Hyderabad, 23rd August 2024: Dr Gullapalli N Rao, Founder – Chair of the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) was awarded the prestigious ICO Jules François Golden Medal for 2024 by the International Council of Ophthalmology. He received the award amongst his peers from around the world at the World Ophthalmology Congress 2024 (WOC2024) in Vancouver, Canada.
The ICO Jules François Golden Medal for 2024 is given once every four years for ‘ophthalmic work of the highest scientific quality.’ Dr Rao is the first Indian and is one of only eleven people in the world to be honoured with this medal.
The Gold Medal is named after Dr Jules François, a preeminent Belgian ophthalmologist and productive researcher who had published over 1,500 papers in the field. Dr Francois considered one of the most influential figures in global ophthalmology, was a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Ghent Medical School for most of his professional life and passed away in 1984. In 1986, the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) instituted a Gold Medal in his name, to be given every four years to ophthalmologists with excellent scientific contributions. Dr. Rao is the first ophthalmologist from India to be honoured with this gold medal.
Dr Rao received the medal at the opening ceremony of the World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) 2024, in Vancouver, Canada. The WOC is an annual meeting of the global ophthalmology community and is organised by the International Council of Ophthalmology. ICO represents and serves its members which include national, regional and subspecialty ophthalmology societies throughout the world and is the only ophthalmology organization in official relations with the World Health Organization. In its annual meeting, ICO honours leaders in international ophthalmology who are nominated by their peers and selected by the ICO with a set of medals. In 2013, Dr Rao was also honoured with the G. O. H. Neumann Award for his leadership in global eye care.
“I will cherish the honour from the International Council of Ophthalmology,” said Dr Rao.