Dr Guy Li-Jia Chen was voted by an international panel from the AAPPO (Academy of Asia-Pacific Professors of Ophthalmology – AAPPO) to receive the overall Gold Medal Award, while Dr Kelvin Wan received the overall Bronze Medal Award and the Best Self-initiated Project Award, in the Academic Development Mentorship Scheme of AAPPO for the year 2019 – 2020.

The AAPPO is affiliated to the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO). The Awards of the AAPPO Academic Development Mentorship Scheme recognize significant professional advancements and accomplishments by young clinician-scientists and ophthalmologists in the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr Chen: The Academic Development Mentorship Scheme of the AAPPO is an important platform for us to know, communicate, and collaborate with colleagues all over the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. I hope more of our colleagues can join in this programme. I will be more than happy to share my humble experience and support anytime. Also, I would like to thank my Mentor (Prof Dennis Lam) in the ADMS programme, and all my colleagues for their support in my projects.

Dr Wan: I am indebted to my mentor, Prof Dennis Lam, and my seniors, who guided me in my project. I am very grateful to be a part of the Academic Development Mentorship Scheme and have the opportunity to learn from many esteemed professors. I believe the skills and knowledge that we acquired from the program can further benefit our patients, research, and community.

More about the AAPPO Academic Development Mentorship Scheme

Aiming at identifying, nurturing, and grooming future academic leaders in ophthalmology in the Asia-Pacific region, the Academy of Asia-Pacific Professors of Ophthalmology (AAPPO) organized its first Academic Development Mentorship Scheme (ADMS) in 2018. So far, 25 Mentees have graduated from the program and many of the ADMS alumni have taken up key leadership positions in their national, as well as regional, ophthalmic societies.

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