Vistakon Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care

Purpose

To recognize outstanding student clinicians who have demonstrated excellence in contact lens patient care during their optometric education.

Award

One $1,000 award and personalized plaque is awarded to a graduating fourth year student at each of the schools and colleges of Optometry in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Criteria

Outstanding clinical patient care as demonstrated by the student’s: (a) overall knowledge in the contact lens field, and (b) skillful, considerate and professional care of his/her contact lens patients.

Application and Review Procedures

The appropriate award selection committee at each of the schools/colleges of optometry will select the one student who meets the eligibility requirements and best demonstrates the qualities detailed in the above criteria. The AOF will not accept applications directly from students.

Notification and Conferment

Each school or college will contact its award winner. The AOF will send the award to the school or college or directly to the student. Likewise, depending on the prevailing policy of the school or college, checks may be made out directly to the student or to the institution for application to the student’s financial aid. In either case, a W9 form (or W-8BEN if non-U.S. resident) must be submitted or be on file. Awards are generally mailed 4-6 weeks after deadline. If permissible, the award presentation maybe presented by a Vistakon representative, assigned to each specific school or college of optometry, at the institution’s awards ceremony.

Nomination
The Nomination Form 2013 is provided directly to institution contacts via email prior to the opening of the submission window.  Completed nomination forms should be sent via email to: AOF@aaoptom.org with the subject line: Vistakon AOE + institution name.

DEADLINE IS APRIL 12, 2013.

Program Note
All award recipients by application/nomination and acceptance of an award agree to allow the AOF and/or the sponsor of the program to which they applied to publish their name, image, institution information, and any statement or quote provided by the recipient. These will appear in a variety of media formats that will announce and promote the program including, but not limited to, the AOF and/or sponsor annual report, website, annual meeting promotional materials or press release.

Please direct any questions about this program to: Tracy Kitts, Foundation Coordinator, at: AOF@aaoptom.org or 321-710-3936.

 2012 Recipients

Erik Mothersbaugh, OD, Illinois College of Optometry
Sunni D. Stewart, OD, Indiana University at Bloomington School of Optometry
Lulu Massri, OD, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry
Andrea T. Sewell, OD, Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University
Crystal Meyer, OD, New England College of Optometry
Rosita Ghazanfari, OD, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
Ernesto Cepero, OD, Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
Chad M. Rosen, OD, Pacific University College of Optometry
Sara Ann Bierwerth, OD, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
Jared Jaynes, OD, Southern California College of Optometry
Meredith Rhodes, OD, Southern College of Optometry
Olga Pikus, OD, State University of New York College of Optometry
Mallory Kuchem, OD, The Ohio State University College of Optometry
Patricia Marie Fulmer, OD, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
Hector Duenas, OD, University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry
Casey Johnston, OD, University of Houston College of Optometry
Melissa M. Schmidt, OD, University of Missouri, St. Louis College of Optometry
Claudine Courey, OD, University of Montreal School of Optometry
Katrina Kolozetti, OD, University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science