Lecture Series/Awards

The Frank D. Costenbader Lecture

The Costenbader Lecture was established to honor Frank D. Costenbader, the founder of Pediatric Ophthalmology in North America, who dedicated his professional life to the recognition of this subspecialty and to the training of future pediatric ophthalmologists according to his ideals. Each year the AAPOS Costenbader Lecture Committee selects a distinguished Pediatric Ophthalmologist to deliver a major lecture on his or her research and experience in the field of Pediatric Ophthalmology.

Past Costenbader Lecturers

  • 1974 Marshall M. Parks, MD (Los Angeles)
  • 1975 Robert N. Shaffer, MD (Lake Tahoe)
  • 1976 Lorenz E. Zimmerman, MD (Bermuda)
  • 1977 T. Keith Lyle, MD (San Francisco)
  • 1978 Jules Francois, MD (Williamsburg)
  • 1979 Robison D. Harley, MD (Toronto)
  • 1980 David G. Cogan, MD (San Diego)
  • 1981 Philip Knapp, MD (Orlando)
  • 1982 Joseph Lang, MD (Monterey)
  • 1983 Jack C. Crawford, MD (Vancouver)
  • 1984 Gunter K. von Noorden, MD (Vail)
  • 1985 Arthur J. Jampolsky, MD (Puerto Rico)
  • 1986 Robert M. Ellsworth, MD (Maui)
  • 1987 John E. Wright, MD (Scottsdale)
  • 1988 Alan B. Scott, MD (Boston)
  • 1989 Kenneth C. Swan, MD (Kiawah)
  • 1990 John T. Flynn, MD (Lake George)
  • 1991 John A. Pratt-Johnson, MD (Montreal)
  • 1992 Eugene M. Helveston, MD (Maui)
  • 1993 Henry S. Metz, MD (Palm Springs)
  • 1994 William E. Scott, MD (Vancouver)
  • 1995 Eugene R. Folk, MD (Orlando)
  • 1996 Marilyn T. Miller, MD (Snowbird)
  • 1997 Robert D. Reinecke, MD (Charleston)
  • 1998 David L. Guyton, MD (Palm Springs)
  • 1999 Malcolm L. Mazow, MD (Toronto)
  • 2000 David R. Stager, Sr., MD (San Diego)
  • 2001 Forrest Daryel Ellis, MD (Orlando)
  • 2002 Creig S. Hoyt, MD (Seattle)
  • 2003 Burton J. Kushner, MD (Hawaii)
  • 2004 Arthur L. Rosenbaum, MD (Washington DC)
  • 2005 Albert W. Biglan, MD (Orlando)
  • 2006 Earl A. Palmer, MD (Keystone)
  • 2007 John D. Baker, MD (Seattle)
  • 2008 Edward G. Buckley, MD (Washington DC)
  • 2009 Richard A. Saunders, MD (San Francisco)
  • 2010 A. Linn Murphree, MD (Orlando)
  • 2011 Susan H. Day, MD (San Diego)
  • 2012 Michael X. Repka, MD (San Antonio)
  • 2013 M. Edward Wilson, JR, MD (Boston)
  • 2014 John F. O’Neill, MD (Palm Springs)
  • 2015 David S. Walton, MD (New Orleans)
  • 2016 Edward L. Raab, MD (Vancouver)
  • 2017 Steven M. Archer, MD (Nashville)
  • 2018 Elias I Traboulsi, MD (Washington DC)
  • 2019 David A. Plager, MD (San Diego)
  • 2021 Sharon F. Freedman, MD (Virtual)
  • 2022 David G. Hunter, MD, PhD (Scottsdale)
  • 2023 Scott R. Lambert, MD (New York)

The Leonard Apt Lecture

The Leonard Apt Lecture was established and first presented in 2000 by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Ophthalmology (SOOp) to honor Leonard Apt, MD, for his dedication and contributions in the fields of pediatrics and pediatric ophthalmology. Dr. Apt was the first physician to be board-certified in both pediatrics and ophthalmology. The Leonard Apt Lecture pays tribute to Dr. Apt not only for his educational and scientific contributions, but also for his pioneer role in helping to create pediatric ophthalmology as a new medical subspecialty.

Past Leonard Apt Lecturers

  • 2000 J. Bronwyn Bateman, MD (San Diego)
  • 2001 Bennett A. Shaywitz, MD & Sally E. Shaywitz, MD (Orlando)
  • 2002 Mark Siegler, MD (Seattle)
  • 2003 Linda J. Mason, MD (Hawaii)
  • 2005 Edwin M. Stone, MD, PhD (Orlando)
  • 2007 Carol D. Berkowitz, MD, FAAP (Seattle)
  • 2009 Sherwin J. Isenberg, MD (San Francisco)
  • 2011 Carol L. Shields, MD and Jerry A. Shields, MD (San Diego)
  • 2013 Joseph L. Demer, MD, PhD (Boston)
  • 2015 Alex V Levin, MD, MHSc (New Orleans)
  • 2017 Marilyn T. Miller, MD (Nashville)
  • 2020 Sean P. Donahue, MD, PhD (Virtual)

The Phillip Knapp Lecture

The Knapp Lecture was established to honor Philip Knapp, MD, one of the early academic strabismologists in North America who dedicated his talents to research in strabismus and to training future academic leaders in his field. The AAPOS International Affairs Committee (IAC) selects a distinguished International Pediatric Ophthalmologist/Strabismologist to deliver a lecture at the Annual Meeting in even-numbered years. The lecturer will present his or her research and experience in pediatric ophthalmology - especially ocular motility disorders.

Past Knapp Lecturers

  • 1998 Anthony D.N. Murray, FRCS (Palm Springs)
  • 1999 Annette Spielmann, MD (Toronto)
  • 2001 Alberto O. Ciancia, MD (Orlando)
  • 2002 John Lee, FRCS, FRCP, FRCOphth (Seattle)
  • 2004 David S.I. Taylor, FRCS, FRCP (Wsahington DC)
  • 2006 Carlos Souza-Dias, MD (Keystone)
  • 2008 Emilio C. Campos, MD (Washington DC)
  • 2010 Jan Tjeerd H.N. de Faber, MD (Orlando)
  • 2012 John J. Sloper, FRCOphth (San Antonio)
  • 2014 Gillian GW Adams, FRCS(EDd), FRCOphth (Palm Springs)
  • 2016 Pradeep Sharma, MD (Vancouver)
  • 2019 Miho Sato, MD (Sydney)

Founders Series Lecture

Past Founders Series Lecturers 

2018 Jampolsky Lecturer
Burton J. Kushner, MD

2019 Helveston Lecturer
Michael X. Repka, MD, MBA

2022 Jampolsky Lecturer
David L. Guyton, MD

2023 Helveston Lecturer
Michael F. Chiang, MD 

Awards & Honors

Champion for Vision Award

  • 2013 Prevent Blindness America

  • 2014 National Head Start Association

  • 2015 Knights Templar Eye Foundation

  • 2016 Orbis International

  • 2017 George R. Beauchamp, MD

President Guest of Honor

  • 2018 Christie L. Morse, MD (Washington DC)
  • 2019 Maria A. Schweers, CO (San Diego)
  • 2021 Scott A. Larson, MD (Virtual)
  • 2022 Gill Roper=Hall, DBOT, CO, COMT (Scottsdale)
  • 2023 Zane F. Pollard, MD (New York)
  • 2023 George S. Ellis, Jr., MD (New York)