J. Pat Cummings Fellowship
Background
Originally this award was known as the ACUVUE® Eye Health Advisor Student Citizenship Scholarship. In 2009, following the tragic death of Dr. Cummings, VISTAKON®, a Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., and the AOF decided that the program should be renamed in his honor. This award is conferred annually to a second or third year optometry student at each of the North American Schools and colleges of optometry who best demonstrates the ideal eye care standards of practice. To qualify the recipient must demonstrate achievement in both academic performance and extra-curricular activities, along with other professional pursuits such as involvement with patients through internships, community service, and other volunteer activities.
Eligibility
Second or third year students attending a school or college of optometry in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico are eligible.
Fellowship
A $1,000 fellowship toward academic expenses and personalized plaque, one for each recipient for a total of twenty-two awards.
Purpose
To recognize outstanding contributions of student clinicians who best exemplify ideal eye care standards of practice.
Selection
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 criteria. AOF will not accept applications directly submitted by a student. Interested students should relay their desire for consideration to the award chair or financial aid representative at their institution.
Criteria
To select the one student who meets the eligibility requirements and best demonstrates achievement in both academic performance and extra-curricular activites, along with other professional pursuits such as involvment with patients through internships, community service, and other volunteer activities.
Recipients will best exemplify ideal eye care standards of practice, including: (a) the importance of eye health; (b) proper contact lens wear and care; (c) community service and volunteerism.
Submission and Deadline
The 2013 deadline is October 4th.
J. Pat Cummings Nomination Form (Word)
Nominations must be sent by a representative from each institution, electronically via e-mail and include the subject line "Cummings Fellowship" to: AOF@aaoptom.org .
For additional questions or information, contact Tracy Kitts, Foundation Coordinator, at 321-710-3936 or AOF@aaoptom.org
AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC FOUNDATION, VISTAKON® ANNOUNCE 2012 J. PAT CUMMINGS FELLOWSHIPS
ROCKVILLE, MD (November 15, 2012) – The American Optometric Foundation (AOF) along with TVCI and VISTAKON®, a Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., today announced recipients of the J. Pat Cummings Fellowship.
The J. Pat Cummings Fellowship program is designed to recognize outstanding third-year clinicians who best exemplify and enhance patient loyalty through establishing the important link between eye health and overall health. The program recognizes how important Eye Care Professionals are in educating patients in several areas, including: diagnosing and treating vision disorders, ensuring patient satisfaction with vision correction choices and encouraging patients to schedule regular eye exams.
The 2012 recipients:
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Samantha Rice |
Illinois College of Optometry |
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J. Alex Jones |
Indiana University School of Optometry |
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Rakesh Lakhani |
Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry |
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Krystal Michels |
Michigan College of Optometry |
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Amanda Miskewicz |
Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry |
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Debi Sarma |
New England College of Optometry |
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Clayton Boyd |
Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry |
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Sara Silva |
Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry |
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Natalie Chai |
Pacific University College of Optometry |
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James Deom |
Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University |
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H. Michael |
Southern California College of Optometry |
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Katie Niermann |
Southern College of Optometry |
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Tracy Voegeli |
State University of New York College of Optometry |
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Milda Bandza |
The Ohio State University College of Optometry |
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Catherine Coleman |
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry |
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Gini Siri |
University of California Berkeley School of Optometry |
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Brady Betten |
University of Houston College of Optometry |
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Emily Pike |
University of Missouri - St. Louis College of Optometry |
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Michele Arthurs |
University of Montreal School of Optometry |
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Linh Phan |
University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry |
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Sophia Leung |
University of Waterloo School of Optometry |
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Ashley Suplee |
Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry |
Each outstanding student clinician will receive $1,000 Fellowship toward academic expenses and personalized plaque to recognize their commitment to demonstrate academic excellence and ideal eye care standards of practice through internships, community service, and other volunteer activities.
The American Optometric Foundation is a philanthropic organization devoted to the advancement of optometric education and research, administering over $400,000 per year in scholarships, fellowships, and research grants. The AOF is an affiliate of the American Academy of Optometry.
VISTAKON® is proud to have partnered with the American Optometric Foundation for over a decade, providing over one million dollars of support for scholarships, fellowships, and research grants. "Vistakon and the AOF are truly changing the future of optometry by supporting education, leadership, research in optometry," said Kathy Dumbleton, MCOptom, MS, FAAO, President, American Optometric Foundation. VISTAKON® is the only member of the Foundation’s Visionary circle.
VISTAKON® is a trademark of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.