Award Winning Doctors

2022 OPW Award Winners

Awards presented at the 2022 OPW Convention

Optometrist of the Year - Judy Chan, OD

Dr Chan, who has just completed her term as past president and years of board service. Chan exemplifies professionalism, leadership and service to the community. Her leadership has been vital to advancing OPW as an organization and the profession through OPW's scope efforts in Olympia.

Young Optometrist of the Year - Jessica Kennedy, OD

As president of the King County West society, Dr. Kennedy was instrumental in helping the group transition to online activities during the pandemic, including organizing key engagements with area legislators. She has also championed various philanthropic events, including the Special Olympics and USA Games. Nominees describe Dr. Kennedy as a proactive cheerleader for public health at her own office, Roosevelt Vision, where she lead the team in finding appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine, participating in information sharing and providing facts about the vaccine to reduce vaccine hesitancy among staff and patients.  

President's Distinguished Service Award: Nick Jankowski, OD

Vice president and head clinician at Mt. View Eye Care Center in Vancouver, Dr Jankowski has demonstrated remarkable leadership this past year as OPW's Legislative Co-Chair. He also served as the primary author of OPW's sunrise report to the Department of Health, a document that has been integral to advancing the association's scope legislation this legislative session. Jankowski regularly attends OPW's Day in Olympia and makes consistent efforts to connect with legislators from his home district and others from around the state. He is also active in advancing the profession, organizing the SW Eye Symposium; collecting glasses for and is an active member of the Lions Club; and traveling to Alaska to provide care to rural and underserved communities.

Jack Hale Award:  Ted Kadet, OD 

Dr. Kadet has made his community a better place not just for his own child, but also for other families of children with special needs. Taking a cue from a Boy Scouts of America guidebook on serving youth with disabilities, Dr. Ted Kadet created a Boy Scout Troop that met the needs of his own family and so many more in the Seattle area, eventually recruiting other families from his son's special-needs school. Kadet's service to his community, as well as significant service to the association as a trustee and various committee chairs, made him an outstanding choice for this year's award.