Acers Society

Honoring Thomas E. Acers, MD

Statue outside of DMEIF building

Benefitting Ophthalmology Resident & Fellow Education

The Acers Society was established by alumni of the University of Oklahoma Department of Ophthalmology in the spring of 2004 in recognition of its first full-time chair, Dr. Thomas E. Acers. The Society exists to support ophthalmology resident and fellow education of the highest quality, and its members believe that tomorrow’s ophthalmologists will best serve both patients and the profession through world-class training and supervised clinical experiences.

Acers Society funds are held at the DMEI Foundation and distributed in support of initiatives approved by the Board of the Acers Society.

Membership in the Acers Society is open to graduates of the ophthalmology program at the University of Oklahoma as well as other interested supporters.

Supported Initiatives

Ophthalmology residents and fellows often have educational or personal expenses that are outside their budget. The Acers Society’s primary purpose is to help residents and fellows meet these financial challenges by providing an annual amount against which the residents and fellows can seek reimbursement for approved expenses.

Currently, this annual support is $750 for PGY1 residents and $2,000 for PGY2-PGY4 residents and fellows. With permission, funds can be used for a variety of needs including, but not limited to:

  • Meeting expenses (AAO, ARS, ASCRS, etc.)
  • Clinical texts
  • Clinical and/or educational equipment
  • Fellowship application expenses
  • Activities related to ABO certification
  • Emergency expenses for bereavement travel, unexpected medical expenses, etc.

This support to residents and fellows is a distinguishing feature of the OU Dean McGee Department of Ophthalmology and helps to recruit the best and brightest to the program.

Other supported initiatives include:

  • Tullos O. Coston Lectureship
  • OU Dean McGee Department of Ophthalmology alumni reception at the annual meeting of the AAO
  • Acers Society Annual Reception prior to the Annual Graduation and Awards Dinner

Award being presented at Acers Society event
Acers Society networking event

Acers Society Membership

Membership in the Acers Society is open to graduates of the ophthalmology program at the University of Oklahoma, as well as interested supporters of the program.

If you have questions about joining the Acers Society, please contact the Dean McGee Eye Institute Foundation.

Life Member — One-Time $10,000 Donation

Life Member Pledge (Age 40 and Over)

Make an initial donation of $1,000 on a pledge of $10,000 to join. Life Membership at this level will be billed at $1,000 per year for the remainder of the pledge.

Life Member Pledge (Age 39 and Under)

Make an initial donation of $500 on a pledge of $10,000 to join. Life Membership at this level will be billed at $500 per year until age 39, after which it will be billed at $1,000 per year for the remainder of the pledge.

Annual Member

An initial donation of $250 to enter. Annual Membership will be billed at $250 per year and will be cumulative toward a Life Membership.

Current Resident or Fellow Annual Member

An initial donation of $100 to enter. Annual Membership will be billed at $100 per year during residency or fellowship, and will be cumulative toward Life Membership. Following residency or fellowship, Annual Membership will be billed at $250 per year.

Acers Society Board Members

William S. Clifford, MD, MBA
Chair

Garden City, KS
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Ann Acers-Warn, MD, MBA

Lawton, OK
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Evan J. Allan, MD

Twin Falls, ID
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Donald E. Beahm, MD

Great Bend, KS
Retired

P. Lloyd Hildebrand, MD, FACS

Las Vegas, NV
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James H. Little, MD

Norman, OK
In Loving Memory

Annie Moreau, MD, FACS

Oklahoma City, OK
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W. Stanley Muenzler, MD

Oklahoma City, OK
In Loving Memory

Roland A. Walters, MD

Oklahoma City, OK
Retired

Andrew T. Melson, MD
Ex-Officio

Oklahoma City, OK
View Bio

R. Michael Siatkowski, MD, MBA
Ex-Officio

Oklahoma City, OK
View Bio