ASCO News

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) announces the recipients of the 2025 Special Recognition Awards. 

“We are very pleased to honor the 2025 Special Recognition Award winners,” says Dr. Fraser Horn, ASCO President. “All the recipients are extraordinary people who have contributed in exceptional ways to the field and the future of optometry. We were happy to recognize the recipients during our 2025 Annual Business Meeting.” 

ASCO Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. John Flanagan is this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. 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.

He is Professor and Dean Emeritus at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley. He graduated in Optometry and Vision Sciences from Aston University, Birmingham, UK in 1980, where he later earned his PhD in 1985. Until 2014 he was Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo and in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada, where he was Director of the Glaucoma Research Unit, Toronto Western Research Institute and a Senior Scientist at the Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network. He was the eighth dean of Berkeley Optometry and Vision Science from 2014 to 2025.

He has held continuous federal research funding for over 34 years. He has supervised 46 graduate students and has authored over 180 peer-reviewed publications. In addition, he has 14 book chapters, 3 books and given numerous invited lectures to both professional and academic audiences around the world. Additionally, Dean Flanagan holds numerous awards and honors that distinguish him in his field.

“I am so honored to have been selected as ASCO’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. I am humbled and thankful to Optometry for providing me with a home, a community and a place to grow, play and contribute; it is a wonderful, thriving profession,” says Dr. Flanagan. “However, the achievements I am being recognized for are through a lifetime of friendships and collaborations, and the influence of extraordinary mentors, including great clinicians, scientists and leaders. I have indeed been lucky. But most of all I would like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Kathy Dumbleton for her partnership and sacrifice throughout my career. I would not be recognized in this way without Kathy’s love and support.”

This award is generously sponsored by Dompé.

“Dompé, a company committed to education and innovation in eye care, is proud to join ASCO in celebrating the extraordinary educators who have shaped the profession,” says Jennifer Cross, Senior Director, Field Marketing, KOL and Peer to Peer Strategy at Dompé US. “We are privileged and look forward to honoring this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.”

Herbert Wertheim Award
Dr. Dennis M. Levi is the fourth Dr. Herbert Wertheim Award recipient. This award, affectionately called the “Herbie,” recognizes remarkable individuals or organizations that have accomplished high-impact, ground-breaking, and innovative programs or initiatives, and contributed substantially, or have the potential to sustainably address, eye and vision health and/or the social determinants of eye health and vision care, at the local, national, or global level.

Dr. Levi is an American Professor at the University of California, Berkeley with appointments in the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute. His research focuses on how we see form and depth, and how these are impacted by abnormal early visual development, particularly amblyopia and strabismus. He has published more than 300 scientific papers and two books. His work has been cited almost 30,000 times and he has an h-index of 87 (Google Scholar). His research has been funded by the National Eye Institute since 1976.

He also holds the Guinness World Record for the Highest Hyperacuity. In April 1984, he repeatedly identified the relative position of a thin bright green line with a precision of 0.85 seconds of arc seconds, equivalent to a displacement of some 6 mm at a distance of 1.6 km.

“I am greatly humbled by this amazing award, and profoundly grateful to my mentors, Ron Harwerth and Gerald Westheimer, and my many friends and colleagues at both the University of Houston College of Optometry and the UC Berkeley Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, for their support over the years,” says Dr. Dennis Levi.

ASCO Rising Star Award
The ASCO Rising Star Award, sponsored by Costco Wholesale Inc is given to an outstanding faculty member or administrator with less than seven years of service who has made noteworthy contributions to fulfilling the mission, strategic objectives, or programs of ASCO. This year’s Rising Star awardee is Dr. Jennifer Reilly.

Jennifer Reilly OD, MSc, FAAO is an Associate Professor of Optometry at the New England College of Optometry (NECO) in Boston, MA. She teaches theory and methods courses at NECO and is the immediate past co-Chair of ASCO’s Clinical Optometric Methods and Procedures Special Interest Group.

“I am deeply honored to be chosen for ASCO’s Rising Star Award,” says Dr. Reilly. “In my career, I have been fortunate to be surrounded by exceptional mentors at my institution who support me. I am also grateful for organizations such as ASCO who invest in the development of optometric educators with programs such as the Spring (formerly Summer) Institute for Faculty Development, where I learned so much! Thank you to the ASCO Board of Directors and Costco Optical for this recognition.” 

