BIG RAPIDS – The Michigan Optometric Association recently honored three Ferris State
University Michigan College of Optometry faculty during its annual MOA Winter Seminar
Awards Luncheon. Award recipients include:
Optometrist of the Year: Mark Swan
Swan, O.D., M.Ed., F.A.A.O., is a professor in the MCO, where he serves as chief of pediatrics and binocular vision services. He also is the chief of optometry at Saint Mary’s Mercy Medical Center in Grand Rapids. This award recognizes his service to the profession, service on behalf of the visual welfare of the public and service to the community at large.
Dr. Swan has served the profession of optometry at the national level including several American Optometric Association positions such as the Aviation Vision Committee, Health Information Technology and Telemedicine Project Team, Faculty Relations Committee, InfantSEE state coordinator and the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education. Within Michigan, he has been active in the leadership structure of the Michigan Optometric Association having served on several committees, including Children’s Vision Care, Environmental Vision, Legislative, Medicaid and Industry Relations. He has served on the MOA board of directors for seven years and served as president during 2007-08.
He has lectured both nationally and internationally, and has participated in several international vision care missions. He serves as an editorial reviewer for the Journal of Optometric Education, Review of Optometry and The Michigan Optometrist.
Young Optometrist of the Year: Sarah B. Hinkley
Sarah B. Hinkley, O.D., is an assistant professor and chief of Low Vision Services for the MCO. This award recognizes an optometrist who has been in practice less than 10 years for their service to optometry, visual welfare of the public in the community, state or nation.
Dr. Hinkley’s work includes presentations of interdisciplinary education seminars in the areas of age-related eye disease, pediatric vision and binocular vision disorders. She is a member of the AOA and MOA, and the American Optometric Association Low Vision Rehabilitation Section. She is chair of the MOA’s Healthy Eyes Healthy People 2010 Committee and the recipient of two national grants for the association focusing on sports eyewear protection for children and glaucoma awareness.
Hinkley also is a new Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, an organization devoted to advancing excellence in optometric vision therapy through education and board certification.
Keyperson: Renée O. Mika
Renée O. Mika, O.D., is an associate professor for the MCO. She currently serves as the director of Community-Based Services for the MCO and led the establishment of a satellite eye clinic at Baldwin Family Health Care in Baldwin, Mich. This award recognizes her contributions as an optometrist to the association and to the profession of optometry during her years of membership.
Dr. Mika teaches public health, clinical procedures and environmental vision. She also teaches within the pediatrics and primary care clinics at MCO, Cherry Street Health Services (Grand Rapids) and within MCO’s satellite clinic in Baldwin.
She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, president-elect of the American Public Health Association – Vision Care Section, a member and former chair of the Vision Care Section of the Michigan Public Health Association, a founding editorial board member of the Michigan Journal of Public Health, a member of the Diversity and Cultural Competency Task Force of the Association for Schools and Colleges of Optometry, and a member of the MOA and the Federal Relations Committee of the AOA.
The mission of the MOA is to unite all licensed optometrists and be the representative voice for the profession of optometry in Michigan. The association provides education, information and other member services to assist optometrists in practicing successfully in accordance with the highest standards of patient care, works to advance the quality and accessibility of optometric services throughout the state, and seeks to ensure the recognition of optometrists as the primary providers of vision and related eye health care.