Young Optometrist of the Year Award

The American Optometric Association’s Young Optometrist of the Year Award recognizes member optometrists in their first decade of practice (including residency or fellowship) who demonstrate leadership in serving their profession, patients, and community.

WHO CAN NOMINATE?

Nominations can only be submitted by affiliated optometric associations. 

ELIGIBILITY

• Nominees must be AOA members in good standing and in active optometric practice for 10 years or less (including residency or fellowship). Age is not a factor.
• Nominees must be submitted by their affiliated optometric association, with one nominee per association per year.
• The nominee may or may not be in active practice currently but must be recognized as the affiliated association's Young Optometrist of the Year.
  • A nominee can be resubmitted in future years if they have previously been honored as Young Optometrist of the Year by their association and the association wishes to nominate them again for continued or new service.
• Current AOA employees, consultants, Board members, and Awards Committee members are not eligible.
• Please note: Affiliates may nominate any member doctor of their choosing for national consideration. Your nominee does not have to be the most recent recipient of your state-level award. We encourage you to put forward the individual you believe best represents the excellence and leadership these national awards recognize.

JUDGING AND SELECTION

The recipient will be selected by the AOA Awards Committee, consisting of the five most recent AOA past presidents, and honored at Optometry’s Meeting®.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

All nominations must include the following:

1. Individual Resume: Include the nominee's resume or biography describing their background.

1. Nomination Statement: A statement 2000-word or less outlining the nominee’s contributions to the profession (considering their entire career, not just the past year).
2. Photo: A current headshot must be included.
3. Supplements: Supporting documents, such as letters of recommendation or a CV, may be attached, but they cannot replace the nomination statement, which must clearly detail the nominee’s accomplishments.
4. Nominations must be submitted online, below.  

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Nominees will be evaluated according to a point system allocated to three principal areas:

1. SERVICE TO OPTOMETRY (40 point maximum)
   • Leadership roles (include titles and dates)
   • Major accomplishments
   • Initiating and/or implementing unique plan, program or action on behalf of optometry
   • Published professional articles or research findings
   • Outreach to potential students, or assistance to optometry students and/or recent graduates 
2. SERVICE TO THE VISUAL WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC (35 point maximum)
   • With sight-saving groups or charities
   • Service efforts in the community
   • Participation in government health care programs 
3. SERVICE TO AOA OR AFFILIATED ASSOCIATION (25 point maximum)
   • Service as an officer, committee chair or member, etc
   • Promotion of the association’s goals and programs
   • Activity in support of association’s projects
   • Involvement in public information activities

*Approved change by AOA Board of Trustees March 5, 2020.