Have you received an award or acknowledgement for your contributions to optometry or your community?
Women In Optometry regularly recognizes the awards and accomplishments of women ODs in the profession and in their communities in the “Women in the News” series. Have you stepped into a new leadership role or recently won an award? Send us a note: MBijlefeld@jobson.com.
Congratulations to all the honorees!
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Susy Yu, OD, MBA, FAAO, has been named to the Optometry Giving Sight board of directors. Dr. Yu has served for more than 20 years as director of strategy and operations support at Vision Essentials by Kaiser Permanente. |
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Siu G. Wong, OD, received the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) Hall of Fame Award.
Dr. Wong will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the AOA Optometry’s Meeting in Washington DC, taking place June 21–24, 2023. |
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Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, FOWNS, CFMP, of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, has become the president of the Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society. She takes over from Julie Poteet, OD, MS, CNS, FOWNS. |
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Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD, was inducted into the UC Berkeley Optometry Hall of Fame. |
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Chandra Mickles, OD, MS, FAAO, FSLS, is now associate director, professional development and programs, U.S. Vision Care at Alcon. |
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Janene Sims, OD, PhD, was honored with the Dean’s Distinguished Faculty award by UAB School of Optometry’s 2023. |
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Catherine Coleman Johnson, OD, of Denham Springs, was named Young OD of the Year by the Optometry Association of Louisiana. |
| North Carolina Optometric Society Awards | |
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Samantha Ward McPherson, OD, and husband Dr. Lee McPherson were awarded the John D. Robinson Clinical Excellence Award. |
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Kristin O’Brien, OD, was awarded the Young OD Award. |
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Susanne Kilgo, OD, was awarded the John Costabile Distinguished Service Award (OD of the Year). |
| Virginia Optometric Association | |
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Christine Cook, OD, of Virginia Beach, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. |
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Amanda Umlandt, OD, FAAO, of Grundy, was named Optometrist of the Year. |
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Christine Paschal, OD, of Richmond, was named Young OD of the Year. |
| West Virginia Association of Optometric Physicians | |
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The West Virginia Association of Optometric Physicians installed its new board in late May, including
President Kayla Campbell, OD, of Barboursville, |
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and President-Elect Laura Suppa, OD, of Charleston. |
| NOA HBCU Mentorship Program + Grant 2023 Awardees | |
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Edesthele Decius, Florida A&M University/Salus University |
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Alexis Katlyn Renee Irving, Spelman College/University of Missouri–St. Louis |
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Aja Allana Jackson, Tennessee State/Indiana University |
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Khaliah L. Knighten, Prairie View A&M University/IAUPR |
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Chinoyelum Nnorom, Bowie State University/Salus University |
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Jasmine Renee Voss, Fisk University/Indiana University |
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Dasia Simone Brown, Savannah State University |
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Starr Mann, Howard University |
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Alexis Merrell, Miles College |
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Kyndall Oliver, Fisk University |
Read more about Visioning the Future – a National Optometric Association HBCU mentorship program here.
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