As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on the year and share some of our highlights. We’re grateful for the hard work and support from all our members, colleagues and collaborators in making it a successful year, especially to those who volunteered their valuable time in College roles. Keep an eye out on our website next month for more ways that you can get involved.
In January, we kicked off the year with the launch of our new strategy for 2024-2026, shaping our approach for the next two years.
On 29 February, Rare Diseases Day, we announced that BOSU was being boosted by a new grant that will enable its continuing support for UK research into rare eye disorders.
In March, we published our three-step plan to future-proof NHS ophthalmology services. London exams took place in April with 156 candidates, 126 examiner, 235 patients and more than 1,000 biscuits consumed!
In May, another successful Annual Congress took place, this time in Belfast. Attendees not only had the chance to hone their ophthalmology skills in workshops and discussions over the four days but they also got to show off their dancing skills at a ceili.
June was Cataract Awareness Month. We celebrated the National Cataract Audit receiving data from 177 hospitals. We also held our Introduction to Phacoemulsification course at the College that month.
Following the UK General Election in July, we outlined the steps the new government should take to address ophthalmology challenges.
In August, we launched the new OST curriculum, with some refreshed web resources to support the transition for trainees and tutors.
Each September, we hold the annual admissions ceremony. This year, we presented diplomas to more than 150 new Fellows.
October was a flurry of activity for the College. We announced that Winfried Amoaku would be the Editor in Chief of Eye Open, our new scientific journal, launching in 2025. For World Sight Day, we launched the Faces of Ophthalmology campaign featuring our members, starting with Dilani Siriwardena. SAS Week also took place, in which we shared reflections from members including SAS Committee Chair, Swetha Maddula-Batambuze.
In November, we announced that we were bringing our Refraction Certificate and Part 2 FRCOphth Oral examinations to Dubai in February 2025. We also published the second survey for the Ophthalmology Training Group.
And in December we’ve announced the three winners of the 2024/25 Zakarian Award.