(PRESS RELEASE) ST. LOUIS, MO — The American Optometric Association (AOA), American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) and The AOA Foundation announced the 2025 recipients of the organizations’ annual awards, including the AOA Excellence awards, AOSA Student of the Year, National Optometry Hall of Fame, Dr. W. David Sullins Jr. InfantSEE Award, Dr. Jerry P. Davidoff Vision Care Award and Paraoptometric Professional awards. All winners will be celebrated throughout Optometry’s Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry, taking place June 25-28 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis.
The AOA thanks its longstanding Visionary Supporter Johnson & Johnson for their recognition of the AOA Excellence Awards recipients, including Optometrist of the Year, Young Optometrist of the Year, Optometric Educator of the Year, Distinguished Service, and Apollo. These prestigious awards honor outstanding member doctors, partners and organizations for their exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication in advancing the profession and promoting the visual welfare of the public.
The 2025 award recipients include:
James Hardie., O.D. (Michigan) – Optometrist of the Year
James Hardie, O.D., is originally from Ironwood, Michigan. Dr. Hardie received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Michigan State University. He graduated with his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Ohio State University (OSU) in 2010. He was the recipient of the Michigan Optometric Association’s 2025 Optometrist of the Year award. He was selected as the Michigan Optometric Association’s Young Optometrist of the Year award in 2016. During his time at OSU, he received the College of Optometry’s Graduate of the Year award and the Vision Service Plan Nexus award for ophthalmic dispensing. He is an active member of the AOA, the Ohio Optometric Association, the Toledo Area Optometric Association, the Michigan Optometric Association, the Bedford Business Association, the Bedford Lions Club and the Monroe County Business Alliance. His volunteer activities include the Past-President of the Michigan Optometric Association, Past-President of the Bedford Business Association, Past-President of the BNI Elite Referral Partners, and Past Zone governor of the Toledo Area Optometric Society. Dr. Hardie has served the AOA previously on their Leadership Development Committee and Resolutions Committee. He has been an AOA Keyperson since 2012. Currently, Dr. Hardie serves on the American Optometric Association’s State Government Relations Committee and as the Legislative Committee Chair for the Michigan Optometric Association.
Annabelle Storch, O.D. (California) – Young Optometrist of the Year
Annabelle Storch, O.D., MA, earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern California College of Optometry and completed a prestigious pediatric optometry residency at SUNY College of Optometry. Currently, she serves at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at UCI Health. Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Storch is an active leader in optometric organizations, serving as President of the Orange County Optometric Society and contributing to the American Optometric Association’s Telehealth Policy Council and New Technology Committee. She has also been involved in research and academic presentations, focusing on pediatric vision care and specialty contact lenses. She has received multiple awards, including the George I. Deane, Jr. OD Memorial Leadership Award.
Aaron Zimmerman, O.D. (Ohio) – Optometric Educator of the Year
Aaron B. Zimmerman, O.D., MS, FAAO, is a highly respected optometric educator, clinician, and researcher. He earned his Doctor of Optometry and Master of Science degrees from The Ohio State University, where he now serves as a Clinical Professor at the College of Optometry. Dr. Zimmerman has also played a pivotal role in optometric education, teaching courses on lasers, injections, and ocular disease co-management. He has served as a principal investigator on multiple research projects and has been an invited lecturer at national and international conferences. In addition to his academic and research contributions, Dr. Zimmerman has held leadership roles in professional organizations, including the American Optometric Association.
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Richard Soden, O.D. (New York) – Distinguished Service
Richard Soden, O.D., FAAO, CPC, is a distinguished optometric educator and clinician with a career spanning over four decades. He earned his Doctor of Optometry degree from the SUNY College of Optometry and completed a residency in rehabilitative optometry at the VA Medical Center in Northport, NY. Dr. Soden has held numerous leadership roles at SUNY College of Optometry, including Vice President for Clinical Affairs and Executive Director of the University Optometric Center. His contributions extend to private practice, consulting for state agencies, and serving as a credentialing and managed care expert. He has served as President of the New York State Optometric Association and currently leads the Optometric Center of New York. He has received numerous awards, including Optometrist of the Year from NYSOA.
Napua Rich (Oregon) – Apollo
Napua Rich has dedicated more than a decade to improving access, quality and collaboration within Oregon’s Medicaid Vision Services program. As a senior operations and policy analyst at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), she has achieved significant milestones to enhance care for Medicaid members while supporting optometrists across the state. From increasing reimbursement rates to removing unnecessary barriers for providers, Napua’s leadership reflects her deep commitment to modernizing policies, expanding patient access, and improving the overall effectiveness of the Vision Services program.
The AOSA Student of the Year Award recognizes optometry students in their third or fourth year of school who show leadership skills when serving their profession, patients and community. This year’s winner is Cori Dorrell. Cori Dorrell is a fourth-year optometry student at the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry (NSUOCO) originally from Highland, Kansas. She pursued her undergraduate education at Wichita State University in Wichita, KS where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Science and Biology. She served in various leadership roles throughout the last four years including the chairman of the philanthropy event Giving Sight Day at NSUOCO, President of the Oklahoma Optometric Student Association, Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians Student Liaison, and Women in Optometry Treasurer. Throughout school she gained an interest in ocular disease treatment, glaucoma management, low vision, and primary care optometry.
The National Optometry Hall of Fame recognizes and honors optometrists who are luminaries of the professions—those who have made significant and long-lasting contributions to the optometric profession. The award is administered through The AOA Foundation. This year’s winners include:
Christopher Quinn, O.D.
