June 6, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, AL — John F. Amos, O.D., has been named dean of the UAB School of Optometry, announced Eli Capilouto, acting provost at UAB. Amos has served as interim dean since October 2000.

“Dr. Amos’ leadership of the school for the past two years has been exemplary. One measure of Dr. Amos’ abilities is that he led the school through its reaccreditation by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education,” Capilouto said. “We continue to be one of the top funded research schools of optometry in the country and the students who seek their professional education from the school are some of the very best in the nation. Dr. Amos also has been successful in leading effective development campaigns to secure critical external financial support to make possible the ongoing renovations of the school’s teaching clinics.”

Prior to being named interim dean, Amos served six years as the chair of the department of optometry and director of professional programs for the school. Amos joined UAB in 1972. He has held a number of administrative positions within the school including chief of the Family Practice Optometry Residency Program, director of Optometry Residency Programs, Chief of Primary Vision Care Services and co-director of the externship program.

“In the 30 years that I have been at UAB, I always have been impressed with the high quality research, education and clinical service that we expect of ourselves,” Amos said. “We have made changes within the school recently to ensure that we continue that legacy of excellence.”

Amos earned his bachelor’s degree and doctorate from the Illinois College of Optometry. He also holds a master’s degree in physiological optics from Indiana University.

The author/editor of more than 100 scientific writings, Amos has served in a number of capacities nationally including as referee for the Journal of the American Optometric Association, chair of the Clinical Care Center of the American Optometric Association, member of the organization’s Clinical Guidelines Coordinating Committee, member of the Association of Schools and Colleges Board of Directors and chair of the Clinical Affairs Committee and a member of the American Academy of Optometry’s Ellerbrock Memorial Continuing Education committee.

His excellence as an educator/administrator/researcher has earned him numerous national awards including the 1994 American Optometric Association’s National Optometrist of the Year, the 1999 Presidential Medal of Honor from the Illinois College of Optometry, the 2000 Distinguished Scholar Medal from the National Academy of Practice in Optometry and the 2003 Distinguished Service Award from the American Optometric Association, which will be presented June 19th at the Annual Congress of the association.