The Distinguished Service Award honors an individual or organization for ongoing notable service to ophthalmology and the Academy. The president has the honor of selecting the recipient of this award, who is then approved by the Board of Trustees. Recipients attend the Jpint Meeting as guests of the Academy. Their attendance allows the Academy to formally present their award during the opening ceremonies.

The Board of Trustees approved the honored-guest choices of Ruth D. Williams, MD. Honored guests will be formally recognized at the opening ceremony at the Chicago Joint eeting.

2012
National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR)

Past Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award:

2011
The Council

2010
Veterans Affairs Ophthalmologists

2009
Military Ophthalmologists

2008
Knight's Templar Eye Foundation

2007
Ophthalmic State Society Legislative Committee Chairs

2006
Volunteers of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology

2005
Lions Foundations of the United States

2004
Stephen J. Ryan, MD

2003
J. Donald M. Gass MD
Gavin S. Herbert

2002
National Eye Institute Ophthalmic Journals: American Journal of Ophthalmology, Archives of Ophthalmology, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, OPHTHALMOLOGY

2001
William S. Tasman, MD
B. Thomas Hutchinson, MD

2000
Edgar H. Schollmaier