“We are thrilled to congratulate Dr. Reilly on being selected for the ASCO Rising Star Award,” said Dr. Pratil Lal, Head of Professional Services at Costco Wholesale Inc. “This award recognizes Dr. Reilly’s outstanding contribution to teaching and inspiring the future generations of optometrists and is a testament to our shared commitment to the future of the optometric profession.”

Dr. Lester Janoff Award for Writing Excellence

The Dr. Lester Janoff Award for Writing Excellence recognizes the outstanding writing of a research article published in the ASCO Journal Optometric Education. It is presented biannually.

This award is sponsored by Topcon.

The award is named in honor of Dr. Lester E. Janoff, editor of the Journal from 2002-2005, and long-time member of the editorial review board known for his mentoring of young writers.

The authors of the article Feedback Changes Metacognitive Accuracy Over Different Time Scales, which appeared in the Fall 2023 issue of Optometric Education, are Kevin T. Willeford, OD, MS, PhD and Nicole Patterson, OD, MS of NOVA Southeastern University College of Optometry; and Jamie Althoff, OD formerly with NOVA.

“I love to write and explore mathematical patterns so I am humbled and excited to receive recognition for doing what I enjoy,” says Dr. Willeford.

“As a faculty member who had the privilege of witnessing Dr. Janoff’s unwavering dedication to educating future optometrists, it is especially rewarding to receive The Dr. Lester Janoff Award for Writing Excellence,” according the Dr. Patterson. “His commitment to advancing our profession was truly profound, and this recognition holds special significance because of his lasting impact.”

And, Dr. Althoff says, “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Drs. Willeford and Patterson. We appreciate the hard work of the Editorial Review Board and the Award Committee in encouraging quality research, and we are honored to receive this award in Dr. Janoff’s memory.”

“Topcon Healthcare, Inc. proudly supports ASCO and its mission to advance optometric education. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Drs. Jamie Althoff, Nicole Patterson, and Kevin Willeford on receiving the prestigious Dr. Lester Janoff Award for Writing Excellence. Their remarkable research contributions reflect the high standards and bright future of optometric education,” says Dr. Rupe Hansra Vice President, Professional Affairs.

“At Topcon Healthcare, we believe recognizing academic excellence is vital to shaping the next generation of eye care professionals. We are dedicated to advancing that future by transforming clinical practice with innovative diagnostics, artificial intelligence, and data-driven insights, all seamlessly integrated within the Healthcare from the Eye™ connected care ecosystem. We’re honored to support the next chapter of optometry.”

A committee of the Journal editorial review board makes the selection. The judges rate all the research articles that have appeared in the journal in the previous two years. Writing excellence is judged on the significance of the topic chosen, quality of the article and potential impact.

The award consists of a certificate and a cash award of $2,000, which is divided among the authors.

ASCO Student Award in Clinical Ethics
This annual national award, sponsored by Alcon, is available to optometry students during any point of their professional program at an ASCO-affiliated school or college of optometry in the United States and Canada. The application consists of an essay of up to 1,500 words describing any one of the following scenarios:

1. A patient-based case-study that the student encountered as part of their clinical learning experience.
2. A research-based case scenario that the student has encountered during their clinical or didactic learning experience.
3. A professional ethics-based scenario that the student has encountered during their clinical or didactic learning.

ASCO announces Michelle Shang as the winner of the 2025 Student Award in Clinical Ethics. This annual national award provides the winner with a $1,000 award check and an acrylic engraved plaque.

Michelle Shang is a student at the New England College of Optometry and is expected to graduate with her Doctor of Optometry degree next year. Her winning essay, Informed Consent in Declining Cognition: A Moral Dilemma from an Optometric Perspective will also be featured in an upcoming journal of Optometric Education.

“We are thrilled to congratulate Michelle Shang as the recipient of the 2025 Student Ethics Award,” said Chad Zscherny, Director of Academic Development at Alcon. “This award celebrates clinical excellence and innovation in eye care, and Ms. Shang’s case report exemplifies the high standards of insight, creativity, and patient-centered care that we aim to recognize and promote. We commend Ms. Shang for her outstanding contribution to advancing the practice of optometry.”

