Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO.

  
CHICAGO—Eye health and safety nonprofit Prevent Blindness has named Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, as the 2025 Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award recipient. Dr. Purcell is the president and CEO of the New England College of Optometry (NECO). The Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award recognizes an individual whose inspired outlook champions healthy vision and its importance for a healthy life. Prevent Blindness said that Dr. Purcell was chosen by a volunteer committee as the recipient of the 2025 Person of Vision Award. He was selected for his outstanding dedication to vision and eye health, leadership of eyecare professionals and dedication to the vision industry.

“We are excited to hold our first Person of Vision gala in Orlando, and that we have the opportunity to honor Dr. Howard Purcell’s extensive work and impact on the vision industry as well as his patients,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “We invite everyone to join us to celebrate his many accomplishments and help us raise funds for our sight-saving programs.”

The Person of Vision Award gala will be held in conjunction with Vision Expo East in February, with proceeds from the event supporting Prevent Blindness programs.

Dr. Purcell has been the president and CEO of NECO since July 2018. Before assuming his leadership role at NECO, he served as senior vice president at Essilor of America and senior director at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. He is a second-generation graduate of NECO, who has also participated in a group optometric practice for 11 years with his father in Miami Beach, Fla. 

Beginning in June 1991, Dr. Purcell joined the faculty of Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry. During his career at the college, he was a principal in the development of the department of cornea and contact lenses. As an associate professor, Dr. Purcell was responsible for both the didactic and clinical components of the program, serving as the deputy dean of the college.

Dr. Purcell also serves on the founding board of Latinos en Optometry (LEO), an organization dedicated to gaining broader representation and advocacy of Latinos within the optometry and larger eyecare professional community.

The decision was made by a panel of industry leaders, with Maureen Cavanagh of Advancing Eyecare, serving as the 2025 Person of Vision Committee Chair. Additional committee members include Marge Axelrad, editorial director emeritus, Vision Monday; Deb Bulken, Luxottica Wholesale; Dr. Gary Chu, NECO; Marc Ferrara, Jobson Medical Information; Rick Gadd, Catalyst Health Group; Dr. Peter Kehoe, EyeMed; Prevent Blindness board of directors Chair Jim McGrann, Advancing Eyecare; Dr. Millicent Knight; and Jamie Shyer, Zyloware.

For more information about the event, contact Albert Muci at (312) 363-6020 or amuci@preventblindness.org, or click here.