Submission opens June 3, 2022

2021 Hopkins Comprehensive Residency
Award Recipient: Jonathan Lam, OD
American Academy of Optometry
Douglas W. Hopkins,
OD, FAAO
American Academy of OptometryHopkins Comprehensive Eye Care Award
History and Purpose
Douglas W. Hopkins, OD, FAAO, passed away in March 2007. He obtained his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University in 1979 and maintained a private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Hopkins served as Chair and Diplomate Chair of the Comprehensive Eye Care (then Primary Care) Section. To honor his memory and longtime commitment to both the AAO and AAOF, his wife, Roberta Hopkins, many colleagues, and friends helped establish a fund in his name.
The Hopkins Comprehensive Eye Care Award is intended to promote the practice and development of optometry by providing incentive and financial support to talented residents who demonstrate a passion and commitment to practice, research, and education. Specifically, to recognize individuals for taking the extra step to receive additional training to advance themselves and our profession in the areas of comprehensive/primary care, family practice, or ocular disease optometry.
The Hopkins Comprehensive Eye Care is a $2,000 award and $750 travel grant. The recipient will be recognized at the annual AAOF Celebration Luncheon.
Eligibility and Application
The submission window opens June 3, 2022 and closes July 15, 2022.
One award will be granted to an optometrist serving as a current resident during the application window. Residents in primary care, comprehensive eye care, family practice, or ocular disease programs within and affiliated with a North American school or college of optometry are eligible. Anyone who is not currently completing or is yet to begin a residency for the 2022-2023 academic year is ineligible.
Applicants should read an article by Dr. Hopkins, Primary Care Are We All on the Same Page? and write a one-page essay on the importance of comprehensive optometric practice currently and into the future. http://journals.lww.com/optvissci/toc/2006/01000
Applications must be submitted via our online submission system and must include the following:
The applicant must be a member of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO); whether as a student, candidate, or Fellow at the time of acceptance of any award. To learn more, visit the AAO website: Student Membership for student membership information and Candidate for Fellowship for how to become a Fellow.
- Date/status of when AAO membership was obtained.
- A brief description of the residency program, including affiliated institution, program title, and program supervisor with contact information.
- CV with applicant’s education, as well as any honors, research or teaching experience.
- A one-page statement of short and longer-term career goals.
- Three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to comment on educational qualifications, research abilities, and potential. One of which must be the Residency Director or Program Coordinator of the institution. The recommender will receive an email once the applicant has submitted their application with directions on how to upload their letter.
All grant/award submissions are initially reviewed for completeness and eligibility by AAO/AAOF staff. Staff will work to notify applicants of eligibility and incompleteness prior to the application deadline to the extent feasible. Complete, eligible applications are then sent to a reviewing body chosen by the organization. Each reviewing body is specifically chosen so as to allow the most knowledgeable merit review of the application. This reviewing body sends its recommendations to the Programs Advisory Committee (PAC) who uses the reviewing body recommendations to select the final awardees in alignment with programmatic needs and corresponding gift agreements. The decision of the PAC is then sent to the AAOF Board for review and approval. The AAO/AAOF Conflict of Interest policy governs the actions of individuals involved throughout this review and approval process.
Award Notes
Prior to the award window opening the guidelines for any given award are subject to change by the AAOF and/or the award sponsor. Applicants are reminded to please review all information before submitting their application to ensure all award criteria is met.
All award recipients by application and acceptance of an award agree to allow the AAOF and/or the sponsor of the award to which they applied to publish their name, image, institution information, and any statement or quote provided by the recipient. These will appear in a variety of media formats that will announce and promote the award including, but not limited to, the AAOF and/or sponsor annual report, website, annual meeting promotional materials.
For further information contact:
Sarah Kidd
Manager, Awards and Donor Relations
622 E. Washington St #300
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 321-319-4864
AAOAwards@aaoptom.org
Past Recipients
2021: Jonathan Lam, OD – Primary Care/Ocular disease resident at the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility in Chinle, Arizona
2020: Charlotte (Yiyi) Wang, OD – Primary Care/ Community Health resident at the Meredith W. Morgan University Eye Center. 2019 graduate of the University of California Berkeley School of Optometry
2019: Not awarded in 2019
2018: Dorothy Chou, OD – Family Practice resident at the University of Houston College of Optometry/ 2017 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Optometry
2017: Ashley Rose Pi’ilani Luke, OD, BS – Resident at Zuni Comprehensive Community Health Center/ 2016 graduate of Southern California College of Optometry
2016: Shannon K. Leon, OD – Resident at the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry/ 2015 graduate of the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry
2015: Matthew Bovenzi, OD – Resident of the East NY Diagnostic & Treatment Center, Brooklyn, NY through the State University of New York College of Optometry (SUNY) / 2014 graduate of SUNY
2014: Mark Emmanuel Lao Landig, OD – Resident of the West Los Angeles VA Health Care Center through the Southern California College of Optometry / 2013 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry
2013: Gloria Chow, OD – Resident of the State University of New York College of Optometry (SUNY) / 2012 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry
2012: Laura Ashley “L.A.” Lossing, OD, MS – Resident of White River Junction VA, Vermont / 2011 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Optometry