NEW ORLEANS – The American Academy of Ophthalmology has presented its Secretariat Award to more than 30 eye doctors for significant contributions to the Academy and to the ophthalmology profession.

The Secretariat Award recognizes special contributions to the Academy and to ophthalmology.

It was developed to increase opportunities for ophthalmologists to be recognized for contributions outside the scope of other Academy award programs.

Recipients are selected by the Academy’s Senior Secretaries and Secretaries in their respective areas and approved by the Board of Trustees. Areas of recognition include advocacy and government affairs; clinical education; ophthalmic practice; member services; meetings; Ophthalmology Journal activities and Foundation activities.

The awards were presented at the 2007 Joint Meeting held in New Orleans, November 10-13.

Awardees and their categories included:

Quality Care and Knowledge Base Development; New Ophthalmic Information; Ophthalmic Knowledge; Clinical Education:

• Carlos R. Bernardino, MD; Atlanta, Ga.
• Jason A. Goldsmith, MD; Salt Lake City, Utah
• Sheryl M. Handler, MD; Encino, Calif.
• Nancy M. Holekamp, MD; St. Louis, Mo.
• George J. Ko, MD; Washington, D.C.
• Paul P. Lee, MD, PhD; Durham, N.C.
• Ramana S. Moorthy, MD; Indianapolis, Ind.
• Eric P. Purdy, MD; Fort Wayne, Ind.
• J. Bradley Randleman, MD; Atlanta, Ga.
• Adam C. Reynolds, MD; Boise, Idaho
• Steven I. Rosenfeld, MD; Delray Beach, Fla.
• Steven T. Simmons, MD; Albany, N.Y.
• Paul Sternberg Jr., MD; Nashville, Tenn.
• Michael S. Vaphiades, DO; Birmingham, Alab.
• George A. Williams, MD; Royal Oak, Mich.

Ophthalmic Practice:

• Ann M. Hulett COE CMPE; Pueblo, Colo.
• Walter Underwood MBA FACMPE; Atlanta, Ga.

State Affairs, Federal Affairs and Advocacy:

• Mark T. Chiu, MD; Albuquerque, N.M.
• Donald J. Cinotti, MD; Jersey City, N.J.
• Natalio Izquierado, MD; San Juan, P.R.
• Paul D. Langer, MD; Newark, N.J.
• David K. Wallace, MD; Chapel Hill, N.C.
• Priscilla Arnold, MD; Springfield, Mo.
• Scott M. Friedman, MD; Lakeland, Fla.
• Mary G. Lynch, MD; Atlanta, Ga.
• Jean E. Ramsey, MD; Boston, Mass.
• Oliver Schein, MD; Baltimore, Md.

Communications:

• Wayne Bizer, DO; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Michael W. Brennan, MD; Burlington, N.C.
• David F. Chang, MD; Los Altos, Calif.

Annual Meeting:

• Dale K. HeuerMD; Milwaukee, Wis.
• MarlonMaus, MD; Berkeley, Calif.
• Robert Osher, MD; Cincinnati, Ohio

Ophthalmology (editorial):

• Tom S. Chang, MD; Pasadena, Calif.
• Paul T. Finger, MD; New York, N.Y.
• Henry Jampel, MD; Baltimore, Md.
• Ferenc Kuhn, MD; Birmingham, Ala.
• Stefano Miglior, MD; Monza, Italy

Member Services:

• Ravi D. Goel, MD; Cherry Hill, N.J.
• Gail F. Schwartz, MD; Baltimore, Md.
• Bruce E. Spivey, MD; San Francisco, Calif.

“Eye Net” (chief medical editor):

• Brian A. Francis, MD; Los Angeles, Calif.
• Dale K. Heuer, MD; Milwaukee, Wis.

International Envoy honors:

• Edward F. Cherney, MD; Los Angeles, Calif.
• Nathan Ravi, MD; St. Louis, Mo.

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
AAO is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons — Eye M.D.s — with more than 27,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” — opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. To find an Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy's Web site at www.aao.org.