Borish Scholars Program

Awarding excellence through the Borish Scholars Program

The Borish Scholars Program was created in 2015 and named in honor of the legendary clinician-scientist, Dr. Irv Borish, one of the founding members of the Indiana University School of Optometry.

Scholars are invited to give a lecture at Indiana University, typically occuring during the weekly Oxyopia Vision Science Seminar. Individual and group interaction with faculty and students also is an emphasis during the visit. Travel expenses and honorarium are provided.

Nominations

Borish Distinguished Scholars are nominated by IU School of Optometry faculty and chosen by the Borish Scholars Selection Committee.

Scholars are selected based on their history of providing major research and scholarly contributions related to vision, patient care, clinical research, and of interest to Indiana University’s mission and education. Up to six scholars are selected each year.

Past Distinguished Borish Scholars

2023-2024

Velia M. Fowler, Ph.D., University of Delaware
Mickey Goldberg, Ph.D., Columbia University Medical Center

2022-2023

Alfredo Dubra, Ph.D., Stanford University
Donald Mutti, OD, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Michael Twa, OD, Ph.D., Houston College of Optometry
John Flanagan, Ph.D., University of California Berkeley

2021-2022

Crawford Downs, Ph.D., University of Alabama
Edward Callaway, Ph.D., The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Richard Mathias, Ph.D., State University of New York, Stony Brook
Christina Master, Ph.D., Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

2020-2021

Due to COVID, there were no recipients this year

2019-2020

Danielle Robertson, O.D., Ph.D., UT Southwestern University
Scott Stevenson, Ph.D., University of Houston, College of Optometry
Laurie Wilcox, Ph.D., York University
Earl Smith, O.D., Ph.D., University of Houston, College of Optometry
Ed Callaway, Ph.D., Salk Institute for Biological Studies

2018-2019

Charles Lin, Ph.D., Harvard University
Robert Massof, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Christine Wildsoet, O.D., Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Randolph Blake, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University

2017–2018

Robert Marc, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Utah
Deborah Ferrington, Ph.D., University of Minnesota
David Huang, M.D., Ph.D., Oregon Health and Science University, Casey Eye Institute
Cynthia Owsley, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., University of Alabama at Birmingham

2016–2017

Christine A. Curcio, Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham
Artur Cideciyan, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Paul Gamlin, Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham
Martin S. Banks, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Nancy McNamara, O.D., Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley; University of California San Francisco

2015–2016

Eli Peli, M.Sc., O.D., Harvard Medical School, Schepens Eye Research Institute
Bruce Cumming, M.D., Ph.D., National Eye Institute
Timothy Kern, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
Gordon Legge, Ph.D., University of Minnesota
Susana Marcos, Ph.D., Instituto de Optica, CSIC