what you give back," she continued. "My personal journey these past 10 years has opened my eyes to my true vision for the future, protecting the vision of the future. I want to make sure all children in this country receive comprehensive vision screenings and exams."

Tom Sullivan

The AOA's Apollo Award is the highest honor presented to the general public for distinguished service for the visual welfare of the public. This year's recipient, Tom Sullivan, is an actor, singer, entertainer, author and producer who was born prematurely and given too much oxygen in an incubator, resulting in blindness.

Mr. Sullivan declared as he took the podium: "I love optometry!"

He shared his enthusiasm for the AOA's InfantSee program, through which optometrists provide free eye exams to infants between 6 and 12 months old.

"Fundamentally it comes down to this," he said. "I'll never see my wife Patty's face, but this room can make a collective decision, as Sarah noted, to guarantee that every child receive comprehensive exams. Before I leave this planet, [I anticipate] that InfantSee will literally change the landscape of vision in this country. This group of men and women can make InfantSee happen."

"We talked about the brotherhood of optometry and ophthalmology," he continued. "It's clear to me that we need their hands, the hands of ophthalmology, but far more relevantly to me as a blind person, we need the hearts that come from optometry. Hands and hearts together, changing the landscape of blindness through the process of InfantSee, guaranteeing that every child in the 21st century will stand as I couldn't and see the face of the woman they love."

Lynn Konkel

The AOA also named Lynn Konkel, MS, CPOT, as Paraoptometric of the Year. Ms. Konkel has more than 30 years experience with the Wisconsin Vocational School System. She was instrumental in developing an online optometric technician program that offers distance education. Ms. Konkel was a charter member of the AOA's Paraoptometric Section, serving as its chair.

"A friend of a high school friend introduced me to optometry. This year I start my 32nd year at the college," Ms. Konkel said as she accepted her award. "I consider myself to be working for all of the doctors in the state of Wisconsin and, with our online program, I consider myself to be working with all of you."