NEW ORLEANS—Several prominent ophthalmologists were honored with professional awards during last weekend’s annual American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here.
The AAO’s highest honor, the 2007 Laureate Recognition Award, went to Claes H. Dohlman, MD, for his distinguished career and contributions to ophthalmology. In addition, a new Harvard Medical School professorship named in his honor was announced at a special reception for Dohlman on Nov. 9. Dohlman is a former chairman of Harvard’s department of ophthalmology, chief of ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and director of the Howe Laboratory of Ophthalmology at Harvard.

The AAO Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award was presented to Alessandro Pezzola, MD, and Paul G. Steinkuller, MD, for their participation in charitable activities, indigent care, community service and other humanitarian activities.

Since 1987, Pezzola has been volunteering his services to organize, raise funds for and build several rural hospitals dedicated to eye surgery for disadvantaged, indigent people living in developing countries, including Zaire, the Ivory Coast and Ghana. He is currently working on a project in Indonesia and Mali.

Almost half of the more than 25 years Steinkuller has practiced in pediatric ophthalmology were spent caring for the underserved and underprivileged in Africa, including six years with the Christian Blind Mission, an international Christian medical organization. After returning from Africa, he re-joined the faculty at the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology, training residents and fellows in pediatric ophthalmology.

Also at the meeting the AAO presented its Lifetime Achievement Honor Award to 12 ophthalmologists for their contributions to the Academy and the profession.

Honored were Frederick L. Ferris III, MD, Bethesda, Md.; C. Stephen Foster, MD, Cambridge, Mass.; Jack T. Holladay, MD, Bellaire, Texas; B. Thomas Hutchinson, MD, Boston; Manus C. Kraff, MD, Chicago; Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, Bloomington, Minn.; Travis A. Meredith, MD, Chapel Hill, N.C.; Marilyn T. Miller, MD, Chicago; Richard P. Mills, MD, Seattle; Donald S. Minckler, MD, Irvine, Calif.; Robert Ritch, MD, New York City; and M. Bruce Shields, MD, New Haven, Conn.