Feb. 12, 2025 — Prevent Blindness has opened nominations for the 2025 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health and the sixth annual Rising Visionary Award. The deadline for submissions is March 10 at noon ET. An independent committee of professionals in ophthalmology, optometry, advocacy, public health, and scientific communities will review the nominations and select recipients.
For the first time, award recipients will be announced at the 2025 Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Summit, which will be held virtually on May 14. Recipients must also present their work during a Prevent Blindness webinar taking place in the fall, which will explore themes from the summit.
The Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health honors individuals, groups, or organizations that have made significant contributions to public health initiatives related to vision and eye health at community, state, national, or international levels. Named after Jenny Pomeroy, former CEO of Prevent Blindness Georgia, the award recognizes efforts in advocacy, research, and community outreach.
Nomination materials for the award include a nomination form; a 500-word description outlining the nominee’s contributions; a one-page biographical sketch, curriculum vitae, or organizational background; and any additional relevant materials, up to 10 pages, in PDF format.
Past recipients include Mission for Vision in 2024 and Dean A. VanNasdale, Jr., OD, PhD, of The Ohio State University College of Optometry in 2023. Dr. VanNasdale now serves on the Prevent Blindness board of directors.
The Rising Visionary Award, now in its sixth year, is given to a student or resident in a health-related field who submits the strongest application and essay. The 2025 essay must address the Focus on Eye Health Summit’s theme, “Perspectives in Vision,” identifying a need for a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to vision and eye health research, programs, or policy.
Submission requirements for the Rising Visionary Award include an application cover sheet, a 500-word essay, curriculum vitae and personal statement, and letters of recommendation.
The 2024 award went to Erica Shelton, OD, MS, FAAO, a clinical instructor and PhD candidate at OSU. Christina Ambrosino of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine received the award in 2023.