UAB School of Optometry Vision Science Graduate program student Jessica V. Jasien, MEn has been named an Ezell Fellow by the American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF).
The Ezell Fellowship program is named after the founding President of the AAOF, William C. Ezell, OD. It was established to provide talented post-doctoral students who are pursuing an advanced degree in optometric research and education recognition and support. To date, over 400 William C. Ezell Fellowships have been awarded since the inception of the program in 1949.
Jasien, was named the Merton C. Flom Leadership Ezell Fellow. Her PI/mentor is Dr. J. Crawford Downs, professor of ophthalmology, biomedical engineering, and computer and information science at UAB.
"I’m incredibly fortunate to have Jessica in the lab,” Downs said. “She’s brilliant, works hard, and pushes our research forward every day in ways that makes the team better. I can think of no student that is more deserving of the Ezell Fellowship, and I’m very proud of her accomplishment.”
The 2019-20 Ezell Fellows will be honored at the AAOF’s Annual Celebration Luncheon on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at Academy 2019 Orlando and the 3rd World Congress of Optometry in Orlando, FL.
“I’m very proud that Jessica continues to stand amongst the ranks of this elite group of researchers that have received this prestigious award,” said Dean Kelly Nichols. “It’s a great honor to serve as Dean to such a talented group of students. On behalf of all faculty and staff here at the UAB School of Optometry we say congratulations to these award recipients.”