The American Optometric Association (AOA) has announced the recipients of its 2026 awards, recognizing optometrists, paraoptometrics, educators, students, and organizations for contributions to the profession and public eye health. The honorees will be recognized during a ceremony at Optometry’s Meeting 2026, taking place June 17-20 in Phoenix.

Among the AOA Excellence Awards:

• David Parker, OD, was named Optometrist of the Year for service to the profession and public visual welfare.

• Mahsa Masoudi, OD, received the Young Optometrist of the Year Award, which recognizes optometrists in practice for fewer than 10 years who demonstrate leadership in their profession and communities.

• Douglas Morrow, OD, was selected for the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of contributions to the profession of optometry.

• Gregory Nixon, OD, received the Optometric Educator of the Year Award for service related to optometric education and public eye health.

• Amy Ngo was named Student of the Year for leadership and community involvement.

• The Apollo Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations outside the optometric profession for contributions to public visual welfare, was presented to iSee Ohio.

The AOA also announced recipients of its paraoptometric honors:

• Kimberly Pickle, CPOA, received the Paraoptometric of the Year Award.

• Susan Laskowski, CPOT, and Carol Lovell, CPOT, CPOC, were recognized with the Paraoptometric Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions in patient care, office management, mentoring, and service to the profession.

• Brandie Duncan, CPO, received the Paraoptometric Community Service Award.

Additional honors included induction into the National Optometry Hall of Fame, administered through The AOA Foundation. This year’s inductees are E. LeRoy Ryer, OD, and Richard Soden, OD.

Michael Earley, OD, received the Dr. W. David Sullins Jr. InfantSEE Award for public service related to the InfantSEE program. Tamara Petrosyan, OD, was honored with the Dr. Jerry P. Davidoff Vision Care Award for work in clinical vision rehabilitation, education, and advancing vision rehabilitation care.