Apollo Award
2025 Apollo Award - Morton Comprehensive Health Services Optometry Department
The Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians (OAOP) has selected the Morton Comprehensive Health Services Optometry Department in Tulsa, led by Dr. Amber Shakeel, as the recipient of its 2025 Apollo Award, the organization’s highest public-service honor.
The Apollo Award is presented each year to an individual or organization outside OAOP whose work has made a major difference in protecting and improving the eye health of Oklahomans. Morton’s team exemplifies that mission through their daily commitment to providing accessible, affordable care to people who often have nowhere else to turn.
Dr. Shakeel and her staff see patients of all ages, offering essential eye exams, monitoring for serious conditions, and connecting people with follow-up medical care when needed. The clinic welcomes uninsured and underinsured patients, offers a sliding-scale payment system, participates in community events, and brings vision screenings directly to schools and neighborhoods to reduce barriers like transportation.
Their impact is reflected in stories like that of a young father who arrived nearly blind due to unmanaged diabetes and severe vision problems. In a single visit, Morton provided temporary glasses so he could drive his daughter home safely, arranged permanent eyewear at no cost, and helped connect him with medical care to address his diabetes — restoring not only his sight, but his independence.
Over the past six years, Morton has invested more than $500,000 in free or reduced-cost vision services, reaching more than 14,000 Oklahomans through screenings, vouchers, and community outreach.
As Dr. Shakeel notes, “Eye care for the community is essential to ensure that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, has access to the services and resources necessary to maintain their vision health. It’s not just about treating eye disease — it’s about prevention, education, and access to affordable care.”
For their dedication to meeting people where they are and ensuring that every patient is treated with dignity, the OAOP proudly presents the 2025 Apollo Award to Dr. Amber Shakeel and the Morton Optometry Department.
Past Honorees
2024 - Hearts That Care Volunteer Health Clinic
2023 - Tulsa Downtown Lions Club
2022 - Good Samartian Health Services
2019 - Mary Walker
2018 – NSUOCO Bedlam Clinic
2017 – Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes
2016 – Vizavance
2015 – AGAPE Medical Clinic
2014 – NewView Oklahoma
2012 – Congressman Dan Boren
2011 – Little Light House
2009 – Tom Sullivan
2008 – Prevent Blindness Oklahoma
2007 – Lions Club of Oklahoma