Award winners were acknowledged during ASCO’s Annual Business Meeting on June 25 in Minneapolis.

As the nation’s optometry students get ready to take Part I of the NBEO national licensing exams this month, the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) wishes our students all the best for a positive testing experience.

ASCO, as the membership organization representing all ACOE-accredited optometry schools/colleges, supports our students and faculty, knowing that our member institutions follow the highest standards in optometric education and have provided world-class education and training necessary for students’ successful entry into the profession of optometry.  

In collaboration with the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO®), the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) continues to post the pass rate data for every U.S. optometric institution on its website. These results include outcomes of the now-retired Part III CSE exam as well as the new Part III PEPS exam.

The data for 2024 is found at: https://optometriceducation.org/news/national-board-of-examiners-in-optometry-yearly-performance-report/. This is also where past year’s reports, beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year, may be found.

“NBEO is pleased to continue to work with ASCO as we provide this data,” says Dr. Jill Bryant, NBEO Executive Director. “These results are from calculations using the scores of optometry candidates who have both graduated during the 2023-2024 academic year and attempted all three parts of the exam at least once.”

“The pass rates from the schools and colleges of optometry can provide a comprehensive view of school performance as well as challenges,” says Dr. Fraser Horn, ASCO President. “We remain committed to offering each optometry student a vigorous curriculum as well as tailored support to best prepare them to enter this very challenging and rewarding career.”

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) is thrilled to report its U.S. institutions had the highest number ever of applicants during the 2023-2024 OptomCAS application cycle.

Optometric institutions collectively saw 2,868 applicants; the previous highest number of applicants was 2,812 in the 2015-2016 application cycle.

More noteworthy highlights include:

• A 3.4% increase in applicants (2,868 vs. 2,773) compared to last cycle.
• A 7.6% increase in total number of applications (12,732 vs. 11,834). Applicants applied to an average of 4.44 schools and colleges.
• A 4.5% increase in Black/African American applicants (140 vs. 134) compared to last cycle. The highest number of Black/African American applicants occurred in 2020-2021 with 160 applicants.
• A 3.6% increase in Hispanic/Latino applicants (374 vs. 361). This application cycle shows the highest number of Hispanic/Latino applicants ever.

“These results are so exciting to see and I am thrilled that people are wanting to enter the wonderful and meaningful profession of optometry,” says ASCO President Dr. Fraser Horn. “We are seeing the fruits of our public awareness campaign, Optometry Gives Me Live, which targets undergrads in a STEM program and shows them all that optometry can offer them as a career. Optometry is seeing growth and remains vital within the healthcare landscape. The future is bright for the profession of optometry.”

Applicants apply through OptomCAS (https://www.optomcas.org/), the Optometry Centralized Application Service, which recently launched on June 27 for application cycle 2024-2025. All 24 ASCO member schools and colleges participate in OptomCAS.

A full report on the 2023-2024 application cycle will be available at the end of the year. For answers to questions about the applicant pool and OptomCAS, visit www.optomcas.org or contact Paige Pence, ASCO Director of Student and Residency Affairs, at ppence@opted.org.

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) announces the recipients of the 2024 Special Recognition Awards.

 “This year’s Special Recognition Award winners are truly exceptional people with noteworthy accomplishments,” says Dr. Mark Colip, ASCO President. “The awards will be recognized at the ASCO Annual Business Meeting. Each recipient is truly exceptional in their accomplishments and contributions to optometry.”

ASCO Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Karla Zadnik is this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. 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.

Karla Zadnik is the interim executive vice president and provost of The Ohio State University and the interim dean of the university’s College of Public Health. As interim executive vice president and provost, Dr. Zadnik leads Ohio State’s Office of Academic Affairs, which oversees the university’s academic enterprise — including 15 colleges, four regional campuses, University Libraries, and units that support academic experience and operations for the university’s more than 65,000 students and 8,400 faculty members.

Most recently, Dr. Zadnik served as dean of Ohio State’s College of Optometry. Additionally, she has served as the lead dean for the university’s seven health science colleges and chaired the Biomedical Sciences Institutional Review Board.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a prominent patient-oriented researcher in the field of optometry and vision science, Dr. Zadnik is an Ohio State Distinguished Scholar and the Glenn A. Fry Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics. She earned her OD and PhD degrees from the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2023. She is a past president of the American Academy of Optometry, ASCO, and the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.

