BOSTON—The New England College of Optometry (NECO) has announced the recipients of the college’s honorary degrees and President’s Medal for Commencement 2019. This year, Mitchell Scheiman, OD, class of 1975; Guang-Ji Wang, MD, OD, class of 1992; and Alan Glazier, OD, class of 1993, will be honored. All three are NECO alumni. Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs, Erik Weissberg, OD, class of 1997 will present Dr. Mitchell Scheiman with his honorary degree. Dr. Scheiman, who graduated from NECO in 1975, is director of graduate programs, bio medicine, dean of research, and professor and Salus University/Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

He has received many awards over the years, including the 2017 Glen A Frey Award from the American Academy of Optometry, the 2015 Dr. Jerry P. Davidoff Vision Care Award from the American Optometric Association, the 2015 Distinguished Resident Alumni Award from SUNY, and the Heart of America Contact Lens Society Vision Service Award. Dr. Weissberg said, “Dr. Scheiman is one of the most impactful researchers in the field of binocular vision. He has positively influenced countless students through his iconic textbooks and fundamentally changed the way we practice through his clinical research on the diagnosis and management of convergence insufficiency.”

Dr. Guang-Ji Wang, who graduated from NECO in 1992, will receive his honorary degree after being nominated by NECO president emeritus Clifford Scott, OD, class of 1968, MPH. Dr. Wang has been a member of the faculty at NECO since 1992, after serving as an associate professor and chair of the department of ophthalmology at Wenzhou Medical University in China.

NECO and Wenzhou Medical University have had a partnership for over 25 years, which includes a joint MS/OD program, education initiatives, leadership programs, and research. Dr. Scott said, “Dr. Wang has been pivotal in developing NECO’s relationship with Wenzhou Medical University as well as driving the expansion of optometric education and practice in China throughout the past decades.”

NECO president Howard Purcell, OD, class of 1984, will present Dr. Alan Glazier with the President’s Medal. After graduating from NECO in 1993, Dr. Glazier went on to found Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care, which grew to be one of the largest private optometrist practices in Rockville, Maryland. Dr. Glazier is being recognized by NECO for founding the ODs on Facebook group, which now has nearly 38,000 members around the world.

President Purcell said, “Dr. Glazier has really changed the optometric profession. He has created a platform and environment where eyecare providers can communicate about clinical and personal issues. This network has allowed optometrists to feel less isolated and find avenues to support one another in their work from around the world.” In addition to his award, Dr. Glazier will present the commencement address.”

All three honorees will be presented with their awards on May 19, 2019, during the 125th NECO commencement at Boston Symphony Hall.