Professor Hugh R Taylor AC, Harold Mitchell Chair of Indigenous Eye Health at the University of Melbourne and founder of the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), was the first Australian to be honoured with two prestigious awards this month.
Professor Taylor received the CNIB Chanchlani Global Vision Research Award from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and the Howe Medal from the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS).
CNIB is dedicated to promote vital, world-class research to explore the causes of blindness and vision loss, potential cures, treatments and prevention. The inaugural Chanchlani Award was presented to Professor Taylor, recognising his work and advocacy for Indigenous health, the elimination of trachoma and the socio economic implications of vision loss. The Award was presented at a gala reception in Toronto.
The AOS is the world’s oldest specialty medical society. It presented the coveted Howe Medal to Professor Taylor at its 148th Annual Meeting in Charleston, SC in recognition of his significant contributions to teaching and research in ophthalmology, with particular regard to his work on trachoma and onchocersiasis. Onchocerciasis is the world’s second known leading infectious cause of blindness according to the World Health Organisation.
The AOS… presented the coveted Howe Medal to Professor Taylor… in recognition of his significant contributions to teaching and research in ophthalmology
He is the first Australian to be so honoured.
Professor Taylor, who is the first Australian to be awarded the Howe Medal, said it was wonderful the work he and his colleagues had been doing was seen to have such value.
“We are doing the work because we think it is important and it is terrific to find that others agree,” he said.
