On the second day of the American Academy of Optometry held in Boston, Massachusetts, Ocular Wellness & Nutrition Society (OWNS) hosted a dinner, An Evening with OWNS. The agenda consisted of a Q&A time with the OWNS board and recognition for new fellows and student travel grant recipients.
Conversations on the importance of the nutrition and wellness world as it relates to vision and systematic health were shared between colleagues, emphasizing nutrition as the forefront of ocular patient care.
Three new fellows were recognized at the event: Meghan Bantle, OD; Pinakin Davey, OD, PhD, FAAO and OWNS vice president; and Daniel Walker, OD, FOWNS.
There were five OWNS student travel grant recipients recognized at the event: Erika Bendert, UIW Rosenberg School of Optometry Class of 2022 student; Brooke Hubbard, UAB School of Optometry Class of 2023 student; Christian Lopez, UIW Rosenberg School of Optometry Class of 2022 student; Rachel Wang, University of Houston College of Optometry Class of 2022 student; and Dollars Wang, Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry Class of 2025 student.
The awards were presented by Julie Poteet, OD, MS, CNS, FONS and OWNS president, and Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, FOWNS and OWNS board member.