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Role of the SOE as Educational Integrating Force

 

Professor Marko Hawlina, MD,PhD, FEBO
Chairman of the Education Committee SOE

Geographical Europe is an amazing conglomerate of more than 40 nations, only 25 of which now belong to the European Union. The population of geographical Europe is almost double to that of USA. Yet, the standards of education and performance in ophthalmology are very different. SOE feels a responsibility to reduce these differences in the shortest possible time.

One way by which SOE wants to achieve this goal, is through Educational Grants. Another way is represented by concessions for registration fees to SOE Congresses. In 2007, 894 ophthalmologists from Eastern Europe visited the SOE congress in Vienna thanks to the attractive registration fees (150€ for Young East European Residents and Ophthalmologists, 200€ for East European Residents and and 275€ for East European Ophthalmologists). We hope to have a similar scheme for the Congress in Amsterdam, June 2009.

It has been a tradition of SOE to award grants which enable young ophthalmologists from Eastern Europe to visit teaching hospitals in the West. In total, over 600 grants, each consisting of 1,000€ have been awarded by the SOE to develop ophthalmology in Eastern European countries. This has not only enabled young ophthalmologists to visit and observe the standards in renowned western hospitals, but it has also been a way to establish connections – connections which have become the scaffold for development of their countries' ophthalmology in the years to follow. Looking back in time, the list of grant recipients includes many of those who today represent national ophthalmology either in different subspecialities or as the society leaders.

This is what makes SOE an organisation which cares for the development of ophthalmology in the whole territory of Europe. However, close communication with the European Board of Ophthalmology (www.ebo-online.org) and EUPO regarding educational demands of the European Union is in process and it is aimed to bring European educational standards to the countries that are preparing to join EU in the future.

The SOE Educational grants are offered predominantly to young ophthalmologists under the age of 40. Applications for the grant can be made on the page "Grants" on the SOE website www.soevision.org.

The call for the 2009 grant is open from May 2008 to 30th September, 2008.