EBOD 2012 – Summary Report
A Great Success
A record-breaking 358 candidates from 25 European countries came to Paris for the 2012 EBOD examinations
Continuing 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. 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.
