Rising Star Award

Nomination period is currently closed.

This award is sponsored by Oculus. It recognizes a 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. Nominees will demonstrate outstanding contributions in one of the following areas:

  • Teaching which may include classroom, laboratory instruction, or course development
  • Scholarship which may include grant writing, research, publications, presentations, or other scholarly and creative activities
  • Administration which may include general administration, planning, development, or evaluation activities
  • Professional service which may include service to ASCO through committee, group, SIG or related activities; work in the community, state, or national levels that represents or promotes ASCO or optometric education

A contribution of $1,000 will be made to the faculty member’s or administrator’s institution designated for the recipient’s faculty and/or professional development. A commemorative award will also be presented to the “Rising Star” at the ASCO Annual Leadership Luncheon.

Contact Sara Lau, Business Operations Manager, for any questions at slau@opted.org.

Award Recipients

2023

Dr. Jaymeni Patel

Dr. Jaymeni Patel is an Assistant Professor and the Assistant Dean for Community Based Education at the Illinois College of Optometry. She oversees the externship program at the college and precepts students in the Primary Care Clinic, Glaucoma Unit, and Urgent Care Clinic. She teaches the Ocular Disease Seminar course and coordinates the Ocular Disease laboratory.

Dr. Patel received her Doctor of Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) and completed her residency in Ocular Disease and Primary Care at ICO. She is the current co-chair of the ASCO Externship Directors special interest group, a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and a member of the Illinois Optometric Association and American Optometric Association.

Video presented at ASCO’s Annual Business Meeting

2022

Dr. Lucy Kehinde

Since joining the faculty at University of Houston College of Optometry as Assistant Clinical Professor in 2015, Dr. Lucy Kehinde has been teaching in clinical didactic and laboratory courses and attending in Dry Eye, Cornea and Contact Lens, and Family Practice Clinics. She has also been involved in clinical research projects focusing on the ocular surface and dry eye disease. Dr. Kehinde has held leadership roles in various areas for initiatives involving clinic faculty and student affairs, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and interprofessional education with efforts reaching beyond UHCO through ASCO special interest groups and the Diversity and Cultural Competency Committee.

Dr. Kehinde earned her PhD in Vision Sciences and Doctor of Optometry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, followed by a residency in Primary Care at Indiana University School of Optometry.

2021

Dr. Katherine Green

Dr. Katherine Green is an Assistant Professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry where she serves as the director of the Acquired Brain Injury Visual Rehabilitation Clinic as well as the coordinator for the Pediatrics and Binocular Vision Residency Program. Dr. Green precepts students in both the Pediatrics and Binocular Vision and the Low Vision Rehabilitation clinics.

Dr. Green received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Illinois College of Optometry before moving to South Florida to complete a residency in pediatrics and binocular vision at NSU. She is the current chair of the ASCO Neuro-Optometric Rehab Educators special interest group, a member of the ASCO Clinical Affairs Committee, and an active member of the College of Optometrists in Visual Development.

2020

Dr. Erik Mothersbaugh

Sponsored by Oculus, 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 objections, or programs of ASCO. This year’s Rising Star awardee is Erik Mothersbaugh, OD, MPH.

Dr. Erik Mothersbaugh serves as the Dean of Student Affairs at Illinois College of Optometry, where he is primarily focused on the areas of Recruiting, Admissions, and Student Services. He is an alum of ICO, who after completing his Doctor of Optometry degree in 2012 stayed to complete a Residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease. He then served full-time on ICO’s faculty before joining the President’s Administrative Cabinet in 2018. During his time as a faculty member he taught courses in Visual Optics and Ethics in addition to patient care responsibilities in the Primary Care and Urgent Care services of the Illinois Eye Institute.

“It is an honor to be recognized by ASCO for this award,” says Dr. Mothersbaugh. “Among this group I have no shortage of mentorship. I am incredibly grateful to be part of an organization so dedicated to high quality education and the future of the profession of Optometry. Thank you!”

