(PRESS RELEASE) ATLANTA, GA – SECO International, an annual conference providing ophthalmic professionals with outstanding educational opportunities since 1923, announces the recipients of its 20/20 award. These five individuals are being recognized as leaders in optometry and for their significant contributions to the profession.
“It is the continuous contributions of knowledge, leadership, advocacy, and service that is the foundation of our profession,” said Max Ernst, OD, president of SECO International, LLC. “SECO celebrates those that are going above and beyond in their efforts to serve. SECO leadership wants to thank Johnny Shrewsbury, OD, Freddie Mayes, OD, Len Brown, OD, Roya Attar, OD, and Brianna Goodson, CPOA, for their personal and professional contributions.”
The SECO 20/20 award winners include:
Southern Council of Optometrists’ President’s Award
The Southern Council of Optometrists are pleased to honor Freddie Mayes, OD, of Central City, Kentucky, with the 20/20 President’s Award in recognition of his dedicated years and outstanding advancements to the profession of optometry. Dr. Mayes received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Alabama School of Optometry before returning to private practice in Kentucky. He previously served as president of the Kentucky Optometric Association and was recognized as Kentucky Optometrist of the Year in 2007. He also served as president of the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners in 2003, 2005, and 2012, and currently serves as chair for SECO’s exhibits committee. Dr. Mayes dedication to the growth of optometry serves as an example to the professional community.
Southern Council of Optometrists’ Distinguished Service Award
The 20/20 Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Len Brown, OD, of Fort Myers, Florida. Dr. Brown is recognized for his outstanding service and distinguished contributions to the advancement of continuing education in optometry worldwide during 44 years of service as a dedicated volunteer leader with SECO International. Dr. Brown graduated from the Southern College of Optometry with his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1974 and with post graduate courses in therapeutics and pharmacology from Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He has served SECO as logistics committee chair since 1976. Dr. Brown is a member of the Florida Optometric Association, where he served as the chairman of the continuing education committee, a member and past president of the Southwest Florida Optometric Society. He also served as examiner of the Florida State Board of Optometry from 1982 to 2003.
Southern Council of Optometrists’ Optometrist of the South Award
The 20/20 Optometrist of the South Award will be presented to Jonathan Shrewsbury, OD, of Beaver Dam, Kentucky. Dr. Shrewsbury is being recognized for his outstanding work in the community and profession. Dr. Shrewsbury is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and the Southern College of Optometry. He has been in private practice in Beaver Dam for nearly 40 years while serving the profession in many roles. He is the current president of the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners and has served the Kentucky Optometric Association in many roles, including trustee from 1991-1996, president from 1998-1998, and legislative chair from 1999-2003. Dr. Shrewsbury served SECO as a trustee from 2001-2004, president from 2009-2010, and the SECO IPRC since 2011. Dr. Shrewsbury is widely recognized and respected by his peers for his outstanding career, his devotion as a volunteer to the profession, his leadership in professional organizations, and his countless contributions exemplifies all that is good about optometry.
Southern Council of Optometrists’ Young Optometrist of the South Award
The 20/20 Young Optometrist of the South Award will be presented to Roya Attar, OD, of Madison, Mississippi. Before obtaining her Doctor of Optometry degree at University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry in San Antonio, Texas, in 2013, she earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Chemistry from The University of Memphis in 2003 and 2004. In 2017, she earned a Master’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in healthcare from the University of Pikeville College of Business in Pikeville, Kentucky. She served the Kentucky College of Optometry in various roles, including assistant professor, as faculty mentor to several student organizations, and also began a tradition of service by partnering with remote area medical (RAM) clinics to provide vision screening to underserved areas within the state. Dr. Attar broke career ground in 2018 as the first optometrist hired at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the state’s only academic medical center. As assistant professor and director of optometric services, she provides clinical services, works in close contact with staff ophthalmologists, and trains and lectures ophthalmology residents and, beginning in May 2020, an optometry extern. Dr. Attar is the current secretary of Retina SIG for the American Academy of Optometry.
Southern Council of Optometrists’ Paraoptometric of the South
The 20/20 Paraoptometric of the South Award will be presented to Brianna Goodson, CPOA, of Ravenswood, West Virginia. Mrs. Brianna Goodson has worked for Ravenswood Eyecare since the age of 19. She was hired as a receptionist in 2006, and two years later, was promoted to office manager. She recently passed her CPOA certification test and is enrolled in Essilor’s ECPU Management Development Program where she is set to graduate at SECO in March 2020. As a committed member to the profession, she has attended SECO for the last 13 years. She has also been blessed to go on two optometric mission trips, where she assisted in screening, dispensing, repairing, adjusting and whatever else was needed of her. She loves helping people in any way she can, whether it be her patients, her neighbors, her family or someone that just needs something done.
SECO congratulates the 20/20 award recipients. For more information about SECO 20/20, visit www.AttendSECO.com.