Women In Optometry regularly recognizes the awards and accomplishments of women ODs in the profession and in their communities in the “Women in the News” series. Here’s the July 2024 recognitions that have come to WO’s attention.
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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Dori Carlson, OD, was awarded the 2024 Federal Advocacy Award from the American Optometric Association. |
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Vondolee Delgado-Nixon, PhD, FAAO, was named the National Optometric Association Dr. Betty Harwill Educator of the Year. |
SUNY Optometry Chancellor’s Award for Excellence Honorees |
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Eva Duchnowski, OD, Excellence in Teaching Daniella Rutner, OD, Scholarship and Creative Activities Parbatie Chitolie, Excellence in Professional Service |
New Optometry School Deans Announced |
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Sharon A. Bentley, BScOptom, MOptom, PhD, MPH, FAAO, FACO, will become dean of the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of California, Berkeley, in February 2025. |
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Nathan Lighthizer, OD, stepped into his role as dean at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry on July 1. |
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Dr. Castillo |
Rich Castillo, OD, DO, FASOS, will begin as Founding Dean at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke School of Optometry Aug. 5, 2024. |
Read the full story on the new deans here. |
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Sophia Leung, OD, FAAO, Dipl. ABO, was awarded the 2024 Early Career Alumni Award from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science. |
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Louise Sclafani, OD, FAAO, FSLS, received the Contact Lens & Cornea Dr. “Uncle Frank” Fontana Award from the American Optometric Association. |
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Natalie Sukon, OD, received the 2024 Optometrist of the Year Award form the Maryland Optometric Association. |
New Leadership at CooperVision |
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Michele Andrews, OD, who previously served as Vice President, Professional and Government Affairs, Americas, was named Lead Americas Marketing & Professional Affairs at Coopervision. |
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Jennifer Palombi, OD, FAAO, who previously served as Senior Manager, Professional Education and Development, was named Director, Professional Education & Development, Americas at CooperVision. |
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Melissa Kiewe, who previously served as Vice President of Marketing, Americas, was named Vice President, Global Strategy and Planning at CooperVision. |
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Patricia Modica, OD, received the 2024 Presidential Medal of Honor from Salus University. |
Southern College of Optometry Names New Faculty Officers |
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Carrie Lebowitz, OD, Faculty Chair |
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Barbie Jodoin, OD, Faculty Secretary |
Also named: Dr. Gregory Wolfe, Faculty Vice Chair
Golden Opportunity Award WinnersPERC Alliance and Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation have announced the inaugural recipients of the Golden Opportunity Award. Each winner received $50,000 to open their own practice and were honored at the AOSA Optometry Student Bowl during Optometry’s Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, in June. |
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Rebecca Chown, OD, FAAO, Hood River, Oregon |
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Melissa Macco, OD, Reno, Nevada |
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Alyssa Putman, OD, Elmira, New York |
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Tracy Green and Nancey Harris, co-founders of VONTELLE Eyewear, won the grand prize of $75,000 New Voices Power Pitch competition. |
Inaugural ClearVision-Adira Grant WinnersClearVision Optical and the Optical Women’s Association (OWA) have jointly announced the winners of the inaugural grant program. |
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Danielle D. Crull, ABOM, owner and master optician at A Child’s Eyes |
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Michelle Kelley, Director of Ophthalmic Services and Materials at the Southern College of Optometry |
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Ashley Peters, a student at the Michigan College of Optometry, received the 2023 Student of the Year Award from the Michigan Optometric Association at the 2024 Great Lakes Eyecare Conference. |
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JoJo Brown, ’25, was appointed as the new NOSA president. |
See previous Women in the News from June, April and March 2024.
To view more newsmaker stories from WO, click here.
