OPW Awards

Doctor of Optometry of the Year:

Philip T. Williams, OD

Dr. Philip Williams was born and raised in northeastern Indiana. He attended Indiana University for undergraduate school. He then began his optometric training at Indiana University School of Optometry, where he graduated and received his Doctor of Optometry degree in 1982. Following graduation, he began a one-year residency program at the American Lake Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tacoma, WA. Shortly after completion of that residency program in June 1983, Dr. Williams founded the Alpine Vision Clinic in Smokey Point (Arlington, WA). Dr. Williams is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry.

Dr. Williams’ professional interests include ocular disease management (diabetic eye care, glaucoma, macular degeneration, dry eye and ocular surface disease, cataracts), complicated contact lens cases, refractive procedures, and medical eye emergencies.

Dr. Williams has always been actively involved in organized optometry, serving in various capacities in both the Optometric Physicians of Washington (OPW) and the American Optometric Association (AOA). In the past, he has chaired various OPW committees and currently serves as the Finance and Budget Committee Co-Chair of the OPW. He is also currently serving on the OPW Legislative Committee. Dr. Williams is a past president of the Snohomish County Optometric Society, as well as a past president of the OPW. At the national level, Dr. Williams serves on the Third Party Center Committee of the AOA while also serving as the AOA Federal Advocacy Representative to Washington State.

Dr. Williams lives in Arlington with his wife, Cathy. They have three grown children and five grandchildren. When away from the office, Dr. Williams’ interests include hiking, fishing, basketball, volleyball, scuba diving, working in the yard, and church service.

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Young Doctor of Optometry of the Year:

James Alvarez-Carpenter, OD

Dr. James Alvarez-Carpenter (Dr. JAC) was heavily involved in the Michigan Optometrist Student Association, and knew that wherever he practiced, he would continue his work in advocacy. While in optometry school, he was a volunteer screener at the Special Olympics in Mount Pleasant, MI. He was also involved as a student member of SVOSH, logging over 80 hours, and was involved in the Lions Club for mission trips to Haiti and Dominica.

From 2023 to 2025, Dr. JAC served as President of OPW’s Pierce County Optometric Society (PCOS) with outstanding dedication and passion. Throughout his two years in the role, he cultivated engagement and enthusiasm among PCOS members by organizing various educational sessions, networking events, and communicating regularly about state legislation and federal updates. This included rallying OPW members to advocate for the profession by providing instructions on how to contact local government officials and educate them on the goals of optometry. In 2024, OPW’s Society of the Year was awarded to PCOS under Dr. JAC’s leadership.

Dr. JAC works with many medical and optometry students at Pacific Northwest Eye Associates to improve their understanding of eye health and optometrist role in the bigger picture of health. He also served as an Opening Eyes Mentor for prospective optometry students to understand the profession and the path to admission, graduation, and board certification.

Outside of his optometric career, Dr. JAC enjoys climbing, clamming, and hiking with his wife.

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Jack Hale Lifetime Achievement Award:

Curtis R. Baxstrom, MA, OD, FCOVD, FNORA, FAAO, FANO

Dr. Baxstrom received his OD degree from Pacific University and an M.A. degree in Reading from Seattle Pacific University. He opened a vision therapy/vision rehabilitation practice in Federal Way, WA, in 1992. In addition, he consults at two local rehabilitation hospitals, providing neuro-optometric rehabilitation services. He is also an adjunct professor at Pacific University and is the Director of the Vision Northwest Vision Therapy/Rehabilitation Residency sponsored by Pacific University. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, and the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.

Dr. Baxstrom is actively involved in both COVD and NORA. In 2018, he received the G.N. Getman Award from COVD. He is also a past president of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. He has received the Advancement of Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Award and the William and Diane Ludlam Educator’s Award. In 1989, he was honored with the “Young Optometrist of the Year” award for the state of California.

In his community, he is active in his local Lions Club and has received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award. When not involved in Optometry, he is a climbing instructor and leader for the Mountaineers. He has published multiple articles and lectured at meetings across the globe.

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Robin Cameron Memorial Award:

Shannon Soper Jankowski, OD

Dr. Shannon Soper Jankowski was born and raised in Rockford, IL. She moved to the beautiful Pacific Northwest for college, earning a B.S. in Physics from Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR, in 2012, followed by her Doctorate of Optometry from Pacific University College of Optometry in 2016. Dr. Soper is passionate about eye care as a whole, with a focus on specialty contacts and ocular disease, along with running the practice she works together with her husband.

Dr. Soper has been involved in OPW since her time as an Optometry student. Since graduating, she has been an active member in her SW Society, attending meetings, serving as the previous SW society president, participating in DIO, and helping organize their local SW Eye Symposium. Dr. Soper currently serves as Trustee to OPW’s Olympic and Southwest Societies.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Nick Jankowski, exploring wineries, reading books, playing board games, and traveling whenever possible.

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Society of the Year:

Olympic Society, Michael Wagner, OD

Dr. Michael Wagner was born and raised in Washington State. He attended Washington State University, where he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. After graduation, he moved to Memphis, TN, where he received his Doctor of Optometry degree in 2022.

An active member in both the American Optometric Association (AOA) and Optometric Physicians of Washington (OPW), Dr. Wagner served as President of OPW’s Olympic Society in 2024. During his tenure, he has reinvigorated the society by fostering member engagement through legislative and networking events and is working on organizing educational and community service events.

Dr. Wagner currently serves as Vice President of OPW, continuing his commitment to advancing the profession and supporting his fellow optometric physicians.

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President's Distinguished Service Award:

Myron (Mike) Kreidler, OD, MPH, FAAO

Dr. Mike Kreidler holds a bachelor's degree and a doctor of optometry from Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR. After his US Army service as an optometry officer, he earned a Master of Public Health degree in health administration from the UCLA School of Public Health. 

Dr. Kreidler practiced optometry for 20 years at Group Health Cooperative in the Olympia clinic. In 1973, he was elected to a seat on the North Thurston School Board. He also served in the Washington State Legislature for 16 years and as the eighth State Insurance Commissioner for 24 years.

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Keyperson of the Year:

Sarah Key Storrs, OD

Dr. Sarah Storrs grew up in Yakima, WA, and graduated from Central Washington University with Bachelor degrees in Chemistry and Biology. Dr. Storrs received her Doctor of Optometry from the University of California School of Optometry in 2003. While in optometry school, she was an active member of UCOSA, the optometric student association, Beta Sigma Kappa honor society, and a student member of the American Optometric Association (AOA), American Academy of Optometry (AAO), California Optometric Association (COA), and Optometric Physicians of Washington (OPW).

Dr. Storrs completed a hospital-based residency in primary care at the Fresno, VA Medical Center in July 2004. She started working at Family Eye Clinic shortly after moving back to the Kittitas Valley in August 2004. Dr. Storrs owned the practice from 2007-2025, when Family Eye Clinic merged with Valley Eye and Vision Clinic in Moses Lake and East Wenatchee. Her areas of interest in optometry include ocular disease and working with children and adults with special needs.

Dr. Storrs is the current Trustee of OPW’s Southeast and Yakima Valley Societies and serves on the Washington Optometric Political Action Committee (WOPAC).

Dr. Storrs and her husband Jeremy have two teenage sons, Evan & Trevor. Outside of optometry, Dr. Storrs has been involved with Lions Club, and served on a non-profit board (Kittitas Valley Opportunities) which supports Parent-2-Parent. She enjoys crafting, family walks with our dog Max, and has too many houseplants.

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