2023 Bronze Medalist
Howard Freedman, MD
Dr. Howard Freedman graduated from Harvard and Harvard Medical School and did a residency in ophthalmology at Washington University. He did a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology in Leeds and London, England, opened a private practice in Redmond, Washington (for 21 years) and became an assistant clinical professor at the University of Washington.
He became frustrated by the considerable number of older children he saw with amblyopia. He knew that early diagnosis was the issue. His mission in life became the development of an effective method for early diagnosis of amblyopia when effective treatment was possible.
Dr. Freedman developed and patented the first commercial photoscreening device, the MTI Photoscreener, amplifying the pioneering work in photoscreening of Keri Kakkinen. The next step was to engage the interest of pediatric ophthalmologists worldwide.
This pioneering work has stimulated the development of many new effective objective screening devices and their almost universal use in pediatric clinics and community vision screening programs. Objective vision screening has been a real game changer in screening young preschool children.
Dr. Freedman spent many years teaching and volunteering and currently runs a free eye clinic for the needy in Bonita Springs, Florida. He is still deeply involved in preschool vision screening with local pediatricians and Lions.