EBO exams highlight positive spirit of European cooperation

A record-breaking 453 candidates from 28 European countries came to Paris this year to take part in the 2014 European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma (EBOD) examinations.

“I am delighted to be announce that the 2014 examinations have once again attracted the highest ever number of candidates from more European countries than ever before. I want to say thanks and to pay tribute to you – the candidates and the examiners – because without you, the EBO would not exist. Thank you for your commitment to the EBO and to the European spirit which is really what this organization is all about,” said Professor Catherine Creuzot-Garcher, president of the European Board of Ophthalmology.

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.

Addressing the assembled audience, Jean-Francois Korobelnik, president of the French Society of Ophthalmology (SFO), said that SFO was honoured to host the EBO exams every year and he looked forward to continued collaboration in the future.

Congratulating the candidates on their achievement, Professor Christina Grupcheva, Chair of the EBO Education Committee, said that the EBO was proud to have played its part in promoting a pan-European qualification that was increasingly recognised in the majority of countries in the region.

“It is not always easy to share across borders with so many different language and cultures, but the EBO has shown that it is possible to harmonise standards and training for the benefit of our profession and also our patients in our respective countries,” she said.

The 2014 Peter Eustace Medal, in recognition of service to the cause of European ophthalmic education, was awarded this year to Polish-born ophthalmologist Jack J. Kanski, a prodigious teacher, author and clinician whose Clinical Ophthalmology textbook has become a standard reference text for generations of ophthalmologists.

A minute’s silence was also observed in honour of Professor Eustace, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, Ireland for many years, and a passionate supporter of the EBO, who passed away in April.

This year, Vesela Ivancheva from Bulgaria received the Alan Ridgway Award for best MCQs result, while the award for Best Overall EBOD outcome was awarded jointly to Aron Szabo from Hungary and Daniel Zapp from Germany.