Women In The News – February

February 16, 2022

Women In Optometry regularly recognizes the accomplishments of women ODs in the profession and in their communities. Have you stepped into a new leadership role or recently won an award? Send us a note: MBijlefeld@jobson.com.

Jenny Coyle, OD, MS, FAAO, was named the next president of Pacific University, succeeding President Lesley M. Hallick summer of 2022. Dr. Coyle was an alumna, parent and former professor and dean in the College of Optometry.

Jaimie Hazen, OD, of Wheatland, Wyoming, was honored with Wyoming Optometric Association’s Young OD of the Year Award.

Jennifer Harthan, OD, FAAO, FSLA, professor at Illinois College of Optometry and chief of the Cornea Center for Clinical Excellence, was named the 2022 Gas Permeable Lens Institute (GPLI) Educator of the Year.

Judy Tong, OD, FAAO, associate professor and assistant dean of residencies at the Southern California College of Optometry of the Marshall B. Ketchum University, was honored as the 2022 COA Educator of the Year Award.

Donna Barba Higuera, OD, of Issaquah, Washington, won the Newberry Medal for children’s literature for her third book, The Last Cuentista.

The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) announced the honorees for its 2021 Leadership Scholarship:

Beverly Bianes, OD, OWA Events and Connection/Enrichment Committees;

Rachel Meyer, OWA Connection/Enrichment Committee;
Dawn Alcorn, Vice President of Marketing and Development/Essilor Vision Foundation (Essilor);
Marilyn Bautista, Global Sales Operations & Logistics Manager (Zyloware);
Marie-Claude Boutin, National Sales & Marketing Director/Axis Medical in Canada (Essilor Instruments);
Carissa Enea, Sales Manager (Safilo);
Emilia Flamini, CFO Luxottica North America (Luxottica);
Melissa Gomez, Regional VP, Pacific Central (VSP);
Staci Johnson, Customer Success Coordinator (GPN Technologies);