VISION, CONTRIBUTIONS EARN TWO HONORS
FOR UH OPTOMETRIST
Jerald Strickland Rewarded Nationally
with Honorary Doctorate and for Distinguished Service
HOUSTON, June 20, 2006 – A career distinguished by many
contributions and advances to the optometric profession recently
earned Jerald W. Strickland a pair of prestigious national honors.
Strickland, UH optometry professor and assistant vice chancellor
for international studies and programs, received a Doctor of Humane
Letters (Honoris Causa) from The New England College of Optometry
(NECO) and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Optometric
Association (AOA).
NECO is the oldest continuously operating school of optometry in
the United States and has also instituted the largest international
optometric program in the world. The AOA is an advocate for the
profession and serves optometrists in meeting public eye care needs,
with its objectives centered on improving the quality and availability
of eye and vision care.
Receiving NECO’s Doctor of Humane Letters for demonstrating
outstanding achievement and exhibiting a distinguished record of
accomplishment in optometry, vision science and community service,
Strickland was instrumental in creating and establishing the Partnership
Foundation for Optometric Education, the seeds of which were sown
in 1993 during the Summit of the Financing of Optometric Education
when the need was identified for a national endowment of more than
$1 billion to support the educational institutions. Strickland proposed
a model in which one dollar would be added to the registration fees
charged by the schools and colleges of optometry for each credit
hour of continuing professional education provided to practitioners.
He maintained the momentum for this concept, transformed it into
a viable and robust organization and expanded it to include not
only the schools and colleges, but also the major national providers
of continuing optometric education, ophthalmic and pharmaceutical
industry partners, as well as several state and regional providers.
“None of this would have happened except for the wisdom, organizational
vision and leadership Dr. Strickland has shown throughout his career
in optometric education,” said Alan Lewis, president of NECO.
“The success of the Partnership Foundation is directly attributable
to his enthusiasm and tenacity, as well as to the immense respect
he enjoys from all who know him. He transformed a vision into a
reality that will benefit optometric education and the profession
well into the next century.”
Recognizing long-term dedication, AOA’s Distinguished Service
Award recognizes an individual doctor of optometry for unusually
significant contributions and outstanding achievements in the advancement
of the optometry profession. Criteria for the award include lifetime
achievements in two principal areas – service to optometry
and other special services. A recipient’s personal time and
effort on behalf of the profession are evaluated in areas that include
leadership within the profession, furthering education as a teacher
or administrator and participating in legislation that advances
optometry. Further consideration also is given to those involved
in interprofessional organizations in and out of the health care
arena and in international health care groups, as well as holding
leadership roles in public health initiatives.
Since coming to UH in 1979, Strickland has held a variety of faculty,
administrative and leadership roles. Following his tenure as dean
of the UH College of Optometry from 1991 to 2003, he was interim
senior vice chancellor/senior vice president for academic affairs
and provost of UH from 2003 to 2005 before assuming his current
post in 2005. He also presently serves as director of UH reaffirmation
of accreditation for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
A graduate from the School of Optometry at Indiana University with
both his O.D. and Ph.D. degrees, Strickland has been honored with
numerous awards in addition to holding many academic positions throughout
his career. He has played a key role in international optometry
efforts, receiving honors from universities in Colombia and China,
as well as working to unite several international organizations
toward a common goal through the World Optometry Foundation. Volunteerism,
however, has remained close to his heart through philanthropy, leadership
and as a champion of causes. Alongside his career, he began volunteering
in the 1960s with the Indiana Optometric Association, then in the
1970s with the Pennsylvania Optometric Association and continued
for the next 25-plus years and counting with the Texas Optometric
Association.
“There are few thing in one’s academic life that reach
the level of pride and satisfaction for a faculty member than to
share one’s knowledge, skills and experience with others who
will go forth, practice, thrive and teach,” Strickland said.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research
and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers
and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate,
civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university
in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and
service with more than 35,000 students.
About the UH College of Optometry
For more than 50 years, the University of Houston College of Optometry
(UHCO) has educated and trained optometrists to provide the highest
quality vision and eye care. One of only 17 optometry schools in
the United States, UHCO offers a variety of degree programs, including
Doctor of Optometry (O.D.), a combined Doctor of Optometry/Doctor
of Philosophy (O.D./Ph.D.), Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor
of Philosophy (Ph.D.). UHCO consists of 50 full-time faculty, 508
adjunct faculty and 76 full-time staff.
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