Salus University’s president, Dr. Michael H. Mittelman, was among four doctors of optometry chosen to be inducted into the American Optometric Association (AOA) National Optometry Hall of Fame.
Prior to becoming the university’s sixth president, Dr. Mittelman served with distinction for 33 years in the United States Navy in a succession of increasingly mission-critical command positions, achieving the rank of Rear Admiral (Upper Half) and served as Deputy Surgeon Director.
He was a trailblazer for optometry in the military as the first Navy aerospace optometrist, the first optometrist to command a major naval hospital; the first and only clinician to lead the Navy Medical Service Corps; the first non-medical doctor to serve as a combatant command surgeon in the U.S. Pacific Command; and the first non-medical doctor to serve as the command surgeon for the U.S. Joint Forces.
“I feel extremely honored and humbled to have been selected to join the group of professionals who are part of the National Optometry Hall of Fame,” Dr. Mittelman said. “While it’s my name that is being placed on the plaque, I’d like to dedicate this honor to those men and women in uniform who have served, currently serve and to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure we continue to have the freedoms we all enjoy in this great country today.”