Congratulations to Our 2025 Award Winners
Celebrating industry professionals. Take a moment to check out our recent award winners and get a glimpse of past awardees.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Phillip Williams, OD
Born and raised just north of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Dr. Williams graduated from Carroll High School in 1975 and went on to earn both his undergraduate and Doctor of Optometry degrees from Indiana University in 1982. He completed an optometric residency at the American Lake VA Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington, and shortly thereafter founded Alpine Vision Clinic in Arlington, where he has proudly served patients as a solo practitioner for more than 40 years.
Dr. Williams has been a steadfast member of the American Optometric Association for 47 years and the Optometric Physicians of Washington for 43 years. His service includes roles as OPW President, Board of Trustees member, Public Relations Chair, and long-time Legislative Committee member since 2012. He continues to give back as Finance Committee Co-Chair, State Legislative Keyperson, and Federal Advocacy Representative for Washington State.
In 2014, Dr. Williams achieved Board Certification from the American Board of Optometry and remains an active ABO Diplomate—a testament to his dedication to lifelong learning and clinical excellence.
OD of the Year Award
Dr. Jacquie Bowen, OD
It is our honor to recognize Dr. Jacquie M. Bowen as the 2025 Great Western Council of Optometry Optometrist of the Year.
Dr. Bowen’s career is a remarkable example of leadership, dedication, and service to our profession. Elected to the AOA Board of Trustees in 2016, she was installed as President of the American Optometric Association in 2025—an extraordinary achievement that reflects her unwavering commitment to advancing optometry nationwide.
In her role on the AOA Board, Dr. Bowen has served as a member of the Executive Committee and Advocacy Roundtable, and as liaison to numerous organizations and educational institutions across North America, including the American Academy of Optometry, the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, and several schools and colleges of optometry.
Her leadership journey began in Colorado, where she served as President of the Colorado Optometric Association and received multiple honors, including Young Optometrist of the Year, Optometrist of the Year, and the Distinguished Service Award. In 2024, she was named one of Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optical.
A graduate of the Southern California College of Optometry, Dr. Bowen has provided exceptional patient care in her Greeley, Colorado community for over 30 years. Beyond her professional excellence, she is deeply devoted to her family—her husband Doug, their sons Ryley and Jadyn, daughter-in-law Loran, and their granddaughter Phoebe.