Tom Moore, MD wins 2009 AAO Oustanding Advocacy Award

Thomas F. Moore, MD

Thomas F. Moore, MD, was nominated by the Arizona Ophthalmological Society to receive the Academy’s Outstanding Advocate Award.

For over thirty years, Dr. Moore has been involved in AAPOS, the AAO and the Arizona Ophthalmological Society (AOS). In this capacity he has spent literally thousands of personal hours soliciting PAC and personal contributions for Arizona legislators, attending fund raisers, testifying before committees, and personally contacting every candidate, educating them on the complexity of the eye, the value of sight, and the importance of their legislative vote in preserving quality care for their constituents and their own families.

At every chance, Dr. Moore educated legislators about the differences between ophthalmology and optometry. When the first optometric “scope of practice” bill was introduced in Arizona in 1976, Dr. Moore was one of a few ophthalmologists on a Steering Committee that formed a State Eye PAC that year to support legislators and candidates that would oppose this type of legislation. He has on numerous occasions met with legislators at the State Capitol to educate them on pending bills. He also testified in front of special hearings in both the House and Senate to help form opinion and policy. He was indefatigable in his efforts for ophthalmology to protect its populace from non-surgeons who wanted to gain surgical privileges through legislative fiat rather than through proper educational channels.

At the national level, Dr. Moore was one of the original members of the Academy’s Committee for State Affairs serving from 1980-1986 and subsequently served on the Committee for State Legislation. He was the first AOS representative to the Academy’s Board of Councilors (currently called “The Council”) beginning in 1982 and continued through 1987. In 1986 Dr. Moore was elected as the Academy’s first OPHTHPAC Committee Chair and served through 1990. In addition, he served on the Arizona State Medical Association’s Legislative Committee and PAC Board for almost 20 years beginning in the late 1970’s.

Dr. Moore received the Academy’s Secretariat for State Affairs Hall of Fame Award in 2002, the Arizona Ophthalmological Society Outstanding Service Award in 1995, and the Arizona Ophthalmological Society Outstanding Advocate Award in 2008.

As one colleague stated, "I can think of no other person in our state who has given of his time, money, and talents for as many years as Tom Moore. He is a phenomenal person and deserves to be recognized for his efforts." For his tireless commitment and dedication in advocating for the profession and for quality patient eye care, the Academy is privileged to honor Dr. Moore with the 2009 Outstanding Advocate Award.