ESCRS Council Elections 2025

The purpose of the ESCRS is to unify peers and provide them with the latest knowledge, training, and access to technology, as well as methodologies and ideas for successful and rewarding business. I believe that my educational background, research experience, and practical expertise in the field, along with my leadership positions across Europe, would greatly contribute to the society. Therefore, I have decided to apply for an elected board member position. Currently, I serve as a co-opted member (2023-2025) and previously held a co-opted EBO position (2017-2019).

Additionally, I am an active member of both the Education Committee and the LBI Committee. I enjoy collaborating with enthusiastic and dedicated peers who volunteer their time, knowledge, and expertise to our society. I aim to expand my contributions in the areas of education and practical training for the new generation of professionals, focusing on harmonizing access to skills and their application in everyday practice.

I also would like to participate in development of resources for the start-up and expansion of surgical practices. Furthermore, I am a strong believer in the potential of new technologies - not only for enhancing surgical procedures but also for improving overall patient management. I hope that our organisation can provide further guidelines and practical advice in this area.

I strongly believe that ESCRS will continue being a driving force for collaboration and innovation in eye care, not just in Europe but globally.

I value the ESCRS, have made some contributions throughout my career, and I am ready to serve.

I am honored to present my candidacy for the ESCRS Council, bringing over 25 years of global experience in cataract and refractive surgery. My journey has taken me across Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Australia, where I’ve trained many surgeons, led clinical teams, and contributed to the evolution of ophthalmic devices and diverse ophthalmic practices worldwide.

As the Clinical Director of LaserFocus Centre for Eye Microsurgery in Belgrade, Research Professor at the University of Belgrade, and the current president of Serbian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, I have dedicated my career to patient care, academic excellence and democratisation of the knowledge.

My platform focuses on:

• Empowering Surgeons: Recognising and enhancing the role of surgeons as educators, innovators, and leaders in healthcare delivery.
  
  
• Global Integration: Fostering collaborations that transcend borders, ensuring equitable access to advanced and standardized ophthalmic care worldwide.

• Solidarity and Inclusion: Upholding the values of the European Union by promoting inclusivity and shared purpose within the ophthalmic community and beyond.

I believe that by uniting our diverse experiences and expertise, we can shape a future where excellence in ophthalmology is accessible to all. I respectfully seek your support to contribute to the ESCRS Council’s mission of advancing our profession and improving patient outcomes globally.

Let us create a FUTURE BUILT FOR AND BY THE SURGEONS — together!

I have been Professor and Chair at the Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany since 2012. My involvement with ESCRS spans over 35 years. I joined the society in 1989, served as a co-opted board member, as an elected board member (2013-2017) and on the Executive Board (2017 – 2024). My commitment to the ESCRS is unquestionable. My strong international connections in and outside Europe put me in a unique position to increase interest among new young members. 

I am well-acquainted with numerous societies worldwide and well-positioned to facilitate international collaboration and multi-national panel discussions. I see that the ESCRS takes the forefront on global education and research in our field and I feel that I can be instrumental in working with younger members to build a program.

A continued effort for more sustainability and diversity is a strong desire of mine. As Editor of JCRS, I review hundreds of manuscripts every year and have unparalleled insight into the trends of the field. My relationship with JCRS and other leading international journals also creates an avenue for ESCRS study groups to be published and gain more readership.

My extensive involvement in various roles at ESCRS, combined with my clinical experience and knowledge of industry, make me well-positioned to be a part of moving the society forward in an impactful direction and I feel that I still have much to give to the society and look forward to sharing my connections and experiences to continue moving ESCRS forward. 

Dear colleagues and friends,

I am excited to share with you that I am standing as a candidate for the Board of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS). It would be a great honour to contribute to the future of our Society, continuing to promote innovation, education, and excellence in clinical practice.

Throughout my career, I have been committed to advancing cataract and refractive surgery through research, clinical practice, and the mentorship of young ophthalmologists. My academic work is far-reaching, with over 300 peer-reviewed publications, over 14,000 citations, and an h-index exceeding 60. This is a testament to my mission, to link research with real-life clinical applications to serve my patients.

Should I be entrusted with this role, I will work to support the next generation of surgeons, foster a culture of innovation, and bridge research and clinical care - values I believe are essential for our continued progress.

I would be deeply grateful for your support in this election, and I warmly invite you to share this message with colleagues who may also wish to support my candidacy.

I look forward to the opportunity to serve our Society together.

Thank you for your support. 

For the past four years, I've been privileged to serve on the ESCRS board, a role that has deepened my commitment to our society and its global mission. A key aspect of my contribution has been chairing the Cornea Committee. Under my leadership, this committee has consistently delivered high-quality cornea training during our Winter and Summer Meetings, ensuring our members have access to cutting-edge knowledge and skills in this vital subspecialty.

