The University of Houston College of Optometry celebrated the accomplishments of its faculty and alumni at the 2024 American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. During the meeting, nine individuals from the college were among the 271 new Fellows inducted into the Academy.
Maureen Plaumann honored as a new Diplomate alongside Academy leaders Susan A. Cotter and Angela Chen.
Additionally, Maureen Plaumann, OD, PhD, earned the prestigious Diplomate distinction in the Binocular Vision, Perception, and Pediatric Optometry Section—one of only 16 individuals across all Academy sections to receive this honor in 2024.
While becoming a Fellow is a significant achievement, earning Diplomate status represents an even higher level of distinction. Diplomates are Fellows who have undergone a multi-year process to demonstrate advanced expertise in a specialized area of optometry or vision science.
The journey to Fellow status is rigorous: candidates must submit written work for peer review to showcase their knowledge and pass an oral exam at the Academy's annual meeting.
“We are incredibly proud of our colleagues who have achieved this prestigious recognition,” said Michael Twa, Dean of the University of Houston College of Optometry. “Their hard work and dedication to advancing the science of optometry reflect the high standards of excellence we uphold at the University of Houston. This accomplishment not only enhances our institution’s reputation but also contributes to the continued advancement of the optometry profession.”
Below is a list of the new Fellows affiliated with the University of Houston College of Optometry:
- Elizabeth Bell, ’19
- Viviana Gonzalez, ’19
- Nicole Karson, ’21
- Lawrence Nguyen, ’22
- Jessica Nguyen, ’23
- Hamsa Shah (clinical faculty)
- Megan Wagner Solis, ’20
- Khanh Ton, ’22
- Matthew Truong, ’22
- Samantha Wang, ’20