The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Distinguished Service Award honors an individual or organization for ongoing notable service to ophthalmology and the Academy.
The Academy is pleased to present the 2018 Distinguished Service Award to the Directors of Medical School Education in Ophthalmology during the Opening Session of AAO 2018 in Chicago.
Recognized for their work in educating future physicians in the core knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate the visual systems, these educators provide a strong ophthalmic foundation for medical students who do not specialize in ophthalmology. The knowledge gained by these medical students helps them better recognize, manage and refer eye injuries and diseases for treatment, resulting in better patient outcomes. In addition, the ophthalmic curriculum taught by medical student educators influences many highly qualified aspiring physicians to specialize in ophthalmology, ensuring strong future generations in our profession.