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AOA bestows top awards at annual meeting
WASHINGTON – Here at Optometry’s Meeting, the American Optometric Association recognized a group of professionals who have contributed significantly to optometry.
Dale Heaston, OD, winner of the Distinguished Service Award, was instrumental in the passage of Washington State’s therapeutic pharmaceutical bill, according to the AOA. He has served numerous positions with the Optometric Physicians of Washington and currently is immediate past president of the Washington State Board of Optometry.
“It is on our shoulders that our profession will either fade away, survive or prosper,” Heaston said as he accepted his award. “You have decided to make the fate and future of your profession your priority. You will live it each and every day.”
The 2017 Optometrist of the Year, Paul Barney, OD, has held every leadership position with the Alaska Optometric Association, for which he currently serves as co-chair of the legislative committee. He also serves as chairperson of the state’s Board of Examiners in Optometry. He has been a leader in the development of the optometry program at Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok, Thailand.
“Alaska may be small in population, but we have a very big vision of where optometry should go as a profession,” Barney told attendees.
Reena Patel, OD, an assistant professor at the Southern California College of Optometry, was recognized with the Dr. W. David Sullins Jr. InfantSee Award, presented by Optometry Cares. Patel has worked to make the InfantSee program easier for optometrists to adopt in their practices.
“I encourage you to spread the word about the InfantSee program and the importance of an early eye exam,” Patel said as she accepted her award. “In doing so I am sure you will be guaranteed to make a difference.”
Angelique Sawyer, OD, president of the New Hampshire Optometric Association, was named Young Optometrist of the Year. The AOA credits her with bringing a wider scope of practice to a rural population.
“We can only do what we do when we fight and advocate for the right to do it,” she told attendees. “I challenge you all after you leave here not only to maintain your membership and support but to be your own advocate at home as well. There is no end to what we can accomplish when we all work together.”
Optometric Educator of the Year, Elizabeth Steele, OD, is associate dean of clinical affairs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry.
“The students are the reason I love what I do,” she said as she accepted her award. “I have learned as much from you as you have learned from me. From an early point I was made to understand the importance of advocacy for optometry. I have strived to advance the practice of optometry every day. I encourage all of you to pay it forward and join me in that.”
The Paraoptometric of the Year award was presented to Sally Greeley, CPOT. Greeley, who serves on the board of the Maine Paraoptometric Association, works for Rick Smart, OD, at Smart Eyecare Center.
In a video presentation, Smart said that the practice has grown immensely because of her.
“I challenge all paras in this audience, if you have not volunteered, accept this challenge and sign up with your state associations, paraoptometric resource center or the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification,” Greeley told the audience. “You will have a network of people that you can seek help from when needed.” – by Nancy Hemphill, ELS, FAAO