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W.A.J. van Heuven, M.D., professor and chair of ophthalmology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, will receive the "People of Vision" award from Prevent Blindness Texas (PBT). The non-profit organization recognizes community leaders who turned their vision for South Texas into a reality.

"This is quite an honor. Prevent Blindness is a wonderful organization and I hope lending my name to it in this way will call attention to all the good work it does," Dr. van Heuven said.

Prevent Blindness Texas provides free vision screening for preschool children, free glaucoma screening for adults, and eye safety programs for schools, farms and athletes. The organization began in 1956 and has traditionally honored business leaders in the San Antonio community. This year, PBT divided the award into the educational/medical sector, the business/civic sector and the charitable sector.

"When we decided to open our award to different areas of the community, Dr. van Heuven was the first person who came to mind for education, hands down," said Jean Thompson, board president of PBT. "Not only has he done his part to educate the community, he's been instrumental in educating us."

Dr. van Heuven will receive the award during a Nov. 1 fund-raising dinner at the Adam's Mark hotel in downtown San Antonio. He has been with the Health Science Center for 19 years and was instrumental in establishing the Lions Sight Research Center and in providing educational programs and research for PBT.



Contact: Will Sansom or Amanda Gallagher