Outstanding Accomplishments

Recognition from National and state organizations.
By Sarah Cupples, MA, Director of Marketing and Communications
A light gray rectangle with a red outline of the state of Ohio with a gray Buckeye and leaf in it.

Academy 2025 Boston

Congratulations to our Ohio State Optometry colleagues who earned recognition at the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) conference in Boston in October.

Don Mutti, OD, PhD, delivered an outstanding Charles F. Prentice Lecture, taking us on a journey through his remarkable career in myopia research before humbly accepting the Prentice Medal. The Prentice Medal is the AAO’s top award.

Phil Yuhas (OD/MS’14, PhD’19) received the AAO Irvin M. and Beatrice Borish Award.

Derik Holmberg (MS’25/’26) received the Julius F. Neumueller Award in Optics.

Maya Dey (’26) received the AAOF Student Travel Fellowship.

Loretta Szczotka-Flynn (OD/MS’92) received the Max Schapero Memorial Lecture Award and delivered an engaging lecture.

Christine Sindt (OD’94) received the AAO Founders’ Award.

Molly Papio (OD’24), Emily Magas (OD’24) and Tiffany Lu (OD’24) received residency awards from the American Academy of Optometry Foundation.

Lauren Schneider (OD/MS’22) was recognized with the American Academy of Optometry Foundation’s Ezell Fellowship.

Congratulations, New Academy Fellows!

Bethany Army (OD’21)

Adam Bayer (MS’23, OD’24)

Taylor Beaton (OD’21)

Kinsley Gossard (OD’23)

Kalie Leone (OD’22)

Leah Margolis (OD’23)

Elizabeth Nickell (OD’24)

Dallin Page (OD’24)

Poonam Panda (OD’22)

Madison Roth (OD’23, MS’25)

Laura Segraves (OD’22)

Shihij Takoo (OD/MS’24)

Kendra Willhoite (OD/MS’23)

Abigail Witmer (OD’23)

Natalie Wong (MS’21, OD’22) 

EastWest Conference

And back in the Buckeye State, Ohio State Optometry was well represented at the Ohio Optometric Association’s EastWest Conference in October.

Congratulations to our Ohio State Optometry alumni who were elected Ohio Optometric Association Board of Trustees: President San-San Cooley (OD’09); Immediate Past President Tim Fries (OD’04, MBA, MPH); Trustee Dave Bejot (OD’93); Trustee Greg Nixon (OD’96); Trustee Katie Greiner (OD/MS’09); Trustee Katherine Fisher (OD’18); and Trustee Hannah Davidson (OD’19).

Congratulations, Award Winners!

Amy Bankey (OD’09), OOA Outstanding RealEyes Involvement Award – Most Students Educated

Katie Greiner (OD/MS’09), OOA Outstanding RealEyes Involvement Award – Community Impact

Mark Yoder (OD’89), OOA Special Service Award

Amy Ngo (’26), OOA Student of the Year

Rachel Bostelman (OD’07), OOA Key OD of the Year

Erich Hinel (OD/MS’10), OOA Key OD of the Year

William Lay (OD’92), OOA John and Cheryl Archer Award for Humanitarian Service

Shane Foster (OD’08), OOA Warren G. and Ruth P. Morris Optometrist of the Year

You also might like