Women In Optometry regularly recognizes the awards and accomplishments of those in the profession and in their communities in the “Awards and Recognitions” series.
Have you received an award or acknowledgment for your contributions to optometry or your community? Send us a note: MBijlefeld@jobson.com.
Congratulations to all honorees.
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Susan Cotter, OD, MS, FAAO, of Marshall B. Ketchum University, received the Optometrist of the Year Award from the Terrassa School of Optics and Optometry (FOOT) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – UPC. |
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Patricia Fulmer, OD, FAAO, of Legacy Vision Center and a 2012 graduate, was named Young Alumnus of the Year by the UAB School of Optometry Alumni Association. |
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Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, IFMCP, FOWNS, joined the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians board of directors. |
| Mississippi Optometric Association 2024 Awards |
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Stacie Moore, OD, OD of the Year |
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Kelli Wooten Mullen, OD, Young OD of the Year |
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Walter Pang, OD, OD Community Service Award |
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Jennifer Stroupe, CPO, CCA, Para of the Year |
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Kimberly Pickle, Para Community Service Award |
| Association of Armed Forces and Federal Optometric Services (AFOS) 2024 Award Winners | |
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Marrie Read, OD, MBA (CAPT, USN ret), Orion Award Winner |
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Kimberly Woideck, OD (Maj, Air Force), Jr OD of the Year |
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Gregory Smith, OD (CAPT, USPHS), Optometrist of the Year |
| Eyes on Eyecare Innovation Award Winners | |
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First place: Michele Pendrak, OD, Eyelid butter, a honey-based natural product to support lid and lash health. |
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2nd palace: Patrick Scott, OD, PhD, FAAO, developing a topical drug for ocular pain. |
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Third place: Andrew McLeod, OD, MS, FAAO; Amy Nau, OD, DiplAAO; and Kristen Brown, OD, FAAO, DiplAAO, Eyewell: Ocular Surface Solutions |
| New Jersey Society of Optometry Physicians 2024 Award Winners | |
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Mike Siegel, OD, E.C. Nurock Award |
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Dan Kohansby, OD, Optometrist of the Year Award |
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Beth Dohm, Executive Vice President of The Zita Group, Public Service Award |
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Melanne Rosetta, OD, Young Optometrist of the Year Award |
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Amy Lam, OD, MS; Mary Ann Hodle, OD; Chelsea Kleen, OD; and Talia Mishkin, OD, Dr. Paul Berman Distinguished Service Award |
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David Kong, OD, Presidential Chairperson of the Year Award – Membership Recruitment and Benefits Center Chair |
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Edward Melman, OD, Presidential Award for Distinguished Service for the Profession |
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Robert Levy, OD, Presidential Award for Distinguished Service on the Board |
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Lorenzo Stampone (SUNY) and Timothy Said (Salus), Presidential Special Recognition Awards for Student Leaders |
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George Veliky, OD, Presidential Recognition for AOA OM Travel Home |
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Dawn Arnold, OD, Outgoing President’s Award |
| Contact Lens Institute 2024 Culture Award Honorees
Program recognizes eye care professionals in U.S. and Canada who cultivate a positive contact lens culture |
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Jennifer Liao, OD, FAAO, FSLS, New England College of Optometry Center for Eye Care, Boston, Massachusetts |
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Chandler Mann II, OD, Stone Oak Vision Source, San Antonio, Texas |
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Wes McCann, OD, Central Optometry & Upper Richmond Optometry, London, Ontario, Canada |
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Jennifer Stewart, OD, Look New Canaan, New Canaan, Connecticut |
| Optical Women’s Association 2025 Award Honorees | |
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Lori Archer, of UnitedHealthcare Vision, Pleiades Honoree |
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Megan Molony, of National Vision, Pyxis Honoree |
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Kayla Ashlee, of Spexy, Emerging Leader Honoree |
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Carla Mack, OD, MBA, FAAO, Dipl AAO, FBCLA, Head of Global and U.S. Professional Education and Development at Alcon, has joined the board at OWL: Advancing Diversity in Leadership. |
| Optical Women’s Association 2024 Leadership Scholarship Winners
“These grants, valued at up to $2,000 each, will be used to provide professional mentoring opportunities to each recipient, while continuing to promote OWA’s founding principles of connecting, inspiring and leading women in the optical industry.” |
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Natalie Ekmekchian, Brand Associate, De RIgo REM |
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Jill Eldridge, Regional Sales Director, ClearVision |
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Shellie Fahy, 3Os Regional Sales Manager, Safilo |
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Meghan Jeffords, National Accounts Manager, Advancing Eyecare |
| Kaitlin Jenkins, Global Sales Operations & Logistics, Zyloware | |
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Ally Kamelhar, Senior Content Specialist, Eyewear Communications, VSP Vision |
| Patty Ledford, Data Integrity Manager, GPN Technologies | |
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Jenni Makher, Manager, Commercial Strategy & Business Development, Thelios |
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Nicole D’Ettore-McEntee, Director of Key Accounts, EssilorLuxottica |
| Cristina Mystkowski, Director of Business Development, EssilorLuxottica | |
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Janetta Porter, Senior Director of Contact Lens Merchandising, National Vision |
| Johanna Showfety, Senior Vision Care Territory Manager, Bausch + Lomb | |
See previous Awards & Recognitions (previously Women in the News) from November, October, and September 2024.
To view more newsmaker stories from WO, click here.