Dr. Zadnik was the Study Chairman for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Ethnicity and Refractive Error Study and she chaired the first-ever NIH-funded multicenter study based in optometry, the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus Study.

“I’m incredibly honored and humbled to receive this award. It means so much to me that my work lets me focus on things that really matter, alongside talented Ohio State faculty, staff, and students,” says Dr. Zadnik. “My ability to serve and promote optometric education and vision research through the American Academy of Optometry, Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, and the National Board of Examiners in Optometry has been icing on the cake!”

Herbert Wertheim Award
Dr. Jorge Cuadros is the third Dr. Herbert Wertheim Award recipient. This award, affectionately called the “Herbie,” recognizes remarkable individuals or organizations that have accomplished high-impact, ground-breaking, and innovative programs or initiatives, and contributed substantially, or have the potential to sustainably address, eye and vision health and/or the social determinants of eye health and vision care, at the local, national, or global level.

Dr. Cuadros is the founder of EyePACS, a program used for detecting retinal and systemic disease in over 1000 community health centers providing over 1.3 million telemedicine-based retinal exams. His interest in ocular telehealth and community health over the past thirty years has led to programs for underserved populations in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and throughout the U.S. He has collaborated in hundreds of publications on digital health and is co-author and co-editor of three books, “Teleophthalmology,” “Digital Teleretinal Screening,” and “Digital Eye Care and Teleophthalmology.” 

He has served as a consultant for preparing acceptable wording for California Assembly Bills 354, 1224, and 175 that provided a legal framework for ocular telehealth in California. He has been conducting several clinical trials on innovative technologies, such as deep learning systems for retinal reading, laser imaging devices, and primary care training programs, for expanding access to eye care. He is currently Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of Informatics Research at the University of California in Berkeley, Optometric Eye Center.

“I am truly honored to be this year’s recipient and thank ASCO and everyone who nominated me,” says Dr. Cuadros.

ASCO Ophthalmic Industry Leadership Award
The ASCO Ophthalmic Industry Leadership Award recognizes an individual from a current or past Corporate Contributor partner company that demonstrates exemplary support of ASCO and its member institutions.

The individual serves as an example for his/her colleagues in industry, and has made exceptional and meaningful contributions to the advancement of ASCO and optometric education.

The 2024 recipient is Dr. Carl Hubbell “Hub” Spear.

Dr. Spear is Chief Medical Officer, Executive Vice President, EssilorLuxottica North America. He earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Alabama School of Optometry at Birmingham, following his undergraduate studies at Western Kentucky University. He continued his professional development with a residency in Primary Care Optometry/Ocular Disease at Northeastern State University College of Optometry and earned his Master of Business Administration from Auburn University.

Throughout his career, Dr. Spear has been a leader in the field of optometry, demonstrating his commitment to excellence and innovation. He founded and successfully operated Sight and Sun Eyeworks and Panhandle Vision Institute, a network of seven integrated private practices, before transitioning to roles within the optometric industry.

With a passion for both patient care and industry advancement, Dr. Spear has held significant positions, including Senior Vice President of Eye Care at Essilor Luxottica North America, Senior Director of Professional Relations at Vision Group Holdings, and various roles at Alcon and Novartis Ophthalmics. His expertise extends beyond clinical practice to encompass areas such as professional development, education, and vendor relations.

In addition to his professional achievements, Dr. Spear is actively involved in optometric organizations such as the American Academy of Optometry and the Florida Optometric Association. He has served in leadership capacities, demonstrating his dedication to advancing the profession and advocating for patient care.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Dr. Spear has also made significant contributions to his country, serving for 39 years in the United States Armed Forces, with both Army and Air Force experience.

Dr. Spear’s career is characterized by his unwavering dedication to improving vision care, his innovative approach to optometry, and his commitment to serving his patients, his community, and his country.

“It is an honor to receive the Industry Leadership Award from ASCO and be one of many optometric professionals to have earned this illustrious award as well,” according to Dr. Spear. “My career started in academics and I have so much admiration for ASCO and everyone involved in educating the future of optometry. In my role at EssilorLuxottica, I have been afforded the opportunity to support ASCO’s initiatives in new and meaningful ways and I look forward to continuing this support towards building the next generation of optometrists.”

