2026 Bronze Medalist
Sean Parnell Donahue, MD, PHD
Sean Parnell Donahue, MD, PHD, joined Vanderbilt in 1995, following fellowships in neuro-ophthalmology and pediatric ophthalmology, and he received the inaugural Sam and Darthea Coleman chair in 2008. His practice involves diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases in children and the surgical treatment of adults with strabismus. He has lifetime achievement awards from AAO and AAPOS. He was AAPOS President from 2024-2025.
Over the past 30 years, Dr. Donahue has introduced hundreds of trainees to ophthalmology. Of more than 275 publications, 70 have had his mentee as first author. The research that they have performed has impacted pediatric ophthalmology tremendously, whether it be in the validation of preschool vision screening techniques; the detection and interpretation of visual field defects with current and new technologies; or in the surgical management of complicated strabismus. Dr. Donahue has given more than 300 invited lectures and presentations across all six populated continents, and he has an h-index of 60.