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Tara Rosenzweig

AWARDS

The American Optometric Association (AOA) presented its annual awards at the 111th Annual AOA Congress in Seattle, Wash. The 2008 AOA Award recipients are Arol R. Augsburger, OD, of Chicago, Distinguished Service Award; Linda D. Johnson, OD, of Jackson, Miss., Optometrist of the Year; Elizabeth Draper Muckley, OD, of Uniontown, Ohio, Young Optometrist of the Year; Mr. James Kesteloot, of Chicago, Apollo Award; and Beverly Roberts, CPOA, of Magee, Miss., Paraoptometric of the Year Award.

Prevent Blindness America announced the recipients of its 2008 Prevent Blindness America Investigator Awards: Dr. Reza Dana, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary; Cynthia Owsley, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Charlotte E. Joslin, OD, University of Illinois at Chicago.

The American Optometric Foundation (AOF), in conjunction with Vision Service Plan (VSP), announced the winner of the 2008 VSP Research Grant. Dr. Nathan Efron, Queensland University of Technology, School of Optometry, and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, won the $42,000 grant for his project, "Expanding the Role of Optometry in Diabetes Management." This is the first year that VSP sponsored the grant through AOF.

BUSINESS UPDATE

The AOA Paraoptometric Section, with the support of the American Optometric Association, has designated September 14 through 20, 2008 as Paraoptometric Recognition Week. Now in its sixth year, the recognition week is designed to honor paraoptometrics for their dedication to patients, and to the profession of optometry.

MILESTONE

The AOA has marked the 10th anniversary of the Ophthalmic Council, an informal forum for ophthalmic industry leaders and the AOA. Some of the Ophthalmic Council's achievements include providing support for the Practice Management University (PMU) and Optometry 2020 Summits.

GOOD DEEDS

Davis Vision has partnered with Baltimore's Health Care for the Homeless and the Maryland Society for Sight to provide vision care and eyeglasses to the uninsured homeless.