The Straatsma Award for Excellence in Resident Education (the “Straatsma Award”) was established through the generosity of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) and private funds to recognize and celebrate an outstanding Program Director in ophthalmology. The award carries the name and honors the accomplishments of Bradley R. Straatsma, MD, JD, former Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at UCLA and former Director of the Jules Stein Eye Institute. The award is presented annually at the Annual Meetings of the AAO and the AUPO and includes a cash prize.
The nomination period for 2023 is now open. Deadline: April 15
2022 Straatsma Award Recipient

Krieger Eye Institute
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
Laura K. Green, MD has served as the Ophthalmology Residency Program Director at the Krieger Eye Institute at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore since 2010. She is originally from Oakton, Virginia, outside of Washington, DC., and is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Dr. Green completed her ophthalmology residency at Harvard/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, followed by cornea fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute. She has been on the faculty of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore since 2007. Her research interests include simulation for medical and surgical training, medical education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Green enjoys problem solving as an exercise in leadership, mentorship and creativity. She served as the chair of the Committee for Resident Education of the AAO, where she created innovative new educational modules including a site for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and continues to serve as an active leader in the AAO as Associate Secretary for State Affairs. She is a founding member of the GME:IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Education, and Awareness) committee at Sinai Hospital, which plans DEI education and pipeline outreach efforts for residents and faculty at Sinai Hospital, and is the current chair. She also has served on the AUPO Program Directors’ Council and is the chair of the Ophthalmology Review Committee for the ACGME. She enjoys mentoring program directors and young ophthalmologists.
In her free time, Dr. Green is a Girl Scout leader, and enjoys hiking, paddling, travel and being outdoors with her teenaged children, husband, and rescue Lab mix.
Award Information
Eligibility
Nominees for the Straatsma Award must fulfill the following criteria:
- Be a Member of AUPO and a Member or Fellow of the AAO
- Have served as a Program Director at an ACGME-accredited AUPO member program for a minimum of 3 years
- Currently serve as the Program Director
- Embody the qualities of:
- Commitment to resident education
- Dedication to the residency training process
- Active engagement in program leadership
- Innovation in and/or advancement of residency education in Ophthalmology at the Regional, National or AUPO level
- Be the consummate teacher/mentor/advisor
Special consideration in the selection process will be given to:
- current activities, not simply to length of service or to contributions made many years previously
- nominees who have published in peer-reviewed literature on subjects related to residency education
- innovative work
- those who have achieved a leadership role in medical education
- achievement in mentoring other educators/future educators
Nominations
- Candidates must be nominated by their Department Chair
- The Application Packet must include the following items (10 pt. font or greater):
- A nomination form completed by the Chair
- One (1) supporting letter (each not to exceed two pages) from an ophthalmologist who is not a current trainee
- A copy of the Nominee’s current Curriculum Vitae
- A list of peer-reviewed publications by the Nominee that are relevant to residency education
- A signed letter from the Nominee (not to exceed two pages) summarizing the Nominee’s accomplishments as Program Director and plans for future activities. The Nominee must also agree in the letter to present at the AUPO Annual Meeting on a topic related to residency training if chosen as the Awardee.
- The application packet must be compiled by the Department Chair and submitted electronically by April 15.
Selection Process
- All completed applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee and a recommendation forwarded to the AUPO Board of Trustees for approval and the AAO Board of Trustees for approval.
- The Awardee will be notified by July.
Past Straatsma Award Recipients
2021

University of Pittsburgh
UPMC Eye Center
2020

University of Oklahoma
Dean McGee Eye Institute
2019

University of Minnesota
Graduate Medical Education
2018

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
2017

University of Michigan
Kellogg Eye Center
2016
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
2015

Thomas Jefferson University
Wills Eye Hospital
2014

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Vanderbilt Eye Institute
2013

Oregon Health and Sciences University
Casey Eye Institute
2012

University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
2011

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
2010

Emory University School of Medicine
Emory Eye Center
2009

Wayne State University
Kresge Eye Institute
2008

New Jersey Medical School
2007

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Wilmer Eye Institute
2006

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Cincinnati Eye Institute
2005

University of California, Los Angeles
Jules Stein Eye Institute
2004

University of Pennsylvania Health Systems
Scheie Eye Institute
2003

University of Southern California
Doheny Eye Institute