Dr. Erik Mothersbaugh thank you video. A special message from Oculus, sponsor of the the Rising Star Award.

2019

Dr. Diane Russo

Sponsored by Oculus, the ASCO Rising Star Award is given to an outstanding faculty member or administrator with less than seven years of service. This year’s Rising Star awardee is Diane Russo, OD, MPH.

Dr. Diane Russo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Primary Care at New England College of Optometry where she is Instructor of Record for the public health course sequence. She is also an Attending Optometrist at the Codman Square Health Center in Boston where she precepts second, third, and fourth year students.

Dr. Russo received her OD from SUNY College of Optometry, her MPH from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, and received residency training at the West Haven VAMC. She is Chair-Elect for ASCO’s Public Health Educators Special Interest Group (SIG) and is an active member of the AOA and Massachusetts Society of Optometrists, serving on the Health Promotions Committee and Legislative Action Committee, respectively.

“I am incredibly honored to be nominated and chosen for this award,” says Dr. Russo. “It has been an amazing privilege to be able to care for patients, while also contributing to the profession by educating future Doctors of Optometry.”

Special Recognition Video.

2018

Dr. Andrew D. Pucker

Sponsored by Oculus, the ASCO Rising Star Award is given to an outstanding faculty member or administrator with less than seven years of service. Dr. Andrew D. Pucker is recognized for his outstanding contributions to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Optometry, through teaching, scholarship, administration and professional service and most notably in contributions to ASCO’s Biomedical Educators Special Interest Group.

“It’s an honor to be nominated by UAB and to be selected by ASCO to receive the 2018 Rising Star Award,” says Dr. Pucker. “Life as a translational scientist and educator is rewarding, though not always easy, and awards like this one are an inspiration to keep pursing my passion.” 

Special Recognition Video.

2017

Dr. Catherine McDaniel

Generously sponsored by Oculus, 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 objections, or programs of ASCO. Dr. Catherine McDaniel, associate professor of clinical optometry at The Ohio State University, is recognized for her outstanding contributions through teaching, scholarship, administration and professional service.

2016

Dr. Nicole Ross

A 2016 Rising Star Award is given to Dr. Nicole Ross, Assistant Professor of Optometry at the New England College of Optometry (NECO).

Generously sponsored by Oculus, 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.

Dr. Ross is recognized for her outstanding contributions to NECO through teaching, scholarship, administration and professional service and most noticeably in contributions to ASCO’s Low Vision Special Interest Group.

“It is both a pleasure and an honor to be involved in the care of patients with visual impairment and educating future colleagues who will continue to grow and move this field forward,” says Dr. Ross.

Dr. Nathan Lighthizer

Northeastern State University, Oklahoma College of Optometry’s (NSUOCO) Director of Continuing Education, Dr. Nathan Lighthizer, is named a Rising Star.

Generously sponsored by Oculus, 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.

Dr. Lighthizer is recognized for his outstanding contributions to NSUOCO through teaching, scholarship, administration and professional service and most noticeably in contributions to ASCO’s Clinical Directors/Administrators Special Interest Group.

“I am extremely honored to have been selected for this award,” says Dr. Lighthizer. “It was a true shock and I would like to thank ASCO for this wonderful honor and for all they do for the schools and colleges of optometry. I also want to thank Dean Doug Penisten and Associate Dean Kippi Wyatt for their leadership and mentorship over the past few years.”

2015

Dr. Todd Peabody

Sponsored by Oculus, the ASCO Rising Star Award is given to an outstanding faculty member or administrator with less than 10 years of service. Dr. Todd Peabody was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the Indiana University, School of Optometry, through teaching, scholarship, administration and professional service particularly in the areas of international optometric education and technology and most notably in contributions to ASCO’s Education Technology SIG.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition. I consider myself privileged to have the opportunity to have the mentorship of outstanding colleagues and the dedication of committed students,” says Dr. Peabody. “I share this commendation with the entire faculty, staff and student body at Indiana University School of Optometry. Thank you to the ASCO Board of Directors and Executive Committee for this special award.”