Brett G. Bence Clinical Student Travel Fellowship

Throughout his career, Dr. Bence has been an ardent supporter of post-graduate education and advancement of clinical training.  The American Academy of Optometry annual meeting is viewed as the premier meeting for the optometry profession for growing your knowledge and appreciation of vision research and updated practice guidelines that underpins great clinical care.

Dr. Bence served the Academy as Chair of the Lectures and Workshops committee and established the Grand Rounds CE program at the annual meeting.  He encourages students who have submitted a paper or poster for the meeting to apply for this travel fellowship and while at the meeting, to become a Student Fellow of the Academy.  He is an alumnus of the University of Houston College of Optometry and requests that this award be presented to a University of Houston student or resident.

The submission window opens July 23, 2018 and closes August 13, 2018.

• Only open to students and residents of the University of Houston College of Optometry
• Open to 3rd and 4th year students and residents
  
• Aspires to be in clinical practice
  
• Accepted paper/poster for scientific program (first presenter)
• One page statement including:
  
  1. How would the travel fellowship and Academy benefit your aspirations for clinical practice?
  2. Demonstrated potential for self-motivation, independence and leadership.
  3. Summary of academic training, including honors.

Fellowship Requirements

• Must be a member of the American Academy of Optometry
• One letter of recommendation
  

Materials MUST be submitted online by the deadline date (shown above) using the online submission tool. Applications that remain incomplete after the deadline date will not be evaluated. 

Fellowship Notes

Although students can apply to attend a meeting for which they have previously been awarded a travel fellowship, priority may be given to first-time awardees.

It is the standard policy of the AAOF that program recipients who receive as part of their award, a travel stipend to attend an event, cannot receive a second or duplicate travel stipend from the Foundation or its affiliate, the AAO.

Applicants will be notified of the Scientific Program committee’s decision prior to the Academy annual meeting. Recipients are required to attend the AAOF Celebration Luncheon on Saturday, November 10, 2018 from 11 AM to 1:30 PM where they will receive their check.

All award recipients by application and acceptance of an award agree to allow the AAOF 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 may appear in a variety of media formats that will announce and promote the program including, but not limited to, the AAOF and/or sponsor annual report, website, annual meeting promotional materials.

Please direct all eligibility and application questions regarding this AAOF Student Travel Fellowship to: 
Christina Velasquez, Education Program Manager at Christinav@aaoptom.org

2018 is the inaugural year this STF will be awarded.