EBOD 2011
Gisele Soubrane receives inaugural Peter Eustace Medal award
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Described variously as an “institution,” a “crusader for education and training” and a “staunch supporter of EBO values”, Gisèle Soubrane MD, PhD, was honoured at this year’s European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO) examination as the first recipient of the Peter Eustace Medal for her contribution to education in ophthalmology in Europe.
“It is hard to think of a more deserving person for the first Peter Eustace Medal than Prof Gisèle Soubrane,” said Wagih Aclimandos FRCS, FRCOphth, FEBO, president of the EBO. “Gisèle is a past-president of the EBO and her belief and support for this cause has been unwavering, continuous and indeed enormous,” 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 examination in Milan in 1995.
Paying tribute to Prof Soubrane, Prof Aclimandos said that her own contribution to European ophthalmology over many years had made her a worthy recipient of the Peter Eustace Medal.
“Prof Soubrane is professor of ophthalmology and Chair Emeritus at the University of Paris East-Creteil. Her training in France, as well as at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins and the Institute of Ophthalmology in London, have resulted in a truly open-minded individual. She is a member of 13 national and international societies, including some of the most prestigious. She has held advisory positions with several journals and institutions and has received more than 20 awards spanning a period of 25 years, which is quite remarkable,” he said.
Acknowledging her attributes as a researcher and scientist, Prof Aclimandos said that Prof Soubrane’s success also owes much to her vibrant and outgoing character.
“Prof Soubrane has always remained very level-headed and approachable and a true crusader for education and training. We must remind ourselves that while we now have to fight for men’s rights, Gisèle managed to shine in a world that was at the time dominated by men. She has, and remains, a very strong proponent of women in ophthalmology. Succeeding is great but helping so many others to succeed is particularly admirable,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of Prof Peter Eustace, who was unable to attend the award ceremony in Paris, Dr Marie Hickey-Dwyer, honorary treasurer of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists, said that Prof Eustace was delighted to have his name associated with such a prestigious award.
“The first thing that strikes me is how absolutely delighted Peter would have been to see so many people of all ages taking the EBO exam and committing themselves to the betterment of ophthalmology in Europe,” she said.
Dr Hickey-Dwyer said that Prof Eustace, who served as consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Mater Hospital for over 30 years with a special interest in neuro-ophthalmology, believed passionately in the mission of the EBO.
“Prof Eustace is proud to be an Irishman, but even more proud to be European. It was this love of Europe that drove him to collaborate and work with like-minded European ophthalmologists committed to education in order to set up and organise the examination of the European Board of Ophthalmology. He recognised the excellent training ophthalmologists were receiving all over Europe and wanted to put a definitive mark on it for all of them which would be recognised throughout Europe and beyond,” she said.