July 18, 2024 — The American Academy of Optometry annually honors individuals who have significantly advanced the field of optometry. The 2024 recipients have been announced and will be honored during Academy 2024, set to take place Nov. 6-9 in Indianapolis.

“The Academy’s awardees are nominated by fellows who were inspired by the amazing achievements each awardee attained in research, education, leadership, and/or service to our profession,” says Melissa D. Bailey, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO, awards committee chair.

The awards ceremony will take place Friday, Nov. 8, at 8 a.m. at the Indiana Convention Center. Attendees can earn one hour of CE credit during this two-hour event.

Meet this year’s recipients:

• Nathan Efron, Ph.D., DSc, FAAO – Charles F. Prentice Medal and Lecture Award
• Geunyoung Yoon, Ph.D. – Glenn A. Fry Award and Lecture
• Safal Khanal, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO – Irvin M. and Beatrice Borish Award
• Godwin Overseri-Ogbomo, O.D., MPH, Ph.D., FAAO, FNCO, FHEA – Essilor Award for Outstanding International Contributions to Optometry
• Lotfi Merabet, Ph.D., O.D., MPH – William Feinbloom Award
• Barbara Cohn, O.D., FAAO – Brien Holden Humanitarian Award
• Lyndon W. Jones, DSc, Ph.D., FAAO – Carel C. Koch Memorial Medal Award
• Andrew Rixon, O.D., FAAO – Vincent Ellerbrock Clinician Educator Award
• Sidney Parks – Julius F. Neumueller Award in Optics
• Vinita Henry, O.D., FAAO and Danica J. Marrelli, O.D., FAAO – Michael G. Harris Family Award for Excellence in Optometric Education
• Ruth Y. Shoge, O.D., MPH, FAAO – Ameroican Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) Excellence in Diversity Awareness and Education Award
• Stuti Misra, Ph.D., BOptom, FAAO – AAOF Outstanding Emerging Leader Award
• Barbara Caffery, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO – Tony Adams Eminent Service Award
• Gongpu Lan, Ph.D.; Salavat R. Aglyamov, Ph.D.; Kirill V. Larin, Ph.D.; and Michael D. Twa, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO – Garland Clay Award for their work, "In vivo human corneal shear-wave optical coherence elastography"

The Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies awards will be presented on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 5 p.m. at the Indiana Convention Center. Half an hour of CE credit is available for this one-hour session.

The following are this year’s Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies award recipients:

• James Wolffsohn, BSc, MBA, Ph.D., FAAO – Founders’ Award
• Barbara Caffery, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO – Max Schapero Memorial Lecture Award

The Public Health and Environmental Vision Section awards will be presented on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. at the Indianapolis Marriott. One hour of CE credit is available for attending this event.

• Timothy A. Wingert, O.D., FAAO – Henry B. Peters Award for Public Health and Environmental Vision