ORLANDO – The Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO), the preeminent professional association for medical and osteopathic doctors who specialize in vision care, is pleased to announce that Richard G. Shugarman, MD, received the Shaler Richardson, MD, Service to Medicine Award at its annual meeting, Masters in Ophthalmology 2012, held June 22-24 in Orlando, FL.

Established in honor of Shaler Richardson, MD, this annual award is presented to a Florida ophthalmologist who has made the greatest personal contribution to quality patient care by coordinating, participating, collaborating, and integrating ophthalmology into the great body of the medical profession on a local, state or national level.

Dr. Shugarman currently owns RGS Medical Services, P.A., and is the founder and president of Palm Beach Eye Associates in Palm Beach County. Governor Rick Scott recently appointed Dr. Shugarman to the Florida Board of Medicine.

Dr. Shugarman has served as the FSO President (2001), and is the recipient of numerous FSO awards including the John R. Brayton, Jr, MD, Leadership Award (2004), The James W. Clower, Jr. MD, Community Service Award (2008), and the President’s Recognition Award (2011).

Dr. Shugarman completed his A.B. at The Johns Hopkins University and his earned his medical degree at the University of Maryland. Dr. Shugarman completed an internship at the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, an ophthalmology residency at The Baltimore Eye, Ear, and Throat Charity Hospital, and a Retinal Diseases Fellowship at the University of Florida-Gainesville.

The mission of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology is to promote and to protect the medical specialty of ophthalmology through active participation in legislative advocacy and through providing continuing medical education and the dissemination of responsible information to its members, physicians and to the citizens of Florida to ensure the delivery of the highest standard of eye care throughout the state of Florida. For more information, visit www.mdeye.org.