About the ICO/IFOS:

Regulations of the Awards

On this page:

• Article 1 - Purpose
  
  
• Article 2 - Gonin Medal
  
  
• Article 3 - International Duke Elder Medal
  
  
• Article 4 - Jules François Golden Medal
  
  
• Article 5 - International Council of Ophthalmology Ophthalmic Pathology Award
  
  
• Article 6 - Bietti Medal
  
  
• Article 7 - The Tadeusz Krwawicz Gold Medal
  
  
• Article 8 - Amendments and Additions

Article 1

Purpose
Awards are presented with participation of the International Council of Ophthalmology (hereinafter called the "Council") to individuals who have contributed to the advance of ophthalmology, to the prevention or amelioration of eye disease and blindness, or to the advancement of international relationships among ophthalmologists in accordance with the specific criteria and procedures set forth in each award.

1. Policies

To balance the desire for new medals while not detracting from those that exist, and to allow those who wish to provide recognition while supporting the Council, the following policies should be followed:

A) In general, no more than five medals at the opening session at each World Ophthalmology Congress (hereinafter called the "Congress.").

The Gonin, Duke Elder, François, Streiff, and the Ophthalmic Pathology Award shall take precedence.

It is distinctly possible that these medals may be given every four years, and if this is the case, the two new awards/medals would be presented at the Opening Ceremonies of alternate Congresses.

Should the initial four medals be given every two years, the Council must decide how and where the additional medals or awards are presented. In every Congress, all medals or awards presented should have recognition in one site on the Meeting Program and the Opening Ceremonies Program.

(In addition, recipients of the Highest Scores on the Assessments in the years before the International Congress are to be presented during the Opening Ceremony.)

B) Ophthalmic organizations offering honors and awards for presentation at the World Ophthalmology Congress are to be commended. However, the Council has concern that a proliferation of similar or overlapping awards may decrease the prominence of all awards.

2. Procedures

The following specific procedures for selection of the awards to be presented at the Congress (including the time and place for presentation) during the Congress should be followed:

A) The criteria for the selection of the person to whom the award is to be conferred should be emphasized. Historically, awards were presented on the basis of general criteria.

B) Additional medals and awards may be presented during the Congress. For example, an Award in Retinal Science could be presented during a session devoted to retina and be accompanied by a lecture delivered by the award recipient.

C) Most future recognition should be extended in the form of Fellowships or Research Awards instead of medals, except in extremely compelling situations.

D) All medals, awards and fellowships announced at each Congress should be prominently noted in special pages at the commencement of the Congress Program and listed in the Program of the Opening Session. A maximum of five medals should be awarded at the Opening Ceremonies of each Congress.*

E) Awards proposed in the name of a prominent ophthalmologist will generally be considered as posthumous awards. As noted above, the proposal should be clear about the criteria for selection and the types of contributions awardees have exhibited. All awards should not be limited to a region or a country but must be international and the selection of the recipient must be from candidates worldwide.

F) Prior to approval of a new medal, those proposing must demonstrate the financial capacity for five medals to be struck at the time of the acceptance of the award by the Council. There should be a financial capacity for at least an additional five medals.

G) If an award or medal is proposed, it should be co-sponsored with a national, subspecialty or supranational society.

H) All proposals for medals and awards received after January 1 2005, must have a financial reserve in the amount of $50,000 U.S. associated with the medal or award.

Article 2

Gonin Medal
A gold medal is placed every four (4) years at the disposition of the Council by the University of Lausanne and the Swiss Ophthalmological Society. Instituted in November 1937, it bears the name of "Gonin Medal". The name of the recipient is engraved on the edge of the medal.

1. The medal is awarded by the Council at the opening ceremony of the Congress. The recipient, nevertheless, must first appear in Lausanne, where he or she will be received by the University and where he or she will give a lecture in commemoration of Jules Gonin.
   
   
2. An international commission (hereinafter called the "Commission") will be appointed by the Council to nominate the candidates. It will consist of seven (7) members. The President of the Council and the Professor of Ophthalmology at Lausanne, representing the University of Lausanne and the Swiss Ophthalmological Society, are ex-officio members. The five (5) other members are elected by the Council, which will also designate three (3) substitute members. The regular and the substitute members may be chosen from outside the Council. The substitute members are called to replace the regular members who are unable, for any reason whatsoever, to fulfill their mandate.
   
   
3. The term of the elected members of the Commission is eight (8) years. This term can be indefinitely renewed. The seats that have become vacant by death or resignation are filled by the Council. The President of the Council is the President of the Commission.
   
   
4. The Council will designate the recipient one year before the Congress. But one year before the meeting of the Council that will designate the recipient, the President of the Council will send each of the members of the Commission an envelope and a ballot stamped with the seal of the Council. This ballot and envelope, sealed and unsigned, are to be returned to the President in another envelope on which is stated what is sent and which is signed by the voter. The ballot itself may bear no indication capable of revealing the name of the voter. The voter will indicate in order of preference as many names as he or she wishes. The voter also has the right, on the same ballot and always anonymously, to justify his or her choice. The President, when he or she has received all the envelopes, will open them, and, thus knowing the opinion of the Commission, will draw up a list for presentation to the Council. He will attach his report and the ballots received.
   
