J Lawton Smith Award Recipient

J Lawton Smith was one of the original founders of the COS. He was globally well known as a neuroophthalmologist who was charismatic in practice and his faith!

The J Lawton Smith Award is given out each year at the COS Annual Meeting to an ophthalmologist who has shown a lifetime commmitment to serving the Lord through their personal practice of excellence in medicine, academic influence, and/or missionary dedication.

The Power of Salvation for All Who Believed

Recipient:

Dan Gold, MD

Home:

Palestine, TX

Specialty:

General ophthalmology

Award Year:

2018

“There are many doctors who happen to be Christians. But we are called to be Christians who happen to be doctors. Stay focused on your true identity, and the rest will take care of itself.”
quote from Dr Dan Gold

Dr. Dan Gold is a hero of mine and a well-deserving recipient of the J. Lawton Smith Award. His life is marked with an unwavering commitment to the advancement of the Gospel. And it is this focus that has made such a profound impact on my life.

While on my first international mission trip with Dan in Jordan, I saw for the first time a blind man have his sight restored. But even more impactful was watching this Jewish Christian doctor talk about having his “spiritual sight” restored through Jesus Christ to a predominantly Muslim country. With great courage and resolve, he shared his testimony every morning to his post-op patients and their families. No one came into the clinic for surgery without hearing the Gospel. As Paul states in Romans 1:16-17, I saw a life unashamed of the Gospel believing it was the “power of salvation for all who believed!”

I continued to observe this lifestyle when I joined his clinic in Texas. I saw Dan completely devoted to his staff, patients, and community. His love and heart for service were clearly noted by all of his employees, myself chief among them. His office and city were his local mission field, and he seemingly did not miss a day to model a life and love sold-out for God. I’ve watched him meet with local pastors and government leaders to discuss ways to improve Christian mentoring for our local schools. I’ve seen him travel around Texas to provide free eye surgeries to those in need. And I’ve seen him diligently work to provide the highest quality eyecare around for his neighbors and community.

I could reference countless moments where I have seen Dan model Godliness as a physician. His life is so consistent with one of the greatest lessons he has ever taught me. When stressed by the weight of medical school and looming responsibilities of residency, he paused and reminded me not to forget my identity. “There are many doctors who happen to be Christians. But we are called to be Christians who happen to be doctors. Stay focused on your true identity, and the rest will take care of itself.” I have never forgotten that. Our highest aim is to see God glorified and his Kingdom advanced throughout all nations! Praise the Lord he allows to do that through ophthalmology. And I am thankful to have such an incredible, consistent mentor like Dan Gold to follow.

-written by Mark Gold

JLS Award Recipients

Year	Name
1992	Ronald Seely, MD
1993	Hollis W Clark, MD
1994	Norval E Christy, MD
1995	David G Haney, MD
1996	Van Joffrion, MD
1997	Margaret Brand, MD
1998	Jack C Cooper, MD
1999	J James Rowsey, MD
2000	Curtis D Benton, Jr, MD
2001	Lowell Gess, MD
2002	Glen Brindley, MD
2002	Bill Rowlett, MD
2003	Frank Winter, MD
2004	J Donald M Gass, MD
2005	Roger DeHaven, MD
2006	John Costin, MD
2007	Bill Jarrett
2008	Juan Batlle, MD
2009	William Conrad, MD
2010	James P Gills, MD
2011	Robert Serros, MD
2012	Paul Palmberg, MD
2013	Brad Farris, MD
2014	Enoch Tsai, MD
2015	Bert Bowden, MD
2016	George Chin, MD
2017	Kyle Smith, MD
2018	Dan Gold, MD
2019	Glenn Strauss, MD
2020	Jono Pons, MD
2021	Robert Rice, MD
2022	Jacob Prabhakar, MD
2023	Mike Siatkowski, MD