William A. Monaco, O.D., M.S.Ed., Ph.D., FAAO, associate dean of Salus University’s Graduate Programs in Biomedicine and associate director of Public Health programs, has received the Orion Award from the Armed Forces Optometric Society (AFOS). The Orion Award, the organization’s highest honor is awarded to AFOS members who have made the most significant contributions to the Society and the study of optometry. Dr. Monaco was presented with his award at the Southeastern Congress of Optometry (SECO) conference which took place recently in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
A founding member of AFOS, Dr. Monaco has been an active member for 45 years. His clinical specialties are optometric care in skilled nursing facilities and environmental health. Under his leadership, Salus University established the AFOS-Salus Tribute Scholarship for active AFOS members who want to earn an MPH degree. The scholarship is unique in that it can be utilized by the AFOS member or a qualified family member. In addition to his work at Salus, Dr. Monaco conducts optometric exams in nursing homes, continuing his longtime commitment to serving the vision care needs of the elderly.
 
AFOS is dedicated to advancing, improving and enhancing the optometric care of designated federal service health care beneficiaries by optometrists in federal service. They aim to provide a forum for optometrists to improve and elevate the standards of the practice.
 
Dr. Monaco received his PhD from the University of Houston where he studied physiological optics and cell biology. He is a graduate of the Southern California College of Optometry, now the home of Ketchum University.