Win €1000 bursary for Milan Congress

The John Henahan Prize, for an original piece of writing on an ophthalmological subject, is open to ophthalmologists who are members of the ESCRS and who are 40 years of age or under before January 1, 2012.

Entrants are invited to write a 900-word essay on the topic of, “The trials and tribulations of a young ophthalmologistâ€. The article can focus on the educational highlights of the residency, teachers, lecturers and mentors, fellow students and patients. The essays will be judged by Emanuel Rosen, chairman ESCRS Publications Committee; Jose Guell, former president ESCRS; Oliver Findl, chairman ESCRS Young Ophthalmologists’ Forum; Sean Henahan, editor EuroTimes; Paul McGinn, editor EuroTimes; and Robert Henahan, contributing editor EuroTimes.

The two main criteria for consideration by the judges are the clinical content of the story and the writing style, including punctuation and grammar, which should reflect the high standard of material published in EuroTimes. The winner will receive a travel bursary worth €1,000 to attend the XXX Congress of the ESCRS in Milan, Italy and a special trophy which will be presented at the Young Ophthalmologists' Programme in Milan.

Entries, which must be accompanied by an ESCRS membership number, should be sent to Colin Kerr, executive editor, EuroTimes at: colin.kerr@escrs.org.

2011 Winner

The 2011 John Henahan Prize winner was Indian ophthalmologist, Dr Soosan Jacob, for her essay, “There Is No Beautiful Caseâ€. Dr Jacob is a senior consultant ophthalmologist and head of the Department of Orbit & Oculoplasty and Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Dr Agarwal‘s Eye Hospital, Chennai, India.

Dr Rosen, also chairman of the judging panel, said Dr Jacob's winning entry revealed insights into the learning processes of a developing ophthalmologist. “She articulates what many know but few can put into a compact word essay that behind every potential tragic case there is a person who has to cope with disease and yet keep life going,†said Dr Rosen. “There were many excellent contributions to the 2011 ESCRS Henahan essay prize for young ophthalmologists but the judges were unanimous in selecting Soosan’s essay for the prize,†he said.

Entry forms

The prize is named in honour of John Henahan, who edited EuroTimes from 1996 to 2001. “John’s work has inspired a generation of young doctors and journalists, many of whom continue to work for EuroTimes. The prize will not only bring satisfaction to the winner and credit to all the contributors but may enhance all their prospects of pursuing a medical writing aspect to their future careers. We look to their further contributions to EuroTimes and the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery,†said Dr Rosen.

Entry forms are available from: colin.kerr@escrs.org. Requests for entry forms should be marked ‘Henahan Prize 2012’. The closing date for entries is Monday 4 June, 2012. For further information see www.escrs.org.