Renowned vision pioneer Dr. Manix E. Heersink will deliver the keynote address at Troy University’s Summer Commencement on July 26.

The ceremony, which takes place in Trojan Arena, begins at 10 a.m. and requires tickets for admission. Tickets are available through individual graduates. Nearly 400 students are expected to participate, including two Sport Management doctoral students.

Additionally, the ceremony will be the official graduation of the University’s first-ever Ph.D. in Global Leadership, Dr. Andrew Alcala, who cannot attend due to a job assignment with the U.S. Dept. of State.

A breakfast reception for graduates and their guests precedes Commencement at 7:30 a.m. at the Chancellor’s Residence.

Dr. Heersink, co-founder of Eye Center South, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. degree and an M.D. degree from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.  His internship was completed at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Canada, while his residency in Ophthalmology was performed at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed a fellowship in cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation in Philadelphia.  Following his training, he and his wife, Mary Parks Heersink, moved to Dothan Alabama. 

His professional activities and affiliations are numerous. He is a Fellow and member of several Professional Organizations including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, International College of Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (C).

He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and American Board of Eye Surgery. His professional memberships also include the Houston County Medical Society, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, American Intraocular Implant Society and American Medical Association. Dr. Heersink has a special interest and training in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of cataracts as well as laser vision correction.

Dr. and Mrs. Heersink have committed their lives to raise their family and involve themselves in multiple initiatives focused on healthcare and providing opportunities and incentives for others. They are passionate about education and actively promote ties among people, universities, and countries.

Dr. Heersink has shown financial and leadership support for many organizations by serving on numerous boards and institutions including: Wallace Community College, Troy University, Marion Military Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Wiregrass Museum of Art, First United Methodist Church, Houston Academy, Landmark Park, STOP Foodborne Illness, The Netherland-America Foundation, The Boys Scouts of America, Alabama Institute of Deaf and Blind, Boys and Girls Club of Alabama, Dothan Montessori School, University of Western Ontario, and the Wiregrass Humane Society to name a few.  

Several buildings have been named for the Heersink Family including the Wallace Community College’s Health Science building and Houston Academy’s Gym and Upper School. 

They funded the Heersink Family Foundation which has endowed a number of scholarships and fellowships including: a Cornea Fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, a Glaucoma Fellowship for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Optometry scholarships for The University of Alabama at Birmingham and scholarships at Troy Business School.

Dr. Heersink also founded The Eye Education Foundation, a non-profit educational institute for eye care professionals.  

Two years ago, Dr. Heersink made major transformative gifts to two universities. 

The University of Alabama at Birmingham named its Medical School the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine as well as the UAB Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation. 

McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario named the Marnix E. Heersink School of Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship after Dr. Heersink.  

The Heersink family also is philanthropically active internationally. A few of the organizations they support are the Netherlands Open Air Museum, Oude Jan Church Restoration, sponsoring the Heersink Innovation Fund for classical orchestral music Phion, Orange for Velp, Steenderen Church Restoration, funding the Audrey Hepburn statue in Velp, and the Classical Music Summer festival Zoom.

They are active supporters of The Netherland-American Foundation with endowing scholarships and promoting student exchange between the USA and the Netherlands.

In 2022 they were awarded The Netherland-American Foundation Ambassador’s Award in Washington. 

Dr. Heersink has lectured nationally and internationally in the USA, Denmark, Netherlands and Belgium. He has given named lecture talks including the Ed Jaeger Memorial Lecture at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia and the initial Southern Eye Congress Visionary Lecture.  

Throughout the years Dr. Heersink has been on boards of the following institutions, First United Methodist Church, Dothan Boys and Girls Club, Boys Scouts of America, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Houston Academy and Troy Sorrell College of Business Executive Advisory Council.

He has coached multiple youth teams including baseball, softball, soccer, basketball and was the Middle School basketball coach for Houston Academy.

Dr. and Mrs. Heersink have been married 45 years and have six adult children, all of whom

are in the medical field as well as entrepreneurial activities, with one dentist and five

physicians. Marnix and Mary also enjoy spending time with their 11 grandchildren.