Distinguished Alumni

Each year NECO proudly awards the Distinguished Alumni title to deserving graduates who have exemplified excellence, embraced their role as compassionate caregivers, exhibited an unwavering dedication to the field of optometry, and made a profound impact on their communities.

2020

	Barbara Caffery, OD ’77, PhD, FAAO Dr. Caffery was the first female Canadian president of the American Academy of Optometry, and was instrumental in the formation of the Fellows Doing Research Special Interest Group, created to train and encourage the performance of clinical research by Fellows of the Academy.
	Nancy Carlson, OD ’77, FAAO, DipOE A noted optometric educator and author, Dr. Carlson was a faculty member at NECO for 37 years, chair of the primary care department, and Chief of Staff at NECO’s clinics.
	Lu Fan, MD, MS/OD ’02 Former President of Wenzhou Medical University and first graduate of the NECO and WMU’s MS/OD program, Dr. Fan helped pioneer the establishment of optometry as a medical discipline in China.
	Benjamin Lambert, III, OD ‘63 Dr. Lambert was the first optometrist elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate. He served in the Virginia General Assembly for more than 30 years.

2021

	Donald Korb, OD, FAAO ’57 Dr. Korb has been inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame and National Inventors Hall of Fame. He is the creator of the first membrane hydrophilic contact lens and considered the godfather of modern thin disposable lenses.
	Susan A. Primo, OD ’85, MPH Dr. Primo is a low vision expert and researcher who has worked tirelessly on numerous national committees to increase the presence of on-site eye care services at community health centers.

2022

	Sally Dang, OD ’94, MPH Dr. Dang was the first optometrist and Chief of Optometry Services at VA Long Beach Healthcare System, where she helped open the Major Charles Robert Soltes, Jr. Blind Rehabilitation Center to honor her late husband. She worked relentlessly to expand services, ranging from primary care to low vision assistance and traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation.
	Colonel Donovan Green, USA, Retired, OD ’92 Col. Green was the first Black optometrist to obtain the rank of Colonel in the United States Army Medical Department. Colonel Green held numerous impressive assignments during the three decades he served in the Army.
	Thomas Little, OD ’08 Prior to enrolling in the Advanced Standing International Program (ASIP) at NECO, Dr. Little spent over 30 years in Afghanistan practicing the skills that his father, an ophthalmologist, had taught him. He used the skills he learned at NECO to organize and manage eye clinics and ophthalmic workshops throughout Afghanistan. Dr. Little lost his life in 2010 while travelling to provide medical care in remote villages.

2023

Ansel T. Johnson, OD ’85
Dr. Johnson founded Vision Salon Eye Care Associates in Blue Island, IL, which is renowned for its comprehensive approach to patient care. Through numerous leadership positions, he has worked to reduce health disparities in underserved populations, as well as use his expertise in diabetes and glaucoma care to improve patient management and technology.

Mary Scott, OD ’68
Dr. Scott was the first woman in the United States to be appointed as Dean of Academic Affairs at a college of optometry. She was a pioneer in both academic in clinical optometry, working to modernize the NECO curriculum and increase student and patient accessibility. She later began her journey in private practice while serving as a Trustee for over 10 years, and is currently teaching in NECO’s Clinical Skills Lab, sharing her wealth of knowledge with the next generation of optometrists.

2024

	Karen G. Carrasquillo, OD ’05, PhD Dr. Carrasquillo patented the SCLERAL FitKit and established the FitAcademy to train clinicians worldwide in ocular surface disease management. Additionally, Dr. Carrasquillo is considered the key international opinion leader on scleral lenses.
	Charles F. Mullen, OD ’69 Dr. Mullen is known for expanding educational and clinical practice through national policy change and strengthening vision care. Dr. Mullen established the current community health center and VA Hospital networks. His work continues to instill confidence in students, residents, faculty, and patients across the country.
	Eli Peli, OD ’83, MSc Dr. Peli is a leading expert in vision rehabilitation research, and was the first to propose and test the use of computerized image enhancement as a visual aid. Dr. Peli has developed numerous optical visual aids that are used around the world.