Kovin Naidoo and Kaitlyn Zapoznik Receive American Academy of Optometry Recognition

Professor Kovin Naidoo and Kaitlyn Zapoznik are two of the distinguished individuals who will be recognized at this year’s American Academy of Optometry meeting currently underway in San Antonio, Texas. Both have ties to the Vision Impact Institute.

Naidoo, a Vision Impact Institute Advisory Board Member, will receive The Carel C. Koch Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to the development of relationships between optometry and other professions. The award comes just weeks after he was appointed as senior vice president of inclusive business, philanthropy and social impact at Essilor.

Zapoznik, will be recognized with a William C. Ezell Fellowship sponsored by the Vision Impact Institute, for the second year in a row. Organized by the American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF), the Ezell Fellowship program was established to provide support to graduate students enrolled in a full-time program of study and training in vision-related research that leads to a Master’s or PhD degree. Zapoznik is currently working on her PhD in Vision Science at Indiana University School of Optometry (IUSO).

“These award winners exhibit the highest level of dedication to the improvement of visual welfare for all,” says Kristan Gross, Global Executive Director of the Vision Impact Institute. “As a longstanding contributor to our organization, Kovin has dedicated his professional life to advocating for access to eye care for people in need. And as someone just starting out in her career, Kaitlyn is already advocating for eye health as a key component in the total wellbeing of individuals. We congratulate them both for these well-deserved recognitions.”

Award winners will be recognized at the Academy 2018 San Antonio Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 9.