AAO Announces 2026 Award Recipients
Wednesday, July 15 2026 | 11 h 23 min | News
Each year the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) recognizes distinguished individuals who have made countless important contributions to advancing the profession of optometry.
“The Academy’s award recipients exemplify the highest standards of excellence in research, education, clinical care, leadership, and service,” said Charlotte Joslin, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dipl AAO, Awards Committee Chair. “Nominated by their peers, these individuals have made lasting contributions that strengthen our profession and inspire future generations of optometrists and vision scientists. We look forward to celebrating their achievements together at Academy 2026 Anaheim.”
The Academy announces the 2026 award recipients:
Suzanne M. Fleiszig, OD, PhD, FAAO, FARVO
Charles F. Prentice Medal and Lecture Award
Philip Morgan, PhD, MCOptom, FBCLA, FAAO
Glenn A. Fry Award and Lecture
(American Academy of Optometry Foundation Award)
Alexis “Ceecee” Britten-Jones, BOptom, PhD
Irvin M. and Beatrice Borish Award
Nkem Okoroafor, BSc, OD, FNCO, FAAO
American Academy of Optometry – Essilor Award for Outstanding
International Contributions to Optometry
Swati Modi, OD, FAAO
William Feinbloom Award
VOSH/International
Brien Holden Humanitarian Award
Louise Sclafani, OD, FAAO
Carel C. Koch Memorial Medal Award
Kuniyoshi Kanai, OD, FAAO
Vincent Ellerbrock Clinician Educator Award
Evan S. Elam
Evan S. Elam, Nasim Maddah, Alexander W. Schill, and Jason D. Marsack, “Adding personalized wavefront correction to a scleral lens after lens manufacture,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 43, 112-122
Julius F. Neumueller Award in Optics
(American Academy of Optometry Foundation Award)
Neil Pence, OD, FAAO
Michael G. Harris Family Award for Excellence in Optometric Education
(American Academy of Optometry Foundation Award)
Maria Walker, OD, PhD, FAAO
AAOF Outstanding Emerging Leader Award
Kurt A. Zadnik, FAAO
Life Fellowship Award
Jones JH, Mutti DO, Jones-Jordan LA, Walline JJ. Effect of Combining 0.01% Atropine with Soft Multifocal Contact Lenses on Myopia Progression in Children. Optom Vis Sci. 2022;99(5):434-442.
Garland Clay Award
(OVS)
Join us for the Awards Ceremony on Friday, October 2, at 8:00 AM during Academy 2026 Anaheim in Room 261 AB of the Anaheim Convention Center. One hour of CE credit can be accrued during this two-hour event.
SECTION AWARDS
Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies
Carol Lakkis, BScOptom, PhD, FAAO
Max Schapero Lecture Award
Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), University of Waterloo
Founders Award
The Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies Awards will be presented during the Section Awards Ceremony and Max Schapero Lecture on Wednesday, September 30, at 4:00 PM in Room 255 AB at the Anaheim Convention Center. Half an hour of CE credit can be achieved during this one-hour session.
Public Health & Environmental Vision Section
Edwin Marshall, OD, MS, MPH, FAAO, Dipl AAO
Henry B. Peters Lecture Award
The Public Health and Environmental Vision Section will hold its Section Awards Ceremony and Henry B. Peters Lecture on Wednesday, September 30, at 6:00 PM in Room 254 AB of the Anaheim Convention Center. Attendees receive an hour of CE credit for attending this event.
Click HERE for the press release.
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