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Former AOA president, educator, active volunteer dies
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The American Optometric Association announced the passing of its 74th president, Donald E. Jarnagin, OD, who was 74 years old, on March 3.
Jarnagin was a charismatic educator and mentor and passionate optometric leader who pioneered the advancement of the profession, according to the AOA.
He passed away while on a mission trip in Guatemala, after a long battle with cancer.
Jarnagin is remembered for his professional leadership as AOA president 1995 to 1995 and Arizona Optometric Association (AZOA) president 1977 to 1978 and also for being an ardent champion for students, faculty and staff as Midwestern University Arizona (MWU) College of Optometry (AZCOPT) dean.
Jarnagin graduated from Arizona State University and received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern California College of Optometry in 1970. He was drafted into the U.S. Army as a captain and served as an optometry officer in the Medical Service Corps from 1971 to 1973, where he received an Army Commendation Medal, according to the AOA.
He returned to Arizona and entered private practice with his own personal optometrist who provided his vision care as a child. For more than 30 years he served in private practice, before switching gears into optometric education and leadership, according to the AOA.
In 2007, Jarnagin joined AZCOPT faculty and began providing care at the MWU Multispecialty Clinic and 3 years later was appointed as interim dean and, later, dean of the college.
According to the AOA, he championed efforts for full accreditation; established new rotations, residencies and external clinics; and inaugurated the MWU Eye Institute. He led the college until his retirement in 2016 but remained an active mentor and volunteer.
Jarnagin is one of the founding fathers of the Great Western Council of Optometry.
He was recognized with numerous awards throughout his career, including OD of the Year from the Central Arizona Optometry Society, AZOA and GWCO.
“Don and I served on the AOA board for 5 years together. Don was a funny guy that kept the board room mood upbeat,” John A. McCall Jr., OD, a Primary Care Optometry News Editorial Board member who served as AOA president from 1998 to 1999, told PCON. “He was not only my colleague, but a personal family friend. He was one of the few individuals who served as both AOA president and dean of an optometry school.”
He passionately volunteered with many community service organizations and with MWU/DOCARE multidisciplinary medical missions to Guatemala that provide eye care and glasses to underserved populations.
“Don lived a full life that was anchored in service to others. He was a rare man, and I will miss him dearly,” McCall added. – by Abigail Sutton