SUNY Optometry Graduate Student Earns Esteemed Fellowship from the American Academy of Optometry Foundation

SUNY Optometry Graduate Student Earns Esteemed Fellowship from the American Academy of Optometry Foundation

State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry graduate student Reynolds Ablordeppey, OD, has been named the Danne Ventura–Essilor Ezell Fellow by the American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF). Established in 1949, Ezell Fellowships are regarded among the highest recognition awarded to vision science graduate students and are offered by the AAOF to encourage talented individuals to pursue full-time careers in optometric research and education. 

The fellowship honor is named after the AAOF founding president, Dr. William C. Ezell, and Danne Ventura, FNAO, FAAO a respected optician, contact lens fitter, and ophthalmic medical assistant who retired from Essilor of America in 2018 after 29 years of service. At Essilor, she was responsible for cultivating school support, student and institutional grants, student events, as well as student and faculty education. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the AAOF.

“I would like to thank the American Academy of Optometry and Essilor of America for this prestigious award. It is such an honor to join the club of accomplished researchers and educators,” said Dr. Ablordeppey. “These Ezell Fellows have gone on to have successful careers in optometric education and research, this recognition motivates me to work harder to follow in such footsteps.”

A native of Ghana in western Africa, Dr. Ablordeppey’s research focus is on understanding the optical and biochemical (structural and functional changes) mechanisms that occur during eye growth and myopia development. He credits guidance for his studies and mentorship to Drs. Alexandra Benavente-Perez, Suresh Viswanathan, David Troilo, and Miduturu Srinivas at SUNY College of Optometry. Looking ahead to his future in optometric practice, Dr. Ablordeppey hopes to return to his home country to promote optometry care and research.

“Listening to people, empathizing with them, and helping to solve their problems in any little way has been interesting to me and endeared me to a healthcare profession,” he explained. “The field of optometry encompasses all my interests.”

For more information about the SUNY College of Optometry and the University Eye Center, please visit www.sunyopt.edu.