HONOR ONE OF YOUR OWN

HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
DR. HARRY I. ZELTZER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE AWARD
CHAMPION AWARD
OTHER OPTOMETRIC AWARDS TO VOSHers

HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

The HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD is presented at the V/I Annual Meeting to honor an individual who has distinguished him or herself during the year by bringing eye care to underserved populations. The award recognizes a VOSH member who, during the year, has improved visual welfare through leadership, invention, public health, the development of sustainable eye care and the further understanding and correction of refractive error. To nominate an individual please complete form below by May 1. The VOSH/International Humanitarian of the Year Award will be decided on or about June 1 and will be presented at the V/I Annual Meeting. (The recipient of this award is required to be present at the Annual Meeting to accept the award (or a representative in select circumstances). If the recipient cannot be present in the year for which they are nominated, then their nomination will automatically be considered for that award for the following year.) NOMINATION FORM For Humanitarian of the Year

HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD PAST RECIPIENTS

Mark Rakoczy, OD, FVI, 2023
John Daniel Twelker, OD, PhD, FVI, FAAO, 2022
Severo Sanchez (VOSH-Peru) 2021
Marina Roma-March, OD and Derrick March (VOSH-TWECS, British Columbia) 2020
Suzan Eberle (Basic Nicaragua) 2019
Jordan Kassalow, OD (Vision Spring) 2018
Sandra Bury, OD (VOSH-IL) 2017
Bina Patel, OD (VOSH-NECO and VOSH-ONE) 2016
Victoria Mollner Weiss, OD (VOSH-VA) 2015
Jeffrey C Marshall, OD (VOSH-IN) 2014
Carl A. Sakovits, OD (VOSH-ONE) 2013
Fr. Pierre Labine  (VOSH-SANTA CRUZ, MONTREAL) 2012
Don Kuehn, OD (VOSH-KS) 2011
Joseph D’Amico, OD (VOSH-ONE) 2010
Max Bruss (VOSH-SE) 2009
Edwin Tuhy Sr, OD* (VOSH-AZ) 2008
Alfred Rosenbloom Jr, OD* (VOSH-IL) 2007
Howard J. Charles Jr * (VOSH-ONE) 2005
Philip Richmond, OD* (VOSH-ONE) 2005
Robert* and Mrs. Shirley Merriam* (VOSH-KY) 2004

*Deceased

DR. HARRY I. ZELTZER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The DR. HARRY I. ZELTZER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is presented at the V/I Annual Meeting to a person recognized as an exemplary humanitarian by providing a lifetime of service to humanity through improving visual welfare through leadership, dedication, invention, public health, developing sustainable eye care and furthering the understanding and correction of refractive error. (Sadly, the eponymous Dr. Zeltzer passed away in August 2020. To read the tribute to Dr. Zeltzer, please refer here.)  This award is not an annual award but is awarded at the discretion of the V/I Board of Directors. The recipient of this award is recognized as one who meets the highest criteria that exemplifies the spirit of VOSH/International. To nominate an individual please complete form below by May 1. The VOSH/International Lifetime Achievement Award will be decided on or about June 1, and if awarded in that year, will be presented at the V/I Annual Meeting. (The recipient of this award is required to be present at the Annual Meeting to accept the award (or a representative in select circumstances). If the recipient cannot be present in the year for which they are nominated, then their nomination will automatically be considered for that award for the following year.) NOMINATION FORM For Harry I. Zeltzer Lifetime Achievement Award

HARRY I. ZELTZER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PAST RECIPIENTS

Ann Slocum Edmonds, OD, FVI 2023
Dr Gerard Marie Jean Claude Cadet (Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie
Université d’Etat Haïti) 2022
David Stacy, OD, FVI (VOSH-AZ) 2021
Matthew Blondin, OD, MPH and Audrey Blondin, Esq. MPH (VOSH-CT) 2020
Max Bruss (VOSH-Southeast) 2019
V. E. “Bud” Falkenhain, OD (VOSH-MO) 2018
C. Ellis Potter, OD, FAAO, FVI (VOSH-KS) 2017
James Hess, OD (VOSH-MN) 2016
Greg Pearl, OD (VOSH-CA) 2015
Ruth S. McAndrews, OD, FVI (VOSH-IA) 2014
Brien A. Holden, PhD, DSc, OAM* (BRIEN HOLDEN VISION INSTITUTE) 2011
Harry I. Zeltzer, OD, DOS, FAAO, FVI* (VOSH-ONE) 2008

*Deceased

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE AWARD

The PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE AWARD is presented at the discretion of the V/I President to a premier volunteer chapter or individual of VOSH, who has demonstrated outstanding and extraordinary service during the year,  and whose recognition inspires others to take positive action to change the world.

