Optometrist of the Year

The Optometrist of the Year Award is presented to an optometrist who has been outstanding in serving and representing the profession of optometry.  The nominees are scored in the areas of public service, service to the visual welfare of the public, service to optometry and service to optometric associations.   Nominations are submitted by WOA members and then reviewed by an Awards Committee for selection.  The WOA Optometrist of the Year is then nominated for the AOA Optometrist of the Year award the following year.

Dr. Eric Paulsen
2009 Optometrist of the Year

Dr. Paulsen graduated from Carroll College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in chemistry, and went on to receive his Doctorate Degree in Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1982.

Dr. Paulsen has owned his practice, Door County Eye Associates, Inc., since 1984. He has provided 27 years of independent primary eye care services to the Door County community.

He donates both his services and eyeglasses to the Community Clinic and Head Start program of Door County, and is an active participant in the InfantSEE program for the early detection and treatment of eye problems. For the mobility impaired, he extends his services to nursing homes, the local hospital and patients’ homes. Dr. Paulsen has also made 10 volunteer trips to Mexico and the Dominican Republic through Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH).

Dr. Paulsen’s commitment to educating not only his patients, but the greater Door County community, is evident through his outreach to local students. Students are invited to his practice to learn about the eye exam process and are encouraged to try on glasses. They also learn about the importance of a healthy diet and proper eye hygiene. Dr. Paulsen is available to students who want to learn about running a business and offers internships to interested youth.

An active member of the Rotary Club, Dr. Paulsen holds the position of world community service chair for district 6220, which includes 42 separate clubs. As chair, he has overseen grant writing and the execution of international projects. Dr. Paulsen has been awarded the Paul P. Harris award, one of the highest honors Rotary can bestow upon a person, for outstanding contributions in placing service beyond self.

Dr. Paulsen has served as a board member for the Door County Community Foundation and United Way of Door County. An active member of Hope United Church of Christ, Dr. Paulsen has served on the board of trustees, board of deacons and as chair of the endowment committee. He currently serves on the board of directors for Door County Memorial Hospital.

He is a longstanding, active member of the Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA) and the Northeastern Wisconsin Optometric Society. He and wife Dee live in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. with children Nels and Annika. 

 
The WOA is proud to recognize those young optometrists who have been honored in previous years:

OD of the Year Criteria

OD of the Year Nomination Form