Heed-Gutman Award
Each year, the Society of Heed Fellows recognizes one former Heed Fellow with the Heed‑Gutman Award, an honor presented during the alumni luncheon held at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. This award reflects the Society’s commitment to celebrating excellence, leadership, and lasting contributions to ophthalmology.
The award was originally known as the Heed Award and was renamed the Heed‑Gutman Award by the Board of Trustees in 2015. This change honored Dr. Froncie Gutman for long‑standing leadership and significant contributions to both the Society of Heed Fellows and the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation.
Since its inception in 1965, the recipient of the Heed Award (subsequently the Heed-Gutman Award) has received an engraved tray as a physical representation of being selected for this honor. In addition to the engraved tray, recipients also receive a lapel pin. The pin has several design elements based on optical phenomena. The center of the pin contains a black pupil in which the letters H (for Heed) and G (for Gutman) are sized and placed to mimic Purkinje images. The surrounding colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet represent the colors of the spectrum.
Any former Heed Fellow who has not previously received the Award is a potential candidate and all Heed Fellows may nominate a candidate. The Society of Heed Fellows Board of Trustees selects the honoree. The following criteria are the basis for nominating and selecting the candidate:
- Evidence of major contributions to ophthalmology as an educator, clinician, and/or investigator.
- Outstanding original discoveries or investigations, which have produced major advancements in the field of ophthalmology.
- Long-term evidence of extraordinary and distinguished leadership service on behalf of ophthalmology.
1965 - William F. Hoyt, MD
1966 - Matthew D. Davis, MD
1967 - Harvey A. Lincoff, MD
1968 - Goodwin M. Breinin, MD
1969 - William H. Spencer, MD
1970 - Philip Knapp, MD
1971 - Milton Flocks, MD
1972 - William S. Tasman, MD
1973 - Froncie A. Gutman, MD
1974 - Marvin H. Quickert, MD
1975 - Eugene M. Helveston, MD
1976 - Stuart I. Brown, MD
1977 - Paul R. Lichter, MD
1978 - J. Terry Ernest, MD
1979 - George O. Waring, III, MD
1980 - Ronald G. Michels, MD
1981 - H. Dwight Cavanagh, MD
1982 - Jay H. Krachmer, MD
1983 - David L. Guyton, MD
1984 - Norman E. Byer, MD
1985 - Robert R. Waller, MD
1986 - Myles M. Behrens, MD
1987 - Thom J. Zimmerman, MD
1988 - Mark S. Blumenkranz, MD
1989 - Richard L. Anderson, MD
1990 - Peter J. Savino, MD
1991 - Charles P. Wilkinson, MD
1992 - Burton J. Kushner, MD
1993 - Richard L. Lindstrom, MD
1994 - Roy W. Beck, MD
1995 - A. Linn Murphree, MD
1996 - Robert Ritch, MD
1997 - Robert N. Weinreb, MD
1998 - Gary N. Holland, MD
1999 - Neil M. Bressler, MD
2000 - Eugene de Juan, Jr., MD
2001 - R. Doyle Stulting, MD
2002 - Hans E. Grossniklaus, MD
2003 - Paul Sternberg, Jr., MD
2004 - Carl B. Camras, MD
2005 - Peter J. McDonnell, MD
2006 - Sherwin J. Isenberg, MD
2007 - Phillip J. Rosenfeld, MD, PhD
2008 - Andrew P. Schachat, MD
2009 - Marco A. Zarbin, MD, PhD
2010 - Eve Higginbotham, MD
2011 - David Abramson, MD
2012 - Todd P. Margolis, MD, PhD
2013 - Julia A. Haller, MD
2014 - Alfredo A. Sadun, MD, PhD
2015 - Lois E.H. Smith, MD, PhD
2016 - Russell N. Van Gelder, MD, PhD
2017 – Daniel F. Martin, MD
2018 – Carol L. Shields, MD
2019 – Paul P. Lee, MD, JD
2020 - Anthony P. Adamis, MD
2021 - James Chodosh, MD, MPH
2022 - Eduardo C. Alfonso, MD and Mark W. Johnson, MD
2023 - Janey L. Wiggs, MD, PhD
2024 - Michael F. Chiang, MD
2025 - Jennifer I. Lim, MD