Young Optometrist of the Year

The Young Optometrist of the Year Award is presented to an optometrist who has been in practice less then 10 years and has shown leadership in the areas of service to optometry, service to the visual welfare of the public and who has demonstrated a commitment to public service. Nominations are submitted by WOA members which are then reviewed by an Awards Committee.  The award is given to the doctor who best meets the criteria listed above.  The WOA Young Optometrist of the Year is then nominated for the AOA Young Optometrist award the following year.

Dr. Brandon Begotka
2012 Young Optometrist of the Year

Dr. Brandon Begotka of Brookfield, WI was presented with the 2012 Young Optometrist of the Year Award on September 28 at the Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA) Convention and Annual Meeting in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. This award is presented to one outstanding doctor each year that has been in practice for less than 10 years. The award recognizes the doctor’s exceptional service to optometry, dedication to the visual welfare of the public, and service to the community.

After being recruited as WOA Milwaukee Optometric Society President by another WOA member doctor on his very first day in optometric practice, Dr. Begotka has maintained an active involvement in the efforts of both the Association and organized optometry in Wisconsin. He remains Milwaukee Optometric Society President and has also served as a delegate for Wisconsin at the 2010, 2011, and 2012 American Optometric Association House of Delegates at AOA’s Optometry’s Meeting®. He is a member of the Wisconsin Optometric Association, American Optometric Association, College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) and the Optometric Extension Program (OEP).

A leader beyond his involvement with the WOA, Dr. Begotka is the Program Director for the Great Lakes Congress of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation and is on the Board of Directors of the Vision Leads Foundation. He has published several articles in both scientific and optometric journals and has delivered several notable lectures on the topics of vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation to students and doctors of optometry. Dr. Begotka has also fostered interest in optometry as a career by having optometry students frequently shadow him in his office. In fact, Dr. Begotka’s brother Tristan is currently in optometry school.

Dr. Begotka has demonstrated his concern for the public’s visual welfare by becoming a Class A volunteer for the Special Olympics Opening Eyes Program in Wisconsin. He has also given lectures to rehabilitation centers on neuro-optometric rehabilitation and for teacher in-service/parent teacher organizations on learning-related vision problems. He is an active member of his church, is active in his homeowners’ association, organized the first annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in the town of Waterford, WI, has volunteered for the Lighthouse Youth Center in Milwaukee, and is a 15-year volunteer for the Summer Sizzle Jazz Festival in Milwaukee.

Dr. Begotka lives in the Milwaukee area with his wife Tammie and their infant son Broden. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, boating, and playing guitar in the all-optometrist band 3 Degree Shed.

*** The Young Optometrist of the Year Award is presented to one outstanding doctor each year who has been in practice for less than 10 years.  The award recognizes the doctor’s exceptional service to optometry, dedication to the visual welfare of the public, and service to the community.   

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