(L to R) Purnima Patel, MD, YO Committee chair; Grace Sun, MD, YO International Subcommittee chair; Dr. Ramsey; Janice Law, MD, YO Committee member; and Tamara Fountain, MD, AAO secretary for member services.
CHICAGO—The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) announced that Jean E. Ramsey, MD, MPH is the recipient of the 2016 EnergEYES Award.

The EnergEYES Award was created in 2009 to recognize and honor an ophthalmologist who demonstrates exemplary leadership skills by energizing others to improve ophthalmology, according to the Academy. This individual is one who mentors young ophthalmologists, serves as a strong role model and displays high energy that motivates them to get involved.

Dr. Ramsey was awarded for her work on the state, subspecialty and national levels. She worked with the Massachusetts Society of Physicians and Surgeons to develop a mandatory pediatric vision bill that allows all children in the state to receive proper vision screening and follow-up eye examinations. She also organized symposiums at meetings throughout the country and she worked on Capitol Hill to provide legislative briefings on children’s eyecare bills and engaged with national and federal organizations such as Head Start and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Advocacy has been such an important part of my professional life,” Dr. Ramsey said. “I see it as another important tool to help my patients and a way to make a positive impact on those families that are beyond my immediate clinical practice—and that’s very rewarding.”