UMSL Resident Wins National Award

Congratulations to Rob Ensley, OD who won the George Mertz Contact Lens Residency Award. A prestigious award that is given to two residents each year.

The George Mertz Contact Lens Residency Award is intended to promote the practice and development of the field of contact lenses by providing incentive and support to talented optometric residents who demonstrate a passion and commitment to practice, research, and education.

Dr. Ensley is a 2013 graduate from the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry and the current Contact Lens Resident for the College of Optometry.

The award is given by the American Academy of Optometry in partnership with VISTAKON gives a total six awards each year.

Dr. Rob Ensley, OD

Dr. Ensley will receive a monetary award, plaque and a travel fellowship to assist with attending the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Optometry in Denver later this year. At the meeting a annual celebration luncheon will be held and at that time Ensley will be presented with a plaque.

Dr. Julie DeKinder, Director of Residencies and Chief of Contact Lens Service for the College of Optometry believes Ensley was an outstanding choice for this award. "His recommendation letter was easy to write, because he has excelled as a resident. Dr. Ensley has given several lectures and grand round presentations to the students and faculty, presented three posters at various optometric meetings, and been involved in clinical research; all of which made him the ideal candidate," she said.

Ensley is the first UMSL resident to receive this prestigious award.

The VISTAKON Residency Awards are intended to promote post-graduate optometric clinical education by supporting residents who demonstrate talent and commitment in the field of children's vision and contact lenses. These are highly competitive fellowships with the recipients being selected by the American Optometric Foundation.

NGP

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