ORLANDO, Fla.—The American Academy of Optometry Foundation announced the 11 recipients for the 2017 William C. Ezell Fellowship program. The Ezell Fellowship program is named after the founding president of the AAOF, William C. Ezell, OD.

The program was established to provide talented post-doctoral students who are pursuing an advanced degree in optometric research and education with recognition and support. To date, over 300 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 business organizations that represent most sectors of the industry.

The following students have been selected as the 2017-2018 Ezell Fellows:
American Academy of Optometry Ezell Fellow: Maria A. Walker, OD, FAAO, University of Houston College of Optometry. American Academy of Optometry Foundation Karla Zadnik Ezell Fellow: Katherine M. Bickle, OD, MS, FAAO, The Ohio State University College of Optometry. AAO Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies Ezell Fellow: Erin Rueff, OD, MS, FAAO, The Ohio State University College of Optometry.

Baycross Christian Family Foundation Binocular Vision and Pediatrics Ezell Fellow: Ann Morrison, OD, MS, The Ohio State University College of Optometry; Irvin M. Borish – Essilor Ezell Fellow: Ian Erkelens, OD, University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science; Mike Daley – Essilor Ezell Fellow: Suraj Upadhyaya, OD, FAAO, University of Houston College of Optometry; Merton C. Flom Leadership Ezell Fellow: Phillip Thomas Yuhas, 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: Nevin W. El-Nimri, OD, MS, FAAO, University of California Berkeley School of Optometry; John H. Schoen Ezell Fellow: Kevin Thomas Willeford, OD, MS, FAAO, State University of New York College of Optometry; William C. Ezell Fellow sponsored by Vision Impact Institute: 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 Oct. 14, 2017 during the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting in Chicago.