ORLANDO—The American Academy of Optometry announced the establishment of the Brien Holden Humanitarian Award to honor the memory and work of Professor Brien Holden, PhD, DSc, FAAO. This award will recognize an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to improve eyecare within a country or region. The award will particularly acknowledge humanitarian efforts in the non-profit/not-for-profit sector that build or support the development of sustainable eyecare systems in developing communities.

Professor Holden founded the Brien Holden Vision Institute and was a global leader in eyecare and vision research, an internationally renowned and awarded scientist, humanitarian, and a professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of New South Wales in Australia.

“This is a wonderful acknowledgment by the Academy, a body that Brien greatly respected and a meeting he enthusiastically attended for around four decades. This award will give important recognition to those people who may not be known globally, but who are making a difference in eyecare in their country or region,” said Kovin Naidoo, OD, PhD, FAAO, and CEO of the Brien Holden Vision Institute.

The award, established by the Brien Holden Vision Institute and Holden family estate, will be given annually beginning in 2017. Nominations should include two letters of nomination from Academy Fellows and a CV of the nominee. Nominations are due by April 1, 2017 to HelenV@aaoptom.org.