Beyond cornea education, I've worked tirelessly to elevate ESCRS's international profile, fostering connections and sharing knowledge across continents through our academies. My dedication to maintaining the highest standards in our field is evident in my work with the Exam Committee, ensuring a rigorous yet fair assessment of expertise. Furthermore, I'm passionate about building a truly inclusive and sustainable ESCRS.

My involvement in the BOSS committee, under President Ribeiro's vision, reflects my dedication to equality and progress. I believe my experience, coupled with a continued drive to innovate and empower our members, makes me a strong advocate for the future of ESCRS. Re-election would allow me to build upon these foundations, further contributing to our society's growth and impact, particularly in the area of cornea training.

I am committed to listening to your voices and representing your interests, ensuring ESCRS remains a leading force in cataract and refractive surgery.

I humbly ask for your support to continue this vital work.

It is a privilege to stand as a candidate for the ESCRS Board. I bring to this role my clinical and academic experience in cornea, ocular surface, cataract and refractive surgery. I currently serve as Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Brescia and Consultant Surgeon at Spedali Civili, where I lead the Cornea and Anterior Segment Service.

My academic journey is grounded in research excellence, with over 290 peer-reviewed publications and more than £3 million in grant funding secured. I have led and collaborated on national and international clinical trials, pioneered innovative surgical techniques, and contributed to foundational literature in our field. My contributions have been recognised with the ESCRS Pioneer Award, an honour that reflects my commitment to innovation and progress in ophthalmology.

Equally, I am deeply committed to education and training. As Residency Program Director and PhD supervisor, I take pride in mentoring the next generation of ophthalmologists. I actively contribute to international surgical training courses, live surgery sessions, and postgraduate programs, believing that continuous learning is essential for progress.

If elected, I will be a strong advocate for an ESCRS that nurtures young talent, encourages research collaboration, and promotes evidence-based innovation. I will work to expand educational opportunities, support clinician-scientists at every career stage, and foster an inclusive, forward-thinking community.

I am passionate about connecting education, clinical care, and research to ensure ESCRS remains a global leader in ophthalmology.

Thank you for your support and trust.

I have been working at the Charity and Programme committees of the ESCRS as an elected council member for the last four years. I am the current chair of the ESONT committee and co-chair of the Refractive Surgery Research group.  I have also been working at the ESCRS Refractive Surgery Guidelines, to help physicians and patients navigate the refractive surgery path and would be honoured to keep contributing to improving the role of ESCRS as a global reference in corneal, cataract and refractive surgery.

Clinical research has been a passion for many years, particularly in studies involving functional magnetic resonance, neuroadaptation and keratoconus. Our group was awarded the ESCRS Clinical Research Awards in 2016, which enabled the work that received the ESCRS Obstbaum Award for the best clinical research paper published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in 2017. In addition, we are developing a registry for keratoconus (EUKOR) to automatically and anonymously gather data from different devices, which will be available to the ESCRS community.

I work at the University Hospital of Coimbra and at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra, Portugal. I am the current editor-in-chief of the Portuguese Society of Ophthalmology journal and past- president of the Portuguese Group of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (2021/22).

I am willing to keep working hard towards serving the ESCRS and providing our society with the tools to perform meaningful research and education, which will lead to the best care for our patients.

I am a cataract and refractive surgeon from Ukraine, representing a new generation of ophthalmologists shaped by crisis, resilience, and innovation.

Practicing during wartime has brought unique challenges, but also deepened my sense of responsibility — to my patients, my colleagues, and our global community. 

Despite the disruptions caused by the ongoing war, I have continued to operate, teach, and build sustainable programs that provide access to modern eye care for people in need — including displaced persons, wounded veterans, and those living in underserved regions.

I have also mentored young surgeons, helping them grow in both skill and confidence during these difficult times.

My experience offers a valuable perspective from Eastern Europe, where resourcefulness and collaboration are not just ideals but daily necessities. I believe that the ESCRS can play a stronger role in supporting colleagues across all regions — especially those facing crisis — and in fostering innovation and inclusion throughout our field.

I want to help build stronger bridges between experienced leaders and emerging voices within ophthalmology, bringing fresh energy and new perspectives to the Society.
By voting for me, you are supporting a future where every member — regardless of geography or circumstance — has the opportunity to contribute, grow, and lead. Together, we can make ESCRS an even more inclusive, dynamic, and globally connected community.

I am willing to apply my candidacy for re-election to be able to continue the work I have done in the ESCRS. Particularly planning to offer more opportunities for young ophthalmologist, and equity. Rewarding in the paper selection, for the ESCRS meeting quality and experience in the field of submission. Offer new way to exchange ideas, promote the unveiling of new ideas. Continue the effort of improving the Winter Meeting as the number shows increased participation; with the aim to increase its own personality and aimed to reach younger ophthalmologist and offer opportunity to learn from wet labs.

Work for the publication areas: Journal of cataract & refractive surgery; and EuroTimes. Proud of the work we have done in the committee of guidelines was so important to help to defines the best practise in the field of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 

I will apply all my best effort to produce the best outcome for the society, in addition open to all contribution that members will, suggest to me.