College of Optometrists awards Life and Honorary Fellowships

The College of Optometrists has awarded three new Life Fellowships and two new Honorary Fellowships to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the profession or to the College.

Three new Life Fellows of the College of Optometrists:

  • Professor Stephen J Dain PhD FCOptom, Emeritus Professor, School of Optometry .and Vision Science, University of New South Wales
    Professor Dain has had a long and distinguished career in academia and research in the UK and Australia, and has made a note-worthy contribution to national and international standards for eye and face protection.
  •  Fred Giltrow-Tyler FCOptom, Principal Optometrist, Head of Optometry Services, Bristol Eye Hospital
    Fred Giltrow-Tyler is being recognised for his lifetime commitment to hospital optometry, and his contribution to the development of the profession and those within it.
  • Peter Hong MBE FCOptom, Locum Therapeutic Optometrist, Sessional Medical Retina Optometrist, Powys Teaching Health Board, Teaching Associate Cardiff University
    Peter Hong is being recognised as an inspiration in the field of optometry, both in a charitable sense and in being at the forefront of the development of optometry as a profession.

Two new Honorary Fellows of the College of Optometrists:

  •  Professor Caroline MacEwen MD FRCS FRCOphth FFSEM FRCPE HonFCOptom, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee and Immediate Past President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and current Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
    Professor MacEwen is being recognised for her role in bringing ophthalmologists and optometrists together for the benefit of patients’ eye health.
  • Bryony Pawinska MA(Ed) Hon.DSc HonFCOptom FEAOO, Chief Executive of the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians and Former Chief Executive of the College of Optometrists
    Bryony Pawinska delivered real and important change, for both the College and optometric profession during the 12 years that she was Chief Executive of the College of Optometrists.

 Dr Mary-Ann Sherratt MCOptom, President of the College of Optometrists, said: “Fellowship is the College’s highest award.  It is our opportunity to recognise and  celebrate the most outstanding and significant achievements made by some of the most talented and committed individuals working within eye and vision care, and their exceptional contribution to the advancement of the profession.”

The College has also awarded two Fellowships by Portfolio to recognise achievement in the workplace:

  • Dr John Gurney FCOptom Dip Glauc has been awarded Fellowship of the College for his clinical practice, management of visual healthcare, and higher qualifications in vision science.
  • Dr Ahmed Sivardeen FCOptom has been awarded Fellowship of the College for his management of visual healthcare, and higher qualifications in vision science.

The awards will be  presented at the annual Diploma Ceremony on Tuesday 14 November 2017 in Central London, when, as well as welcoming the newest entrants into the profession, the College also celebrates the achievements of its members through the award of Higher Qualifications and Research Excellence Awards, and welcoming newly qualified optometrists to the profession.