BALTIMORE — More than 120 eye care professionals gathered to applaud as Baltimore City and County organizations and doctors of Optometry received all four awards presented at the Maryland Optometric Association (MOA) Annual Awards Dinner held on Saturday November 23rd.

The Maryland Optometric Association honored its 2002 Awards winners on November 23. (l-r) Dr. Lester Caplan was presented with the Melvin Waxman Award, Dr. Lori Sportelli received the Young Optometrist of the Year, Producer Joyce Carp represented V. Eugene McCrary Award recipient WBAL-TV, and Dr. Timothy Madgar was named Optometrist of the Year.

Dr. Timothy Madgar of Parkville, was named the MOA’s 2002 Optometrist of the Year in recognition of his dedicated service to the profession and the citizens of Maryland. Dr. Madgar graduated from the University of Alabama School of Optometry in 1983 after receiving the Dean’s Award for academic excellence. He has served as the Greater Baltimore Optometric Society (GBOS) secretary and president and the MOA board secretary, vice president, president-elect and president. He has also been on the board of directors for the Optometric Center of Maryland and Omni Eye Center. Dr. Madgar has served as the chairman for the Vision USA program and has been very active with the Legislative Committee.

Dr. Lester Caplan, professor emeritus at the University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry was presented with the Melvin Waxman Award for long-term dedication to the profession of Optometry. Dr. Caplan began his career in private practice in Baltimore and has been involved in advancing optometry at all levels, serving as a clinician, an instructor, a researcher and a public health advocate throughout the years. He was named the National Optometrist of the Year and Maryland Optometrist of the Year in the 1970s.

WBAL-TV, a local Baltimore television station, was presented with the MOA’s V. Eugene McCrary Award which is given in recognition of a layperson or organization’s significant contributions to the enhancement of eye care for the citizens of Maryland. The station was recognized for its coverage of critical eye care issues such as the dangers of cosmetic contact lenses and the need for thorough eye examinations for elementary age children. The station also reported on the MOA’s VISION USA community service program for low-income families and individuals in Maryland.

Also recognized by the MOA was Dr. Lori Sportelli of Dundalk. Dr. Sportelli received the Young Optometrist of the Year award. While currently serving as president of the GBOS, Dr. Sportelli is active in several professional organizations and in the community. She is a board member for the Maryland Society for Sight and a volunteer with Health Care for the Homeless in Baltimore. Dr. Sportelli also participates in Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity which provides eye care to residents in developing countries.

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