Matt Lesser

Sen. Lesser Honored By Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians for His Leadership in Improving Healthcare Statewide

Lesser, State Reps. Scanlon and Steinberg Honored by CSEP

PLANTSVILLE, CT – Today, from the Aqua Turf Club, state Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) was honored by the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians (CSEP) with the society’s 2019 CSEP Star Award.

The senator received the award for his “dedication and leadership to improving healthcare in Connecticut,” according to the CSEP. Sen. Lesser, who is the Senate Chair of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said he is honored to receive the award.

“If I had known that the first year I wore glasses I’d get an award from the Eye Doctors, I’d have put them on years ago,” said Sen. Lesser. “Healthcare is a right not a privilege, and yet across Connecticut families are struggling to get access to the healthcare they need. Some families lack insurance all together, but an increasing number of families are underinsured, facing high deductibles they can’t afford to pay to get the care they need. Reforming healthcare will never been an easy task, but I’m proud to be in the arena – because states have viral work to do. I’m honored to receive this award from the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians and work with them towards common sense pro consumer reform.”

Sen. Lesser received the honor alongside the House Chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, state Representative Sean Scanlon (D-Guilford) and state Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D-Westport). During the 2019 legislative session, the state lawmakers led passage of several important pieces of legislation such as the Mental Health Parity Act, an expansion of epinephrine access in public places, and requiring insurance companies to cover the costs of additional tests for women with dense breast tissue, to name a few.

The awards ceremony was part of a larger program which featured lecture’s by respected physicians. The CSEP is the largest state membership association of Eye M.D.’s. Ophthalmologists, or Eye M.D.’s, are medical and osteopathic physicians who provide comprehensive eye care, including medical, surgical and optical care.

According to the CSEP, they are committed to advancing the highest standards of eye care, and to improving and protecting the eye health and vision of our communities, through its continuing education programs. The semi-annual scientific education programs of CSEP are designed for ophthalmologists and their staff to learn about recent advances in the diagnosis and management of eye diseases and conditions, through symposia, scientific papers, posters and videos.

State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) with M.D., and Yale Medicine Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and Visual Science James F. Martone at the Aqua Turf Club in Planstville after the senator received the 2019 CSEP Star Award for his dedication and leadership to improving healthcare in Connecticut, on Friday, January 10, 2020.