Dr. Christopher Quinn is a recognized authority who lectures nationally and internationally on the treatment of eye disease and co-management. He is a past President of the American Optometric Association and the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians, and a member of the American Public Health Association – Vision Care Section. Dr. Quinn currently holds academic appointments at The New England College of Optometry, State University of New York College of Optometry, University of Houston College of Optometry, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Southern College of Optometry and University of California Berkeley College of Optometry.
Timothy Wingert, O.D.
Dr. Timothy A. Wingert is a retired Dean and Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry. He is a Founder Member of the European Academy of Optometry and Optics and one of only three United States optometrists to have earned Fellowship in that organization. He was named a J. William Fulbright Scholar in 2005 and again in 2020 through the program sponsored by the United States Department of State as well as having been named a Fulbright Specialist to Ghana. Dr. Wingert was a Professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry, where he continues to hold the title of Professor Emeritus. He served as President of the Missouri Optometric Association, as well as being named Missouri Optometrist of the Year and St. Louis Optometrist of the Year. He was appointed by the governor to serve on the Missouri Children’s Vision Commission for a four-year term beginning in 2008 and was the chair of the commission in 2010.
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The AOA Foundation also awards the Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr., InfantSEE Award, recognizing an individual doctor of optometry who has made significant contributions to optometry or the community for outstanding public service involving the InfantSEE program. This year’s winner is John Tassinari, O.D. Dr. John (JT) Tassinari is a 1987 SCCO graduate and residency trained in VT and pediatrics at SUNY Optometry in 1987-88. Dr. Tassinari ran a private optometry practice in Pasadena CA from 1988 to 2015. His practice specialized in VT and pediatric optometry. During that same period, Dr. Tassinari served as a part-time faculty member for SCCO. In 2016, Dr. Tassinari joined the Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry full time and serves as the chief of pediatrics in the Eye Care Institute.
Members were asked to submit an award nomination for a colleague or peer who embodies passion for the vision community and works to further the profession for the Paraoptometric Professional awards, including Paraoptometric of the Year, Paraoptometric Community Service and Paraoptometric Lifetime Achievement Awards. The 2025 award recipients include:
Jennifer Stroupe, CPO – Paraoptometric of the Year
Jennifer began her career at Olive Branch Eyecare in March of 2013 and was named the Practice Manager in 2014. Jennifer manages Olive Branch Eyecare, Horn Lake Eyecare and Desoto Family Vision. Jennifer holds many certifications, including CPO from the AOA and CCA from the American Health Information Management Association. Jennifer has written two articles for Paraoptometric education and is currently serving on the CPC CE Review committee Team B for the AOA. In 2023, Jennifer lectured for the AOA Para Speakers course on billing for surgical procedures and she lectured at the Mississippi Optometric Associations conference in 2024. In 2019 and 2024, Jennifer was named Mississippi Paraoptometric of the Year.
Kimberly Pickle, CPOA – Paraoptometric Community Service Award
With over 11 years of dedicated service at Southern Eye Care of Clinton, Kimberly Pickle stands out as a committed leader in the field of optometry. Her passion for promoting eye health transcends her professional responsibilities, as she actively volunteers in various community initiatives, raising awareness about vision screening and eye health in local pre-schools. Her commitment to her profession is evident through her previous roles as president of the Mississippi Paraoptometric Association and as a committee member for the AOA PRC Online Sub Committee. Currently, Kimberly is involved with the American Optometric Association (AOA) as a member of the CPC CE Review Committee and the Para Resource Committee.
Tamara Franklin, CPOT – Paraoptometric Lifetime Achievement Award
Tamara (Tami) Franklin, CPOT, ABOC, is the Senior Director of Staff Education and Development for Vision Source, LP. Tami is responsible for programs and education for staff in the Vision Source practices across the U.S. Tami directs the Vision Source Representative (VSR) Program, leading over 100 VSR Program Facilitators/Key Staff Members in staff training and facilitation of the program. She has lectured across the country for many organizations to help educate doctors and staff. Along with lecturing, Tami volunteers within her profession with the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification and in her community. Tami has been awarded as one of the 2018 Vision Monday Most Influential Women in Optical, the Nebraska Distinguished Service Award Recipient, an American Optometric Association Paraoptometric Community Service Award Recipient, the National American Foundation for Vision Awareness Career Achievement Award Recipient, an American Optometric Association Paraoptometric of the Year Recipient and a Nebraska Paraoptometric of the Year Recipient.
Additionally, the Dr. Jerry P. Davidoff Vision Care Award recognizes Tracy Matchinski, O.D., for actively serving in a clinical vision rehabilitation practice setting, giving back to optometry through education and demonstrating a long-standing contribution and sharing knowledge with fellow practitioners for the betterment of vision rehabilitation eye care. Dr. Matchinski completed her residency in vision rehabilitation in 1996 at the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO). She served as ICO’s Low Vision Service Chief and helped usher in the College’s new Rosenbloom Center on Vision and Aging in 2012, where she served as Service Coordinator until 2019. She became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 2000 and a Diplomate in the Vision Rehabilitation Section in 2006. Since then, she has served as Chair of the Diplomate program, as a mentor for Candidates undertaking the Diplomate process in the Section, and as a provider of Diplomate preparatory education courses. She has also provided various continuing education lectures at national meetings with the goal of helping entry-level practitioners understand the joy and ease with which they can provide life-changing vision rehabilitation services
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The AOA is proud to honor these members and recognize their exemplary service, contributions to optometry and passionate leadership. The AOA congratulates all 2025 award nominees.
