AOA Presents Annual Awards, Inducts Two to Optometry Hall of Fame at Optometry’s Meeting
June 29, 2009 12:33 AM
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—During last week’s Optometry’s Meeting, the American Optometric Association honored several eyecare professionals during the opening general session on June 25.
In addition, two optometrists were inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame at the meeting.
Named the AOA’s Optometrist of the Year was Deanna Alexander, OD, senior partner and president of Eyecare Associates in Fort Collins, Colo. Alexander, who specializes in low vision, has worked to educate students and patients about that area of eyecare throughout her career, according to the AOA. She is currently secretary of the Southwest Council of Optometry, and is expected to be that group’s first woman president.
The Young Optometrist of the Year Award, presented to ODs in practice less than 10 years, went to Lillian Kalaczinski, OD, who in 2005 helped create the Vision Clinic at Cherry Street Health Services, a federally qualified community health center in Grand Rapids, Mich. Kalaczinski is the only full-time OD at a community health center in Michigan, the AOA said.
The AOA Distinguished Service Award went to Michael Jones, OD, a former AOA executive director. Jones is a past president of the Tennessee Optometric Association and adjunct professor at the Southern College of Optometry; he has held numerous posts in local, state and national optometric associations during his career.
Dianna Sweet, who has been on the staff of Douglas Heinze, OD, in Howell, Mich., for 31 years, was named the AOA’s Paraoptometric of the Year. Sweet, a charter member of the Michigan Paraoptometric Association, completed her third term as president of that organization last year. She has been particularly active in vision screenings for the Michigan Special Olympics, according to the AOA.
Inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame during the meeting were Edwin Marshall, OD, vice president for diversity, equity and multicultural affairs and professor of optometry at the Indiana University College of Optometry, and Charles Mullen, OD, former president of the Illinois College of Optometry.
They join the 46 other individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception.