Nominations for 2024 awards are due by February 23, 2024.  Click HERE to submit a nomination!

NEW YORK STATE OPTOMETRIST OF THE YEAR AWARD 

The NYSOA Optometrist of the Year Award is intended to recognize a deserving optometrist for performance of outstanding services on behalf of the profession and exemplary contributions to the visual welfare of the public.  The American Optometric Association recognizes a national Optometrist of the Year at its Annual Congress.  A State Association’s Optometrist of the Year may be nominated for national recognition. 

Past Recipients

1970s – 1990s

This award was presented for the first time in 1970 to Dr. Harold Greene.  The 1971 recipient was Congressman Donald J. Mitchell.  This award has also been presented to Dr. V. Peter Mastrorocco, Dr. Frank Field, Dr. Stephen S. Solomon, Dr. Richard Hobart, Dr. Harvey West, Dr. Paul Grattan, Dr. Robert Bloom, Dr. Alexander Crinzi, Dr. Alden N. Haffner, Dr. Earl Golden, and Dr. William T. Ling.  In 1987, the award was presented to Dr. Gerald Wexler; in 1988, to Dr. Allen H. Cohen; in 1989, to Dr. John Costello; in 1990, to Dr. Edward Cordes; in 1993, to Dr. Jesse Vics; in 1994, to Dr. Jerome Hurwitz and Dr. Saverio Blancato; and in 1995, to Gary Weiner, OD.  There was no Optometrist of the Year in 1996.  In 1997, the award went to Richard D. O’Connor, OD.  In 1998, the award went to Dave Jordan, OD.  George Janofsky, OD, received the award in 1999. 

2000s

2000: Salvatore Shakir, OD

2001: Joseph Birnbaum, OD

2002: Larry Jerge, OD

2003: Alden N. Haffner, OD, PhD

2004: Mark Ainsworth, OD

2005: Andrea P. Thau, OD,

2006: Richard P. Soden, OD

2007: William Lapple, OD

2008: Mitchell Horowitz, OD 

2010s

2010: Edward Johnston, OD

2011: Richard Madonna, OD

2012: Charles Gold, OD

2013: Frank Pirozzolo, OD

2014: Denise Whittam, OD

2015: Dawn Chivers, OD

2016: Katherine Mastrota, MS, OD, FAOO

2017: David N. Ciccone, OD

2018: Daniella Rutner, OD, MS, FAAO

2019: Albert M. Morier, OD

2021: Ted Bryant, OD

2022: Richard Malara, OD

2023: Viola Kanevsky, OD

NEW YORK STATE YOUNG OPTOMETRIST OF THE YEAR AWARD 

Young optometrists often show outstanding leadership skills when serving their profession, their patients and their community.  The Young Optometrist of the Year Award is intended to recognize an optometrist who has been in practice for less than ten years and who demonstrates these abilities.  The American Optometric Association recognizes a national Young Optometrist of the Year at its Annual Congress.  A State Association’s Young Optometrist of the Year may be nominated for national recognition. 

Past Recipients

2003: Amelia G. Bartolone, OD

2004: JoAnne Palumbo-Mozloom, OD

2009: Christopher Colburn, OD

2010: Stephanie Su, OD

2011: Stephen Baker, OD

2013: Raymond Pirozzolo, OD

2014: Jeffery Williams Jr., OD

2015: Ilana Gelfond-Polnariev, OD

2016: Daniel J. Kirchheimer, OD

2017: Marina Su, OD, FAAO

2018: Mark Parsons, OD, FAAO

2019: Quy H. Nguyen, OD

2021: Saysha Blazier, OD, FAAO

2022: Alyssa Putman, OD

2023: Damaris Raymondi, OD

OPTOMETRIC EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 

This award is given to an individual, preferably an optometrist, who has made an outstanding contribution to optometry, specifically in the fields of research, education, and academic distinction.