History of the American Academy of Ophthalmology

The Academy evolved from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, founded in 1896 primarily to provide continuing education to eye, ear, nose and throat doctors. In 1979, AAOO divided into separate academies for each specialty and the American Academy of Ophthalmology incorporated as an independent organization.

Pioneering Specialists: A History of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology

by Sharon A. Bryan

Preface (PDF 90KB)

Part 1. The First Quarter Century

1. The Beginning (PDF 416KB)
2. Hal Lovelace Foster (PDF 184KB)
3. Highlights of the Early Years (PDF 910KB)
4. The TRANSACTIONS (PDF 602KB)
5. The Growth Years: 1904 Through 1912 (PDF 1.7MB)
6. The Path to Prominence: 1913 to 1921 (PDF 876KB)
7. The First American Specialty Boards (PDF 2.1MB)
       Part 1: Tableaus
       Part 2: American Board for Ophthalmic Examinations
       Part 3: American Board of Otolaryngology
8. The Section on Instruction (PDF 1MB)
9. Pioneering Pathology Registries (PDF 1.5MB)
10. Day of the Specialist (PDF 204KB)

Part 2. Management and Meetings

11. The Gavel (PDF 200KB)
12. A Management Team (PDF 784KB)
13. Harry S. Gradle (PDF 408KB)
14. William P. Wherry (PDF 900KB)
15. William L. Benedict (PDF 320KB)
16. Clair M. Kos (PDF 500KB)
17. Under the Wings of Council (PDF 558KB)
18. Meeting Innovations (PDF 414KB)
19. Building Rapport (PDF 958KB)

Part 3. Education and Research

20. Toward Sophisticated Specialism (PDF 154KB)
21. The Teachers: Working Through the Possibilities (PDF 546KB)
22. A Stopgap Measure: Home Study Courses (PDF 564KB)
23. Teaching Aids (PDF 186KB)
24. Tributes and Tokens (PDF 306KB)
25. Concerns During the Fifties (PDF 260KB)
26. Expanding the Formula: Programs for Practitioners (PDF 748KB)
27. The Research Fund (PDF 298KB)

Part 4. Evolution and Adaptation

28. Rank and Requirements (PDF 426KB)
29. The Changing Fellowship (PDF 310KB)
30. Outgrowing Meeting Facilities (PDF 482KB)
31. Chafing at the Bonds (PDF 380KB)
32. Which is Better - One or Two? (PDF 580KB)
33. The Corporate Anatomy (PDF 380KB)
34. Resolution and Expectation (PDF 330KB)

Appendices (PDF 1.7MB)

References (PDF 1.1MB)

Index (PDF 902KB)