Vinh D. Vu, OD.

ORLANDO, Fla.—The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) announced it’s presenting the 2018 Jill and George Mertz Fellowship to Vinh D. Vu, OD, an optometry graduate and faculty member of Hanoi Medical University in Vietnam. Dr. Vu is planning to carry out his Mertz Fellowship, in conjunction with the Brien Holden Vision Institute, at Hanoi Medical University in Vietnam to contribute to the elimination of avoidable blindness and vision impairment primarily, but not exclusively, due to uncorrected refractive errors, in Vietnam.

Dr. Vu commented, “The Mertz Fellowship will not only allow me to continue serving the underserved directly, but to incorporate my education background acquired through the program by allowing optometry students to rotate through. Both clinical and didactic education would be strongly emphasized to enrich both clinicians and patients alike.”

The AAOF will honor Dr. Vu during the annual AAOF Celebration Luncheon at Academy 2018 San Antonio, on Nov. 10, 2018.

George Mertz, the president of the American Optometric Foundation (AOF) who passed away in 2002, was very involved in focusing on education and research funding as a basis for improved eye and vision care. His wife, Jill, subsequently spearheaded a move to establish the George W. Mertz Scholarship Fund. Jill Mertz passed away in 2007 and her family estate made a substantial gift which now goes to support the biennial $30,000 award in their name.