ORLANDO, Fla.—The American Academy of Optometry Foundation announced the 13 recipients of the 2018 William C. Ezell Fellowships. The Ezell Fellowship program is named after the founding president of the AAOF, William C. Ezell, OD. It was established to provide talented post-doctoral students who are pursuing an advanced degree in optometric research and education recognition and support. To date, over 400 William C. Ezell Fellowships have been awarded since the inception of the program in 1949. Funding for these Fellowships is provided by leading optometric companies, private endowments, and other generous business organizations that represent most sectors of the industry.

The following recipients have been selected as the 2018-2019 Ezell Fellows:

AAO Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies Ezell Fellow
Maria Walker, OD, MS, FAAO University of Houston College of Optometry

American Academy of Optometry Foundation Earl L. Smith, III Ezell Fellow
Gareth Hastings, BOptom University of Houston College of Optometry

American Academy of Optometry Ezell Fellow
Priyamvada M. Pitale, MS University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry

Baycross Christian Family Foundation Binocular Vision and Pediatrics Ezell Fellow
Suraj Upadhyaya, OD, University of Houston College of Optometry

Danne Ventura, Essilor Ezell Fellow
Katherine Bickle, OD, MS, FAAO The Ohio State University College of Optometry

Irvin M. Borish, Essilor Ezell Fellow
Daisy Shu, BOptom University of New South Wales School of Optometry and Vision Science, FAAO

John N. Schoen Ezell Fellow
Jasmine S. Junge, OD, FAAO University of California Berkeley School of Optometry

Merton C. Flom Leadership Ezell Fellow
Phillip Thomas Yuhas, OD, MS, FAAO The Ohio State University College of Optometry

Mike Daley, Essilor Ezell Fellow
Ann Morrison, OD, MS, FAAO The Ohio State University College of Optometry

Michael G. Harris Ezell Fellow
Elise N. Harb, OD, MSc, FAAO University of California Berkeley School of Optometry

Optometric Glaucoma Society Ezell Fellow
Laura Pardon, OD, MS, FAAO University of Houston College of Optometry

Rod Tahran, Essilor Ezell Fellow
Jessica V. Jasien University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry

Vision Impact Institute Ezell Fellow
Kaitlyn Anne Sapoznik, OD Indiana University School of Optometry

This year’s Ezell Fellows will be honored at the AAOF’s Annual Celebration Luncheon on Nov.10, 2018 during the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas.