ST. LOUIS—Nominations are now open for the 2015 National Optometry Hall of Fame. The honor is given to optometrists who have made a significant and long-lasting impact on the profession. Inductees will be honored at Optometry's Meeting in June 2015 in Seattle, Wash.

The National Optometry Hall of Fame is administered by the American Optometric Association's (AOA) charitable foundation, Optometry Cares, which works year-round to expand eye health and vision care access to all American citizens and communities.

New this year, there are two categories for the award—one for optometrists who work in the academic field of the profession, and the other for optometrists who work in private practice or federal service. There will be a minimum of one person inducted from each category.

Each nomination is valid for National Optometry Hall of Fame consideration for four consecutive years, and optometrists nominated for the 2014 AOA Distinguished Service Award will be placed into the National Optometry Hall of Fame selection pool for 2015.

To be eligible for the National Optometry Hall of Fame, an optometrist must have records of dedicated service, lifetime achievements and enduring lifetime contributions, as well as involvement in the profession of optometry for more than 30 years. Specific criteria for nominations can be viewed here.

In addition to the information required on the nomination forms, the following materials must be provided:
  • the nominee's curriculum vitae
  • a minimum of two letters of support
  • a photo of nominee, a current phots of the head and shoulders is preferred
The deadline for online submissions is Jan. 15, 2015. To access the nomination forms and criteria, visit www.aoafoundation.org/national-optometry-hall-of-fame.