PEOPLE Women In Optometry Announces 2024 Theia Awards of Excellence Winners By Staff Friday, August 16, 2024 12:18 AM NEW YORK—Women In Optometry (WO) will award nine women ODs with a Theia Award of Excellence on Thursday, November 7, 2024, during the American Academy of Optometry’s Academy 2024 in Indianapolis, Ind., according to an announcement from WO. This is the ninth year for this annual awards ceremony. Each year, Women In Optometry asks readers and friends to submit the names of women who have been extraordinarily influential in the industry. This year, more than 200 nominations were submitted; the WO advisory board votes for the winners.This year’s winners are:Leadership: Jarrett Johnson, OD, MPH, of New Orleans, La., and Lori Grover, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dipl AAO, of Scottsdale, Ariz.Mentoring: Paula Harmon Boone, OD, of Chesapeake, Va., and Jill Saxon, OD, FAAO, of Morristown, N.J.Education: Keshia Elder, OD, MS, FAAO, of St. Louis, Mo.Innovation: Jacqueline Theis, OD, FAAO, FNAP, of Richmond, Va.Business: Carly Rose, OD, FAAO, of Cincinnati, Ohio.Young OD: Brittany Wright, OD, MS, FAAO, of Denver, Colo., 2015 graduate of Southern College of Optometry.Industry Influence: Maria Sampalis, OD, of Cranston, R.I.Full biographies and statements from this year’s winners are available on the Women In Optometry website. Registration for Academy 2024 is open online.