   
5. The Council will elect the recipient of the medal by secret ballot obligatorily from among the names proposed by the Commission. At the first ballot, an absolute majority is necessary. At the second ballot, a relative majority is sufficient. If two ophthalmologists receive the same number of votes, there will be a third ballot following which, in the event of an equal division of votes, the award will be given to the eldest.
   
   
6. The Gonin Medal is awarded under the conditions prescribed above to an ophthalmologist who, by his or her work and research, has attracted the attention of the Commission and the Council.
   
   
7. If the normal activity of the Council and the Congress is interrupted by reason of force majeure, the medal is entrusted to the institutions that founded it.

Article 3

International Duke Elder Medal
Lady Phyllis Duke Elder established a gold medal in honor of her late husband, Sir Stewart Duke Elder. This medal, which is called the International Duke Elder Medal, will be awarded by the Council every four (4) years to an ophthalmologist.

1. The medal is awarded to an ophthalmologist who, by his or her distinction, leadership and teaching, has contributed most to the development of international relations and friendship between ophthalmologists, and who has advanced the field by his or her contributions in writing and organization in ophthalmology.
   
   
2. The recipient will be elected by secret vote of the members of the Council at the meeting of the Council held the year before the Congress.
   
   
3. The recipient will deliver a Duke Elder oration in Great Britain and will receive the medal at the closing ceremony of the Congress.

Article 4

Jules François Golden Medal
The Jules François Golden Medal will be awarded every four (4) years by the Council for ophthalmic work of high scientific quality.

1. The medal will be awarded by the Council from nominations proposed by an international jury. The name of the recipient will be engraved on the edge of the medal.
   
   
2. The Jules François Foundation will provide the medal which will be presented by the Council.
   
   
3. The medal will be given by the President of the Council during a ceremonial session of the Congress. The recipient will be asked to attend the meeting unless there is an extremely important reason why he or she is not able to attend this meeting.
   
   
4. An international jury (hereinafter called the "Jury") for the Jules François Medal will be appointed by the Council. It will consist of seven (7) members. The President of the Jules François Foundation and the President of the Council are ex-officio members. The President of the Council will be the President of the Jury. The five (5) other members will be elected by the Council, which will also designate three (3) substitute members. The regular and substitute members may be chosen from outside the Council. The substitute members will be asked to replace one or more regular members, according to the order of their appointment, if the regular member is unable to fulfill his or her mandate.
   
   
5. The term of the members of the Jury is four (4) years. The seats that have become vacant by death or resignation will be filled by the Council.
   
   
6. The Council will designate the recipient one year before the Congress. One year before the meeting of the Council, that will designate the recipient, the President of the Council will send each member of the Jury an envelope and a ballot stamped with the seal of the Council. The ballot and envelope, sealed and unsigned, are to be returned to the President in another envelope on which the name and address of the voter is indicated. The member of the Jury will indicate in order of preference as many names as he or she wishes. The member also has the right to justify his or her choice on the same ballot and always anonymously. After opening the envelopes, the President of the Council will draw up a list for presentation to the Council.
   
   
7. The Council will elect the recipient of the Jules François Medal by secret ballot obligatorily from among the names proposed by the Jury. At the first ballot an absolute majority is necessary. At the second ballot, a relative majority is sufficient. If two candidates receive the same number of votes, there will be a third ballot following which, in the event of an equal division of votes, the award will be given to the eldest.
   
   
8. The recipient of the Jules François medal will come to Ghent, the year following his or her election, but before the Congress, where he or she will be accorded the medal. The recipient will be received by the University and he or she will give a lecture in commemoration of Professor Jules François.
   
   
9. If the normal activity of the Council and the Congress is interrupted by reason of force majeure, the Jules François medal is entrusted to the Jules François Foundation, which will act according to the spirit of the preceding article.

Article 5

International Council of Ophthalmology Ophthalmic Pathology Award

The "Gottfried and Lieselotte Naumann Foundation" (Hereinafter called the "Foundation") was established in 1997 in Erlangen/Germany as a non-profit organization to support Ophthalmic Pathology including Clinico-Pathologic Correlations.

Article 6

Bietti Medal

The Bietti medal will be awarded every four (4) years to a distinguished ophthalmologist in recognition of scientific and educational contribution in ophthalmology and for facilitating international communications in the ophthalmic community.

ARTICLE 7

The Tadeusz Krwawicz Gold Medal

Tadeusz Krwawicz Gold Medal will be awarded every four (4) years by the Council to an ophthalmologist who has significantly contributed to the advance of ophthalmology, especially diseases of the anterior segment and/or introduction of new technologies and to the advancement of international relationships among ophthalmologists.

ARTICLE 8

Amendments and Additions

Amendments and additions to these Regulations shall be valid only if they have been accepted by the Council by a majority of two thirds (2/3). Such amendments and additions shall have been distributed to the Council at least two (2) months in advance of the meeting at which they are to be considered.

Next: Terms of Use

Also see:

• Part 1: Preamble to Article 7 of the Statutes
  
  
• Part 2: Article 8 to 17 of the Statutes
  
  
• Part 3: Articles 18 to 23 of the Statutes
  
  
• Regulations of the International Council of Ophthalmology
  
  
• Regulations of the World Ophthalmology Congress