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EBO
Wagih Aclimandos – wagih.a@ntlworld.com
European Board of Ophthalmology
a great success
A record-breaking 358 candidates from 25 European countries came to Paris for the 2012 EBOD examinations by Dermot McGrath in Paris
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ontinuing the upward momentum of recent years, a record-breaking 358 candidates from 25 European countries came to Paris this year to take part in the 2012 European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma (EBOD) examination. “We are honoured and extremely happy to announce that the 2012 examination has once again attracted such a high number of candidates. I think this underscores the growing significance and prestige of the EBO qualification for so many of our young ophthalmologist residents and specialists,” said Wagih Aclimandos FRCS, FRCOphth, FEBO, president of the European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO). Held every year in Paris, the EBOD examination is designed to assess the knowledge and clinical skills requisite to the delivery of a high standard of ophthalmic care both in hospitals and in independent clinical practices.
Congratulating the candidates on their achievement, Prof Aclimandos said that this year’s pass rate of 89.6 per cent was consistent with previous years and reflected the rigorous study and hard work of the candidates in their quest to attain the high standards expected of Fellows of the European Board of Ophthalmology. “The exam is always a very important highlight in the EBO calendar, because the organisation is all about attaining high levels of training and experience in ophthalmology across Europe. We are here to celebrate those that have attained that level and also to give credit to those who have contributed to them reaching that level by helping in their training and their teaching,” he said. In this respect, Prof Aclimandos paid tribute to the 194 examiners who travelled from all over Europe to make up the panel of skilled, multilingual EBO examiners, all experts in their various fields. “We are extremely grateful to all those examiners who give up their valuable time and make the effort to join us in Paris every year. It is a fitting example of the European spirit of quality and collaboration and we are deeply appreciative of their efforts to advance the cause of training and education in ophthalmology in Europe,” he said. As in previous years, the EBOD examination comprises a multiple choice written exam (MCQ) as well as a four-part viva-voce exam, the latter seeing each candidate examined on the four key topics of ophthalmology by a team of examiners.
Jean-Jacques De Laey honoured by EBO
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ne of Belgium’s most renowned ophthalmologists, Jean-Jacques De Laey MD, PhD, was honoured at the European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO) Diploma Award Ceremony as the second recipient of the Peter Eustace Medal for his contribution to ophthalmic education in Europe. “Prof De Laey was a unanimous choice of the EBO Board to receive the Peter Eustace Medal for his tireless efforts on behalf of education in ophthalmology in Europe and around the world over the course of his career,” said Wagih Aclimandos FRCS, FRCOphth, FEBO, president of the EBO. “Following on from last year’s award winner, Gisèle Soubrane, Jean-Jacques De Laey is another pastpresident of the EBO and his belief and support for the cause of education and training in Europe has been unwavering,” he said. Prof Aclimandos said that the Peter Eustace Medal had been established by the EBO as a token of appreciation of the tireless work of Prof Peter Eustace from Ireland who established the first EBO Diploma (EBOD) examination in Milan in 1995.
EUROTIMES | Volume 17 | Issue 7/8
Paying tribute to Prof De Laey, Prof Aclimandos said that his contribution to European ophthalmology over many years had made him a worthy recipient of the Peter Eustace Medal. “Prof De Laey graduated in medicine at the University of Ghent in 1966 and became an ophthalmologist Jean-Jacques De Laey in 1970. After successfully defending his PhD in 1977, Prof De Laey served as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology in Ghent from 1979 until 2006. He has been extremely active with the International Council of Ophthalmology,” he said.
Wagih Aclimandos FRCS, FRCOphth, FEBO, president of the EBO
“We are honoured and extremely happy to announce that the 2012 examinations have once again attracted such a high number of candidates” Candidates who succeed in passing the examination receive an EBO certificate and earn the right to use the title “Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO)” after their name. Special awards were presented this year to Canan Asli Utine Yildirim from Turkey, who received the 2012 Alan Ridgway Award for best MCQs result, and Gil Santos of Portugal for the Best Overall EBOD result.
Prof De Laey’s connection to the EBO stretches back to the very beginning of the organisation, noted Prof Aclimandos. “He served as president of the EBO from 1994 to 1996, and he was also chairman of the EBO Residency Review Committee for four years. As one of the founders of the EBO and one of the first to examine for the EBOD, Prof De Laey has demonstrated his commitment to the cause of ophthalmic education over many years,” said Prof Aclimandos. As an educator and teacher, Prof De Laey’s contribution makes him an extremely deserving recipient of the Peter Eustace Medal, said Prof Aclimandos. Accepting the Peter Eustace Medal, Prof De Laey said it was a wonderful privilege to receive such an honour. “When I think back to when we organised the first EBO examination in Milan with Peter Eustace in 1995, we had only about 25 candidates present. Today we have over 370 candidates, which is a measure of how much has been achieved over the years. I am very pleased because I think the EBO has done a tremendous job and I am truly very honoured to have been recognised with this award,” he said.