Kelly Kerksick, OD ’02, received the Young Alumni Award from Southern College of Optometry (SCO) during the college’s annual convocation ceremony on Thursday, October 4 in Memphis. The award is presented to SCO alumni who have graduated within the last 10 years and have demonstrated a commitment to service, leadership and support of the college’s mission.

Following her graduation from SCO in 2002, Dr. Kerksick founded Midwest Vision Care in Columbia, Illinois. She serves as a Key Opinion Leader for Bausch & Lomb and Vistakon. In addition to lecturing internationally on a variety of subjects, she serves as chief editor of New O.D., an online optometric publication.

Dr. Kerksick also serves on the advisory panel for Optometric Management magazine and has been published in a number of publications, including the Wall Street Journal. She has served as a clinical examiner for the National Board of Optometry and as a faculty member for The Vision Care Institute in Jacksonville, Florida. She also serves as Director of Professional Services for Vision Source, a premier organization for optometrists in private practice.

Dr. Kerksick is pictured receiving her award from Dr. Richard W. Phillips, president of Southern College of Optometry.