Michael R. Redmond, MD

Michael R. Redmond, MD, was nominated by the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus to receive this year's Outstanding Advocate Award. He received the award shortly before his death, at his home in Florida. Long-time friend and fellow Academy past president Allan Jensen, MD, presented the award.

 Dr. Redmond was involved with advocacy on behalf of both ophthalmology and general medicine for more than 30 years. For 10 years, he was the sole ophthalmologist on the Council on Legislation for the Florida Medical Association (FMA), eventually becoming the chair of that council and working with four different presidents of the FMA to organize medicine's legislative activity in Florida. He was also on FLAMPAC, the FMA's political action committee, for many years. He was one of the few ophthalmologists to have been elected to the Florida Medical Association's AMA Delegation.

Dr. Redmond was also a driving force for many years in the Florida Society of Ophthalmology's PAC and has been Chair of the Legislative Committee for the society.

As part of his work for both state societies, Dr. Redmond spent countless hours attending legislative sessions, testifying to legislators as well as the governor. He participated in innumerable meetings with legislative staff and advisors regarding issues important to medicine and ophthalmology. He also donated his time sponsoring and attending political fundraisers for medicine, ophthalmology and business, often as the only physician in attendance.

Dr. Redmond was a member of the Academy's state affairs committee and later served ophthalmology through roles on the Academy Council and Board of Trustees, and as president of the Academy during 2003. In all these endeavors, he worked tirelessly to improve eye care for patients through effective advocacy.

In all of his activities, Dr. Redmond served with the highest ethical standards. Organizations, committees and boards in ophthalmology looked to him as the "voice of reason"; his opinion was highly valued.

Colleagues described him as "a patient teacher, an advocate, and an ambassador for ophthalmology. At the same time, he was incredibly humble and self-effacing." The Academy is privileged to honor the late Michael R. Redmond, MD, with this year's Outstanding Advocate Award.