June 18, 2018 – Florida Eye Associates today announced that L. Neal Freeman, MD MBA FACS, received the Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO) James W. Clower, Jr., MD Community Service Award during its annual meeting held earlier this month. The award recognizes a Florida-based ophthalmologist who has made the greatest contribution of time and service to the community.

“It is a tremendous honor to have been nominated and selected for this distinguished award,” said. Dr. Freeman.

Dr. Freeman is a fellowship-trained ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Florida Eye Associates in Melbourne. In addition to his clinical practice, he is the Chair of the Coding and Third-Party Liaison Committee of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology and has been a member of FSO’s Board of Directors since 2011. Dr. Freeman also serves as the ophthalmology specialty representative to the Florida Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee. He instructs and consults on all aspects of medical coding, billing, reimbursement, and auditing processes.

Dr. Freeman, a Michigan native, earned a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction from the Cornell University College of Engineering. He was admitted to the University of Michigan Medical School one year in advance and graduated with distinction. He completed a residency in ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University and a fellowship of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Freeman also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Central Florida. He is Chairman of the Ophthalmology Section at Holmes Regional Medical Center.

Dr. Freeman is a two-time recipient of the Secretariat Award of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and earned the Academy’s Achievement Award for his instructional efforts. He was granted both the Outstanding Contribution Award and the Orkan Stasior Leadership Award by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, for which he serves as the Chair of the Coding and Reimbursement Committee. In addition, to his many accolades, Dr. Freeman has completed more than twenty volunteer surgical missions around the world with Surgical Eye Expeditions International.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Freeman on this tremendous honor!