The World Council of Optometry (WCO) has announced the recipients of three prestigious international awards recognising outstanding contributions to optometry. The announcement was made during the WCO/FEDEPTO 1st World Congress of Optometry, 14 – 16 August in Medellin in Colombia.
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| Dr.Allan Jones receives award |
Professor George Woo OD PhD FAAO was presented with The World Council of Optometry (WCO) Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding contribution over time to the achievement of WCO’s vision and mission. Professor Woo’s illustrious career in optometric practice and research has spanned more than 50 years and three continents. Throughout his career, he has worked tirelessly to provide optimal visual care to those in need. In the 1970s, he developed the renowned and Center for Sight Enhancement (CSE) in Canada - a programme for the evaluation and treatment of patients requiring high technology adaptive devices and an inspiration to optometrists worldwide. Through his clinical research, Professor Woo has made substantial contributions in the field of low vision rehabilitation and the study of contrast sensitivity, and he has authored numerous papers, chapters, and texts. He is currently providing low vision care at Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong and at Sun Yat-sen University in China.
The WCO International Optometrist Award for outstanding contribution to the development of the profession of optometry worldwide, and to the community at large has been awarded to three individuals as the standard of nominations was so high: Dr Allan OD, Dr Shehzad A. Naroo PhD, FIACLE, FAAO, FBCLA and Dr Bina Patel OD FAAO.
Dr Jones has worked with Canadian Vision Care (CVC) for more than 25 years, delivering comprehensive and integrated care in the developing world. Among his many notable achievements are the creation in 2008 of the first school of optometry in Malawi to tackle avoidable blindness and vision impairment in disadvantaged communities in Southern Africa, and now training and graduating optometrists. He is also the Canadian Director of Specs Eyetrain in Manila, Philippines, and was instrumental in renovating and transforming an old, derelict train into a full-scope eye clinic, which also trains optometric students.
m/fDr Naroo has dedicated himself to furthering the development of optometry since graduation. He is a respected lecturer, researcher, educator, practitioner and opinion leader. He has authored and co-authored more than 120 peer reviewed and non-reviewed publications and has successfully supervised 8 PhD students. He makes regular visits to India and Pakistan to aid in teaching of optometrists and ophthalmology residents at numerous institutions, and arranges voluntary trips to hospitals and universities in India and Pakistan for others. He has also secured more than £1million funding from UK companies for these institutions.
Dr Patel has become a world-renowned figure in optometric education. She has been instrumental in developing post graduate educational programs in optometry internationally, and has lectured in numerous countries. An enthusiastic and active volunteer, she puts her clinical skills to use providing eye services to the underserved population in Latin America and is also working as a certified image reader at the Joslin Diabetes Center’s Beetham Eye Institute which specialises in diabetes eye care. She also works to shape and promote optometry and increase access to high quality eye care for all, through serving on several committees such as the Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanities (VOSH) region committee, American Schools and Colleges of Optometry- International Optometric Education Committee and as a committee member for World Council of Optometry.
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| Dr, Bina Patel receives award |
France Nxumalo was presented with The Paul Berman Young Leader Award. This award was established in partnership with the Brien Holden Vision Institute, Essilor International, Lions Clubs International Foundation and Special Olympics , and is presented to an optometrist who has made an outstanding contribution over time to the achievement of WCO’s vision and mission and shows promising future leadership in world optometry. Aged just 34, France has already proven himself to be a formidable asset to optometry and to eye care in South Africa and Southern Africa. He joined the Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) in 2010, and his achievements there have had a significant impact in the fight against avoidable blindness. Among the projects he has contributed to are: the screening of 1 million people in Kwazul-Natal, key policies and eye health care strategies in South Africa, and advocacy that has created 55 additional optometry positions and established optometry services in the poorest rural and urban communities in South Africa.
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| France Nxumalo receives WCO award |
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| George Woo receives his WCO award |
Speaking at the awards presentation in Colombia, Dr Susan Cooper, WCO President, said: “Each and every one of these award winners has made a significant and lasting contribution to the promotion and furtherance of their profession, and to supporting the WCO in realising our vision of a world where optometry makes high quality eye health and vision care accessible to all people. They are all truly deserving of our recognition, respect and commendation. Their achievements are inspirational and I am delighted to have been able to publicly acknowledge them here at the 1st World Conference of Optometry
Culled from WorldOptometry.Org
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