Distinguished Service Award
2023 Distinguished Service Recipient - Michael Bennett, OD
The Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians (OAOP) has awarded Dr. Michael Bennett of Guthrie as the recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Service Award. The award goes to an optometric physician who has shown exemplary leadership within the profession.
After graduating from Northeastern Oklahoma State College of Optometry in 1985, Dr. Bennett worked with eye clinics in Oklahoma City and Midwest City before purchasing his own practice in Guthrie. He is now co-owner of Vision Source Guthrie with Dr. Brian Padgham.
In 2008, Dr. Bennett was elected as a Council Member of the AOA Sports Vision Section and he remained on that Council until 2011, when he was appointed as Chair of the AOA Clinical & Practice Advancement Group Executive Committee. He is a Charter Member of the International Academy of Sports Vision. He also founded the Oklahoma Pioneers in Optometry Hall of Fame.
Dr. Bennett has been active in the OAOP for decades. He has served as the chair of the OAOP Congress Committee and a one-year term as president of the OAOP. He has been recognized in the past as both a Young Optometric Physician of the Year and Oklahoma Optometric Physician of the Year. He also founded the Oklahoma Pioneers in Optometry Hall of Fame.
“Dr. Bennett is a giant in the field of Oklahoma optometry,” said OAOP Executive Director Joel Robison. “He has helped to grow our association in size and influence, contributed to the medical science of clinical optometry, and changed the lives of countless patients for the better. No one is more deserving of this career achievement award than him.”
Dr. Bennett has been married to his wife and high school sweetheart, Kim, for almost 45 years They have two children and four grandchildren. He says that, of all the many titles he’s even been given, “Papaw” is his favorite.
Past Honorees
2022- Jari Frazier
2021- Tami Ross
2020- Michelle Welch
2019- Dawn Holsted
2018- Jeff D. Miller
2017- Richard Castillo
2016- Travis Yadon
2015- Greg Clay
2014- Lee Carr
2013- Don Diehl
2012- David Cockrell
2011- Russell Laverty
2010- Mack Smith
2009 - George Foster
2008 - Don Q. Hewett
2007 - Gary Ford
