APAO Achievement Awards Scheme

Individuals who have registered for the APAO Online Membership are entitled to participate in the Achievement Award Program. This program is set up to recognize individuals for their time and contribution to the scientific programs of the APAO congresses. The program is based on a cumulative point system and there are 3 categories of achievement awards:

1. Achievement Award (10 points)
2. Senior Achievement Award (30 points)
3. Life Achievement honor Award (60 points)

The Point System

The categories of contribution for participation in the annual congress include:

1. Invited symposium presentation
2. Instruction course presentation
3. Subspecialty Day presentation
4. Film or video production*
5. Scientific paper presentation*
6. Scientific poster presentation*

*Both authors and coauthors are awarded points toward the Achievement Award Program.

One point is awarded per category of contribution. An individual can earn a maximum of four points per congress. For example, an individual presenting two symposium talks, one instruction course, one video, one scientific paper, and one scientific poster during the annual congress would receive a total of four points, one point for the symposium talk, one point for the instruction course, one point for the video, and one point for the scientific paper. The individual would not receive a fifth point for the poster or the additional symposium talk.

Achievement Awards Nomination Process

Individuals who accumulate the required number of points are automatically nominated and presented to the APAO Awards Selection Committee. A two-thirds majority vote of the committee is required to approve an individual for an Achievement Award. Recipients are notified before the annual congress.

Receiving an Achievement Award

Each recipient receives an award certificate and his/her photograph appears in the Annual Congress Final Program.