Robert W. Butner, MD, received the Outstanding Humanitarian Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons – more than 27,000 members. Dr. Butner was honored at the opening session of the Academy's Annual Meeting on November 11, 2001, in New Orleans.

Dr. Butner received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University in 1964, and was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. He then went to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where be received his medical degree in 1968. Dr. Butner interned at Tulane University in 1968-1969, then completed his residency and fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in 1975 and 1976, respectively.

Dr. Butner has demonstrated perseverance and commitment to teaching diagnostic and surgical techniques and to improving patient care, primarily in Eastern Europe. Since 1992, Dr. Butner has made several trips to the Balkans, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Zenica, Albania, and Kosovo. Each trip was dedicated to sharing his knowledge and skills with ophthalmologists eager for new information that can be applied to examining and treating wounded patients. During these trips, Dr. Butner traveled without compensation, often at his own expense and in harm’s way, while leaving his practice in Houston for weeks at a time.