ASCO Rising Star Award
The ASCO Rising Star Award is given to an outstanding faculty member or administrator with less than seven years of service who has made noteworthy contributions to fulfilling the mission, strategic objectives, or programs of ASCO. This year’s Rising Star awardee is Dr. Jennifer Fisher.

Jennifer Fisher, OD, FAAO, FOVDR, completed her Doctorate of Optometry at UC Berkeley and the Irwin B. Suchoff residency in vision therapy and rehabilitation at the State University of New York College of Optometry.

Dr. Fisher is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry at UC Berkeley and serves as the Co-Chief of the Binocular Vision Clinic. She helps patients with learning-related vision issues, strabismus, amblyopia, and those that have suffered acquired brain injuries. Dr. Fisher is currently serving as the chair of the ASCO Binocular Vision and Perception SIG.

She was also awarded the California Optometric Association Young Optometrist of the Year in 2022 and the Alameda Contra Costa County Young Optometrist of the Year in 2019. During her free time, she enjoys skiing, Lagree fit, and spending time with her husband and two young children.

“I am incredibly honored to receive the 2024 ASCO Rising Star award,” says Dr. Fisher. “As the chair of the BVPE SIG, I look forward to continuing the mission to serve the public and the profession of optometry through the continued advancement and promotion of optometric education in the subspecialties of Binocular Vision, Pediatrics and Perception. I am fortunate to have a great team of subcommittees to help our goal of creating advanced competencies. Thank you so much for this award!” 

ASCO Student Award in Clinical Ethics
This annual national award, sponsored by Alcon, is available to optometry students during any point of their professional program at an ASCO-affiliated school or college of optometry in the United States and Canada. The application consists of an essay of up to 1,500 words describing any one of the following scenarios:

1. A patient-based case-study that the student encountered as part of their clinical learning experience.
2. A research-based case scenario that the student has encountered during their clinical or didactic learning experience.
3. A professional ethics-based scenario that the student has encountered during their clinical or didactic learning.

ASCO announces Sam Wetzel as the winner of the 2024 Student Award in Clinical Ethics. This annual national award provides the winner with a $1,000 award check and an acrylic engraved plaque.

Sam Wetzel is a student at the University of Houston, College of Optometry and is expected to graduate with his Doctor of Optometry degree next year. His winning essay, “Should I Say Something? The Ethics of Reporting Suicide Attempts in Minors” will also be featured in an upcoming journal of Optometric Education.

“Alcon is proud to support the annual Student Ethics Award for all these years and to highlight optometric students’ educational experiences during their schooling,” says Chad Zscherny, Alcon’s Director of Academic Development. “Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Sam Wetzel. On behalf of Alcon we value our partnership with ASCO and are excited to sponsor this award.”

Award winners will be acknowledged during ASCO’s Annual Business Meeting on June 19 in Nashville. The Annual Business Meeting is open to all. To attend, please register at: https://web.cvent.com/event/b98f2170-3b03-4905-9428-80f5f630cc3a/regProcessStep1

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) announces Eye Opener Sessions, a complement to ASCO’s public awareness campaign, Optometry Gives Me Life.

Eye Opener Sessions is a matching service for potential and future optometry students who are looking for a Doctor of Optometry to shadow, via in person or virtually, during a workday to learn more about a day-in-the-life of an optometrist (OD).

“This service will help potential applicants meet a Doctor of Optometry who has expressed a willingness to have conversations and become a mentor,” says Dr. Mark Colip, ASCO President. “Since we launched Optometry Gives Me Life, we hear often that potential students are challenged when seeking shadowing opportunities with doctors. Potential students that have had conversations or shadowing opportunities with ODs typically fare better during the application process to optometric institutions and we hope this easy and low-pressure service eliminates the barrier.”

Practicing ODs will have the opportunity to foster the next generation of optometrists and open their eyes to a bright future. Optometrists who are interested in becoming a mentor should visit eyeopenersession.org. ODs will receive a Welcome Kit and more information through the OD’s Eye Opener Sessions online portal.

Students will be matched with an OD based on geographical information, common interests, and goals. Students can start the matching process at eyeopenersession.org.

Please visit eyeopenersession.org for more information.