Straatsma Award for Excellence in Resident Education | Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology

Honoring and celebrating an outstanding Program Director in ophthalmology, the award recognizes the critical role of the Program Director and celebrates the contributions of the awardee.

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

Submit Nomination

2022 Straatsma Award Recipient

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

Evan 'Jake' Waxman, MD, PhD — Evan (Jake) Waxman, MD, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
UPMC Eye Center

2020

R. Michael Siatkowski, MD, MBA
University of Oklahoma
Dean McGee Eye Institute

2019

Susan Culican, MD, PhD
University of Minnesota
Graduate Medical Education

2018

Preston Blomquist, MD
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

2017

Shahzad Mian, MD
University of Michigan
Kellogg Eye Center

2016

Steven Gedde, MD
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

2015

Tara Uhler, MD Thomas Jefferson University Wills Eye Hospital — Tara Uhler, MD
Thomas Jefferson University
Wills Eye Hospital

2014

Laura L. Wayman, MD Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Vanderbilt Eye Institute — Laura L. Wayman, MD
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Vanderbilt Eye Institute

2013

Andreas K. Lauer, MD Oregon Health and Sciences University Casey Eye Institute — Andreas K. Lauer, MD
Oregon Health and Sciences University
Casey Eye Institute

2012

Thomas A. Oetting, MD University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine — Thomas A. Oetting, MD
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

2011

- Richard A. Harper, MD University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences — Richard A. Harper, MD
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

2010

Maria M. Aaron, MD Emory University School of Medicine Emory Eye Center — Maria M. Aaron, MD
Emory University School of Medicine
Emory Eye Center

2009

Mark S. Juzych, MD Wayne State University Kresge Eye Institute — Mark S. Juzych, MD
Wayne State University
Kresge Eye Institute

2008

Paul D. Langer, MD New Jersey Medical School — Paul D. Langer, MD
New Jersey Medical School

2007

James P. Dunn Jr., MD Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Wilmer Eye Institute — James P. Dunn Jr., MD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Wilmer Eye Institute

2006

Karl C. Golnik, MD, Med University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Cincinnati Eye Institute — Karl C. Golnik, MD, Med
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Cincinnati Eye Institute

2005

Anthony C. Arnold, MD University of California, Los Angeles Jules Stein Eye Institute — Anthony C. Arnold, MD
University of California, Los Angeles
Jules Stein Eye Institute

2004

Nicholas J. Volpe, MD University of Pennsylvania Health Systems Scheie Eye Institute — Nicholas J. Volpe, MD
University of Pennsylvania Health Systems
Scheie Eye Institute

2003

Alfredo A. Sadun, MD, PhD University of Southern California Doheny Eye Institute — Alfredo A. Sadun, MD, PhD
University of Southern California
Doheny Eye Institute