Celebrate his life’s work with a donation

Robert A. Copeland Jr., MD, chairman of the ophthalmology department at Howard University College of Medicine and a leader in advocacy, died unexpectedly on April 11, 2016.

Dr. Copeland stressed the impact of advocacy on patient care. At Howard, he required all residents to attend the American Academy of Ophthalmology Mid-Year Forum. He believed that being a steward for patient care requires not only clinical excellence, but also playing an active role in shaping how health care is managed in the United States. “We advocate daily for our patients and individuals less fortunate, who need our intervention to make a situation more palpable,” he wrote in an “I Am an Advocate” piece for the Academy. “To advocate for our ophthalmology profession is an honor. When we advocate, we are first advocating for our patients’ safety and well-being.”

To honor his accomplishments and dedication to education, the Academy created the Robert A. Copeland Jr., MD, Advocacy Education Fund. This fund will cover the annual expenses for one resident to attend the Academy’s Mid-Year Forum in Washington, DC. The fund’s annual recipient will be known as The Copeland Fellow.

This fund honors the work and spirit of Dr. Copeland in perpetuity, keeping his passion for resident education alive. To create a permanent endowment fund, our fundraising goal is $50,000.




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