ASCO Lifetime Achievement Award

The ASCO Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an outstanding individual who over an extended period of time provided exceptional leadership to ASCO and to optometric education; made outstanding contributions to the optometric community, and displayed exemplary commitment and dedication to the Association.

Nomination period is currently closed.

Criteria for the Award:

  • It is awarded “for unique and exceptional accomplishments and contributions to ASCO and optometric education”
  • The award is not necessarily an annual award
  • The Executive Committee approves awardees
  • The Award is not tied to retirements
  • The Award is presented at the ASCO Annual Leadership Luncheon
  • Nominations can be received from any Board or Executive Committee member for consideration by the Executive Committee

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

2023

Dr. Earl L. Smith III

Professor Smith received his OD (1972) and PhD (1978) from the University of Houston and subsequently joined the faculty of the UH College of Optometry. During his tenure in the College of Optometry, he held the Greeman-Petty Professorship in Vision Development and served as the Chair of the Basic Sciences Department, the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, the Dean of the College of Optometry, and as the Interim Chief Health Officer of the University of Houston. Dr. Smith currently holds the position of Professor Emeritus.

Professor Smith’s research interests are focused on the optics of the eye. For his research on the role of vision in regulating refractive development, he received the Glenn Fry Award (1996) and the Prentice Medal (2010) from the American Academy of Optometry, the Korb Award for Excellence from the Contact Lens and Cornea Section of the AOA (2011) and was recognized as a Distinguished Scholar by the National Academy of Practice in Optometry (2012). Professor Smith has published over 200 refereed papers and received 38 years of research funding from the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Eye Institute (NEI). He is also an accomplished lecturer, having received teaching awards at the department, college, and university levels. In 2021, Professor Smith received the Farfel Award from the University of Houston, the highest honor awarded to a UH faculty member.

Professor Smith has been an active member of the vision science community. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a past ARVO Fellow (inaugural class), a past President of the American Optometric Foundation (2002), a past President of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (2010), a past Member and Chair of NIH NEI’s Central Visual Processing Study Section (1998-2003), a past member of NIH’s National Advisory Eye Council (2005-2008), and a past Director on the Boards of the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research and the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research.

For his accomplishments in teaching and his impact on the profession of optometry, the Texas Optometric Association presented Professor Smith with the Educator of the Year (2003) and Optometrist of the Year (2009) awards, the AOA inducted him into National Optometry Hall of Fame (2015) and was admitted to the Leadership & Legacy Society of the American Academy of Optometry (2022).

Video presented at ASCO’s Annual Business Meeting

 

2022

Dr. David S. Loshin

David S. Loshin received his BS degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in Photographic Science and Instrumentation with emphasis in optical engineering. He completed his professional degree in Optometry and his MS and PhD in Physiological Optics at The Ohio State University. He served as a member of both the professional and graduate faculty at the University of Houston for over eighteen years. During his last five years at UH, he also held administrative roles as Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration and Chair of the Residency Programs. 

After serving as the Dean and Professor at the University of Missouri St Louis School of Optometry, he was appointed Dean and Professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, a position he held for 24 years. He left the Dean position at the end of July 2020 and started a one-year sabbatical. The University presented him the title of Dean Emeritus in November 2020.

In his role as Dean of the NSU College of Optometry, he has been instrumental in developing creative programs including the Optometry Extended Program, the Preparatory Optometry Program and a totally on-line Master of Science in Clinical Vision Research. Under his leadership, The Eye Care Institute, the clinical arm of the professional program, has four clinical sites with the most advanced instrumentation and utilization of electronic medical records.

Dr. Loshin has taught a variety of courses and also served as a clinical preceptor in primary care and low vision clinics. He has received grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, the NASA Johnson Space Center, the State of Texas, as well as from the NSU Health Professions, University and several corporations. He has published over 70 papers, abstracts and technical reports related to his research interests as well a workbook on Geometrical Optics. He is a Research Diplomate in Low Vision from the American Academy of Optometry.

Dr. Loshin has held positions on a variety of college and university committees and professional organizations including serving as President of ASCO for two years. He was instrumental in establishing the ASCO Residency Educator’s SIG and served as chair and co-chair for over 20 years. He has received several professional and service awards, including the American Optometric Association’s Low Vision Section’s Vision Care Award, Nova Southeastern University Academic Dean of the Year, Heiken Children’s Vision Program Honoree and recently the Florida Optometric Association Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Loshin continues to be an advocate for optometric education and professional optometry.

 

 

 

2021

Dr. Doug Hoffman

Dr. Hoffman has been a longtime advocate for optometric residencies and community health center based optometry. He served as New England College of Optometry’s Director of Residencies from 1985 to 2020 and was Director of Eye Care Services for 35 years at DotHouse Health, a Boston community health center.

Within ASCO, Dr. Hoffman has served in several capacities including as Co-chair of the Residency Educators special interest group, Chair of the ORMatch Committee, Chair of the Residency Titles Task Force and a member of the Residency Affairs Committee.

2020

Dr. Janice E. Scharre

Dr. Janice Scharre began her optometric career as a graduate of the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO), then joined the faculty at ICO. There she served in a variety of capacities. In 2014, Dr. Scharre joined Salus University as the Provost. Dr. Scharre is ASCO’s first female Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and we thank her for her commitment to ASCO and her role is advancing optometric education.
Dr. Scharre thank you message

2019

Dr. Arol Augsburger

Prior to Dr. Augsburger’s appointment at ICO in 2002, he served 30 years in a variety of leadership roles in higher education including the Interim Provost of UAB, Dean and Professor of the UAB School of Optometry, and Professor of Clinical Optometry at The Ohio State University College of Optometry. Congratulations Dr. Augsburger on your Lifetime Achievement Award and thank you for your dedication to ASCO and optometric education.
Special Recognition Video

2018

Dr. William E. Cochran

Dr. William E. Cochran’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes his outstanding and exceptional leadership to ASCO and to optometric education, his contributions to the optometric community, and displayed exemplary commitment and dedication to the association.
Special Recognition Video

2017

Dr. Melvin Shipp

Dr. Melvin Shipp is honored with the ASCO Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Shipp, over an extended period of time, has provided exceptional leadership to ASCO and to optometric education. We thank him for his exemplary commitment and dedication.

2016

Dr. Morris Berman

Dr. Morris Berman was honored with the ASCO Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Berman has exemplified what it means to be a leader in optometric education, having made and continuing to make outstanding contributions.

2015

Dr. Alfred A. Rosenbloom, Jr.

Dr. Alfred A. Rosenbloom was posthumously given the ASCO Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes an outstanding individual who over an extended period of time provided exceptional leadership to ASCO and to optometric education; made outstanding contributions to the optometric community, and displayed exemplary commitment and dedication to the association.

2009

Dr. Thomas L. Lewis

Dr. Thomas L. Lewis

Dr. Lewis exhibited exemplary vision and leadership skills in the transformation of PCO into Salus University, the first optometry-founded health professions university in the United States. In more than 30 years as an educator, Dr. Lewis has worked passionately and tirelessly to advance the profession of optometry through optometric education.