Following his recent admission as a Fellow of the American Academy, we speak with Mr Don Williams about achieving FAAO, what Fellowship represents, and the unusual distinction of now holding professional Fellowship in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
Congratulations on becoming an FAAO. What exactly does this mean?
Thank you. FAAO stands for Fellowship of the American Academy.
Fellowship of the Academy (USA) signifies meeting the American Academy’s highest standards of professional competence through a rigorous process of professional submission, peer review and oral examination.
I was formally conferred as a Fellow at Academy 2026 in Anaheim, California, which was a very proud moment for me.
You were already a Fellow in the UK. Does this mean you now hold dual Fellowship?
Yes. I was awarded Fellowship of the College, FCOptom, in the United Kingdom in 2020, and I now also hold Fellowship of the American Academy, FAAO, in the United States.
So I now hold:
FCOptom (UK) • FAAO (USA)
Holding Fellowship within respected professional institutions on both sides of the Atlantic is an uncommon and particularly distinguished achievement.
The two Fellowships come from different professional systems and have different routes to recognition, which makes holding both especially meaningful to me.
How significant is FAAO within the ophthalmic field?
FAAO is a highly respected professional distinction internationally.
It is not simply a course or another academic degree. Candidates are required to demonstrate their professional work and clinical reasoning, have that work independently reviewed, and successfully complete an oral examination which I sat on the 1st October 2026.
For me, that independent professional scrutiny is an important part of what gives Fellowship its value.
What did your Fellowship assessment involve?
My pathway was predominantly clinical.
I submitted advanced clinical case work involving ophthalmic laser procedures, particularly Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for ocular hypertension and glaucoma and Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.
At the oral examination in Anaheim, I had to discuss and defend my clinical reasoning before a panel of Doctors, Academy Fellows.
That included not simply explaining what I had done, but why I had made those decisions, what evidence supported them, what alternative approaches could reasonably have been considered and what I had learned from the cases.
Was the oral examination difficult?
It was very challenging, but it was also an excellent professional experience. The wait in the holding room was particularly nerve-racking…!
What impressed me was that it was not simply about recalling facts. The discussion explored clinical judgement, evidence, professional reasoning and the philosophy behind the way I practise.
One of the most valuable things the Fellowship process taught me is that there is a difference between making a clinical decision and being able to rigorously defend that decision.
That level of reflection has been extremely valuable.
What does holding both FCOptom and FAAO mean to you personally?
It is a rare achievement within the sphere of eyecare/ophthalmology/optometry.
My professional career has developed within the UK, particularly through advanced ophthalmic practice, glaucoma and specialist eye care. To have that complemented by professional Fellowship of the American Academy is something I am extremely proud of.
Dual Fellowship across the UK and United States represents professional recognition on both sides of the Atlantic.
It is a rare distinction and, for me, represents many years of clinical practice, postgraduate education, professional development and a continuing commitment to improving patient care.
Did anything particularly strike you about eye doctors in the United States?
Yes. There is a very strong professional identity around optometry/ophthalmology/eye doctors in the United States.
What was particularly striking was the clear professional hierarchy within the American eye care profession. Among the Doctors, there are distinct levels of experience, expertise and professional recognition, ranging from newly qualified ODs (Doctors) through to Fellows and, at the highest specialist level, Diplomates. Fellowship and Diplomate status are held in particularly very high regard, and areas of specialist expertise are much more clearly defined and recognised. There is a strong sense that clinical experience, advanced training and specialist achievement are valued as meaningful stages of professional progression.
It was fascinating to discuss advanced UK practice with American colleagues/doctors, particularly my work in glaucoma and ophthalmic laser procedures.
There is a great deal that the professions on both sides of the Atlantic can learn from one another.
Will your involvement with the American Academy continue?
Absolutely..!
For me, becoming an FAAO is not the end of the process. I want to participate in the Academy rather than simply hold the postnominal.
I am particularly interested in becoming involved with relevant Special Interest Groups and Sections, including those relating to glaucoma and ophthalmic laser procedures, and I would like to contribute educationally at future Academy meetings.
I am also interested in strengthening professional links between eyecare in the UK and United States.
You are also studying Artificial Intelligence. How does that fit into your future work with the Academy?
This is an area I am particularly excited about.
Alongside my clinical work, I am completing an MA in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Southampton, and my interest is increasingly focused on how AI can be safely introduced into clinical and primary eye care. The Masters in Artificial Intelligence, when successful would be my third Master’s degree. Remember, I also hold dual Masters clinical degree and that in itself is an extremely rare achievement in my field as these clinical Masters take three years each!
Interestingly, I could not identify a dedicated Academy Special Interest Group specifically focused on the clinical introduction, governance and deployment of artificial intelligence in primary eye care.
That is an area where I would be very interested in contributing to the Academy in the future.
My interest is not AI for its own sake. It is about how rapidly developing technology can be translated into safe, evidence-based and accountable clinical care, with appropriate validation, governance and human oversight.
What comes next?
Clinically, I remain very committed to advanced ophthalmic/ophthalmology practice, particularly glaucoma, ocular disease and specialist eye care.
Academically, my interests will increasingly bring together clinical ophthalmology, education, research and responsible artificial intelligence.
Within the American Academy, I hope to become an active Fellow, contribute to relevant professional groups and potentially present at future meetings.
I may also consider the American Diplomate pathway in Glaucoma in the future. I am, as you know, a Glaucoma Diplomate (Specialist) in the UK which is the highest specialist glaucoma qualification in my field. I may have to move to the US to complete the American version!
For the moment, however, I am simply very proud to have reached this point.
Finally, how would you summarise what dual Fellowship represents?
For me, it is best expressed simply:
FCOptom (UK) • FAAO (USA)
Two Fellowships. Two professional systems. Recognition on both sides of the Atlantic.
Holding Fellowship in both the United Kingdom and the United States is an uncommon professional distinction and one that I feel extremely privileged to have achieved.
It is not simply about the letters after my name. It represents clinical excellence, professional scrutiny, lifelong learning and a responsibility to continue contributing to the profession. It also gives me a ‘licence’ to share and learn from the American Doctors.
Congratulations to Mr Don Williams FAAO FCOptom ACP (Ophthalmology) Director and Lead Clinician at Edgbaston Eye Clinic…