Melvin L. Rubin, MD, died peacefully at home on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. Dr. Rubin served ARVO as an RE Section Trustee, as well as president (1979).

Dr. Rubin was a member of the ophthalmology faculty at the University of Florida College of Medicine from 1963 to 1995, when, after 17 years as chairman, he stepped down but continued to hold the Richardson Eminent Scholar Chair. He became professor emeritus in 1997.

His clinical areas of interest were in the areas of retinal diseases, optics and refraction. A clinician, investigator and administrator, he made a lifelong commitment to education, which included the creation and establishment of the annual Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program, or OKAP. He lectured extensively, presented over 20 named lectures, and wrote more than 100 scientific publications as well as seven textbooks "” one of which won an "AMMY" from the American Medical Writers Association as the best medical book of the year.

Throughout his career, he received a number of significant national honors, inlcuding having the Florida Society of Ophthalmology name an annual lectureship for him. He has served on the board of directors and as president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and later served as president of the Foundation of the AAO. In addition to his membership and service with ARVO, Dr. Rubin served on the board of directors and as chairman of the American Board of Ophthalmology and on the Council of the American Ophthalmological Society.