OPAG Awards

Lester Caplan Award

The Lester Caplan Award is to recognize a PHS tribal direct hire or PHS civil service optometrist who has demonstrated exemplary work as evidenced by a specific accomplishment(s) toward the mission of the PHS. This award may be presented annually by the Optometry Professional Advisory Group (OPAG).

Lester Caplan, O.D., M.Ed., the “Father of Indian Health Service Optometry”, took time from his Baltimore, Maryland practice to serve as a special consultant to the Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) from 1969 to 1985 charged with establishing and developing optometric services, facilities and staff throughout the IHS healthcare system. Named to commemorate Dr. Caplan’s commitment and founding contributions to IHS Optometry, this award honors and recognizes those whose achievements have likewise enhanced the health and vision of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Nomination Package: Lester Caplan Award [pdf]

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Edward Hamilton Award

The Edward Hamilton Award is presented to a career USPHS Optometry Commissioned Officer who is recognized by his/her peers for outstanding work as evidenced by a specific accomplishment(s) toward the mission of the PHS. This award may be presented annually by the Optometry Professional Advisory Group (OPAG).

CAPT James E. Hamilton brought eighteen years of active duty experience with the Air Force and Marine Corp to end his uniformed career with twelve years of distinguished duty in the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Assigned to the Indian Health Service (IHS), CAPT Hamilton’s exceptional leadership and clinical abilities were reflected in his appointment by the Director to be the first Indian Health Service Senior Consultant for Optometry in 1976. His exceptional service in this position, overseeing and nurturing the fledgling IHS optometric program, established a course of consistent growth in clinical facilities and staff as well as quality patient care. Named to honor CAPT Hamilton’s insight, integrity, dedicated leadership and persistent hard work, it is for the demonstration of those same qualities in contributing to the mission of the Public Health Service that this award honors and recognizes its recipients.

Nomination Package: Edward Hamilton Award [pdf]

List of Awardees

YearRecipients

Richard Hatch Junior OD Award

The Richard Hatch Junior OD of the Year Award is to recognize an outstanding IHS optometrist practicing as a PHS Commissioned Officer, Direct Tribal Hire or Civil Servant, who has demonstrated exemplary work as evidenced by a specific accomplishment(s) toward the mission of the IHS early in their career. This award may be presented annually by the Optometry Professional Advisory Group (OPAG). Presentation will be at the IHS Biennial meeting and/or the COA conference.

CAPT Richard A. Hatch is a compassionate and caring mentor with a thorough knowledge of the Indian Health Service Optometry Program. He is nationally identified with the American Indian and Alaska Native community. He is in his 26th year of service as an IHS optometrist and has worked personally with scores of student interns and residents. He orchestrated the centralization of IHS optometry student intern assignments with all schools and colleges of optometry. He initiated and coordinated the creation of IHS optometry residency programs. These programs have proven to be the backbone IHS optometrist recruitment success. In addition to always maintaining his clinical practice, for several years he served concurrently as Gallup Service Unit Chief of Optometry, Navajo Area Chief Consultant for Optometry and as IHS Chief Clinical Consultant for Optometry. In these roles he recruited scores of optometrists to the Indian Health Service and nurtured their career promotion and progression. He has a long history of successfully supporting and mentoring Junior IHS optometrists, including those in a residency program he initiated in 2011 at Zuni Hospital.

Nomination Package: Richard Hatch Award [pdf]

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YearRecipients

OPAG Student Award

The OPAG Student Award was developed to recognize an exceptional student extern annually. The student is recognized at during their respective Professional School Award’s Ceremony.

Nomination Package:  IHS Student Award [pdf]

List of Awardees

YearRecipients