Dr. Jack L. Schaeffer

Biographic Summary:

Dr. Schaeffer is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Schaeffer Eye Center, one of Alabama’s largest optometric practices with 13 locations, more than 90 employees and 15 doctors in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa. Schaeffer Eye Center specializes in providing Alabamians with high quality eye care by experienced doctors and technicians. Other features of the business include Schaeffer LaserVision, comprehensive contact lens services, high fashion eyewear and sunglasses.

Dr. Schaeffer has significantly contributed to the progress and growth of the Optometry industry nationwide. He is currently president of the Optometric Dry Eye Society, and he recently authored a miniseries on the history of contact lenses and the Contact Lens Specialty Practice. In 2007, he was the chair of the Cornea and Contact Lens Section of the American Optometric Association, and was the official national spokesperson during several contact lens solution recalls that year. He was an Executive Associate Editor of the International Contact Lens Leadership Summit organized by Eye and Contact Lens Journal. He is president and founder of the Alabama Eye Network, co-president of Vision Partners-Contact Lens and founder of Research Eye Care Management Group. He also cofounded the Contact Lens and Anterior Segment Society, which was comprised of the top 40 Eyecare Leaders throughout the United States. Dr. Schaeffer lectures internationally on anterior segment eye disease and ocular surface diseases, and serves on multiple industry advisory boards as well as Vision Expo academic advisory boards.

Having built his practice from the ground up to its current 13 locations, Dr. Schaeffer has earned many accolades for his entrepreneurial successes. Some of his professional accolades include Birmingham Business Journal’s 2008 Health Care Heroes Award for Health Care Executive, Eye Care Business Magazine’s Retailer of the Year Award, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce’s Man of the Year, Birmingham Business Journal’s Who’s Who in Health Care and Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

While Dr. Schaeffer has contributed greatly to the clinical and professional eye care arena throughout Alabama and beyond, many know him equally well for his dedication to the community. Dr. Schaeffer has made a concerted effort to use his leadership skills and resources to improve the social and business culture of Birmingham and the State of Alabama. He recently created the Schaeffer Diabetes Fund to send children to a special summer camp to learn how to live with their disease. Part of the campaign is to increase awareness for Southeastern Diabetes Education Services, which facilitates the camps each year. Dr. Schaeffer was named the 2004 National Honoree by the Diabetes Trust Foundation for his contributions and dedication to the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. He was awarded the Jesse J. Lewis Community Service Award by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, and was named Man of the Year by the Southern Women’s Committee in 1999.