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE AWARD RECIPIENTS

Natalie Venezia, Esq., FVI (VOSH-IL) 2018, Awarded by President Tracy Matchinski, OD, FAAO, FVI
John Gehrig, Esq. (VOSH-Southeast) 2017, Awarded by President Ellen Weiss, OD, FVI
David Stacy, OD, FVI (VOSH-AZ) 2017, Awarded by President Ellen Weiss, OD, FVI
Michel Listenberger, OD, FVI (VOSH-MI) 2016, Awarded by President Ellen Weiss, OD, FVI
Justin Manning, OD,  (VOSH-OH) 2015, Awarded by President David R. McPhillips, OD, FVI
Max Bruss,  (VOSH-SE) 2015, Awarded by President David R. McPhillips, OD, FVI
Marina Roma-March, OD, FVI (VOSH-British Columbia – TWECS) 2014, Awarded by President David R. McPhillips, OD, FVI
Natalie Venezia, Esq., FVI (VOSH-IL) 2014, Awarded by President David R. McPhillips, OD, FVI

CHAMPION AWARD

The VOSH Champion Award is a new award as of March 2019 and recognizes the support of individuals and/or organizations outside of VOSH’s structures that help us achieve our mission in a selfless and totally committed manner. VOSH members rely on local partners to deliver successful clinics from taking care of the basic logistics to ensuring communities are aware of our available services to ensuring our volunteers feel safe and welcomed. Over the years our chapters have developed strong and positive relationships with innumerable local partners. The VOSH Champion Award intends to celebrate these important contributions to our work. 

The award will initially be offered quarterly. To nominate VOSH Champions please complete the form below by March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1.Awardees will be decided on a quarterly basis at the end of the respective quarter.

Nominators can be VOSH and SVOSH chapters in good standing at the time of the nomination. Nominees can be individuals or organizations based in or outside the USA. Awardees will be decided on a quarterly basis at the end of the respective quarter. The V/I Executive Committee will make the final decision among the nominees. NOMINATION FORM for Champion Award

OTHER OPTOMETRIC AWARDS TO VOSHers

Tracy Matchinski, OD, FAAO, FVI, IAPB Vision Excellence Award, 2020
Jairo Mercado, SVOSH UNAN Faculty Adviser, IAPB Eye Health Hero Award, 2020
Robert E. Molter, Jr., OD, FAAO, IAPB Vision Excellence Award, 2020
Greg Pearl, OD, FVI, American Academy of Optometry Brien Holden Humanitarian of the Year Award, 2020
J. Daniel Twelker, OD, PhD, FVI, American Academy of Optometry Brien Holden Humanitarian Award, 2019
James J. Hess, OD, ICO’s Alumni Association Humanitarian Award 2019
Ellen Weiss, OD, FVI, Optometrist of the Year, Heart of America Congress, 2018
C. Ellis Potter, OD, FVI, American Academy of Optometry Brien Holden Humanitarian Award, 2017
William Howard McAlister, OD, MPH, FAAO, FVI, St. Louis Optometric Society R. A. Koetting Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement
Ellen Weiss, OD, FVI, Presidential Citation, Nebraska Optometric Association 2016
Ellen Weiss, OD, FVI, International President’s Leadership Award: Lions’ Clubs International 2016
Ellen Weiss, OD, FVI, Vision Monday: Most Influential Women in the Optical Industry 2016
Tracy Matchinski, OD, FVI, Humanitarian of the Year Award, Illinois College of Optometry, 2015
William Howard McAlister, OD, MPH, FAAO, FVI, University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement 2015
William Howard McAlister, OD, MPH, FAAO, FVI, American Optometric Association Outstanding Service Award 2014
Greg Pearl, OD, IAPB, 2012
Ruth S. McAndrews, OD, FVI, Heart Of America, 2012
William Howard McAlister, OD, MPH, FAAO, FVI, Distinguished Scholar, National Academies of Practice, 2012
Ellen Weiss, OD, FVI, Presidential Citation, Nebraska Optometric Association, 2010
Lesley L. Walls, MD, OD, Heart Of America, 2009
Dale Cole, OD, Heart Of America, 2004
Sandra Bury, OD, AOA Young OD of the Year, 2004
Harry I. Zeltzer, OD, DOS, FAAO, FVI, Honorary Degree of Doctor of Ocular Science (DOS), New England College of Optometry, 2004
Harry Zeltzer, OD, FVI, Essilor-UNESCO, 2003
Mel Muchnik, PhD, FVI,, Noflet Williams Award for National Service to the Field of Media Support and Use in Higher Education
Mel Muchnik, PhD, FVI, J.O. Grantham Award for Leadership in National University Technology Network