Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award - 2024 Nomination Form


Deadline: April 3, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. PT

The Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award was created in 1998 to recognize Academy members for their contributions in charitable activities, indigent care, community service and other humanitarian activities performed above and beyond the typical duties of an ophthalmologist. Individuals must perform this public service in their capacity as an ophthalmologist.

Qualifications and Criteria

The nominee must be a Fellow or Member in good standing of the American Academy of Ophthalmology who has demonstrated a pattern of humanitarian service in the United States or abroad over a period of at least several years. Qualifying service might include, but is not limited to:

• Free care to the indigent
• Service in inner city, rural or international locations with disadvantaged persons
• Care for underprivileged individuals of specific racial or ethnic background
• Care in settings of high risk to the ophthalmologist

The service must have been above and beyond the usual service commitment required by a sponsoring organization or expected by the type of service involved, should have entailed personal sacrifice on the part of the ophthalmologist, must have been consonant with the principles of the Code of Ethics of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and length of service must be sustained. Only one such award may be given to an individual during his or her lifetime. Self-nomination is not allowed for this award.

Completing the Nomination Form

• We suggest using a laptop or desktop computer to complete the nomination form.
• You may save your progress and return to the application at a later date by clicking the Save and Continue Later option at the top right corner of each page. 
• The completed nomination form along with all required supplemental materials must be submitted via this portal by April 3, 2024.

Additional Documents
At the end of the application, you will be asked to provide additional documents to support your nomination.

• Required Two letters of recommendation, with a maximum length of two (2) pages per letter in pdf format
• Required Nominee's one-page biographical sketch highlighting his/her contributions in humanitarian service
• Optional News articles and other supplemental documents highlighting the nominee's efforts 

Questions? Contact Member Services at 415.561.8581 or awards@aao.org. Visit aao.org/awards to learn more about the award.