Kathryn Nelson, OD, Continues Her Sweep of Regional Awards and is Named Southern California Optometrist of the Year

February 2011

United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) Kaiser Permanente Association of Southern California Optometrists (KPASCO) Member and Kaiser Woodland Hills standout optometrist Dr. Kathryn Nelson, OD has been named Southern California Permanente Medical Group Optometrist of Year. This follows her receipt of the Jayne Setterberg Memorial Award for Excellence with colleague Pamela Yamek, NP in 2010.

"As someone who has been involved with KPASCO since its inception, I am proud to have Kathryn as a fellow UNAC/UHCP KPASCO member. She is a great representative for the profession of Optometry and also as a union activist," stated Mary Cavanaugh, OD, staff representative for KPASCO with UNAC/UHCP.

Dr. Nelson is an active member in the Los Angeles Junior League, a public service organization where she has planned an event for women with HIV and another for low income teenagers to encourage healthy eating and exercise. She also has helped her spouse organize trips to perform reconstructive surgery for individuals born with deformities in countries such as Haiti and Cambodia. Within her field, Dr. Nelson has organized trips with ophthalmologists and students to India, Haiti, and New Orleans. She has lobbied local legislators in support of optometry related bills. And she is the local KPASCO representative.

In addition to the impressive extra work Dr. Nelson does in her spare time, she is known as being incredibly kind to her patients and good at her job. UNAC/UHCP congratulates Dr. Nelson on the latest recognition of her accomplishments.