Awards

George Mertz New Educator Travel Award

The Mertz New Educator Travel Award originated in 2003 when AOCLE, at the annual meeting, elected to honor Dr. George Mertz for his strong support of optometric education. Earlier that year Dr. Mertz had unexpectedly passed away too early. George had been very active in his support of AOCLE as well as other educational initiatives in his role heading up the Academic Affairs Department for Vistakon.

To honor Dr. George Mertz, AOCLE funds the travel and expenses of new contact lens educators to attend the annual AOCLE meeting and workshop. The educator must have a significant role in the contact lens program at the affiliated school or college of optometry and have not attended an AOCLE workshop previously. An application supporting an educator's nomination is prepared by the contact lens clinic chief from that person's school or college. Contact lens clinic chiefs submit applications to the executive committee by a date communicated to them each year. The executive committee then selects candidates to receive the award.

Lester Janoff Cornea & Contact Lens Memorial Award

This award was established by AOCLE in 2007 to honor the memory of Dr. Lester E. Janoff, who was an exceptional optometric educator, administrator, contact lens clinician and researcher. His professional career encompassed private practice, contact lens research for industry, and contact lens education at three optometry schools (Pennsylvania College of Optometry, New England College of Optometry and Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry). He was a Diplomate in the Cornea and Contact lens Section of the American Academy of Optometry and Associate Dean of NSUCO. Most importantly, this award was established to honor the memory of a beloved optometric mentor and friend.

The award is presented annually to the AOCLE member who has demonstrated excellence in the area of contact lens-related publications, contact lens education, and research. The criteria for the award include publications in refereed journals, textbooks or textbook chapters; and active participation in AOCLE events, past or present. Ideally the recipient will show a broad range of contributions in the above areas during the year preceding the award selection.

Faculty Development Travel Grant

AOCLE Faculty Development

The AOCLE supports a faculty development program for contact lens (CL) faculty at the North American Schools & Colleges of Optometry. The purpose of the program is to;

1. encourage the development of CL faculty or CL programs for AOCLE member institutions;
2. enhance the CL experience of optometry students in clinics or class;
3. increase the use of AOCLE faculty members as a resource for faculty or program development between CL programs at AOCLE member institutions.

AOCLE Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2009, the AOCLE established the AOCLE Lifetime Achievement Award to honor an optometric educator who has demonstrated exemplary commitment and dedication to the AOCLE organization over numerous years.