Presented by the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) with
the University of Lausanne and the Swiss Ophthalmological Society

The Gonin Medal was instituted in 1937 in memory of Swiss-born Jules Gonin, MD, and it is the oldest and most prestigious medal in ophthalmology. Every four years, the ICO Board of Trustees (International Council of Ophthalmology) elects the gold medalist. The diploma of the medal is delivered during a special ceremony in Lausanne at the Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, and the gold medal is presented at the World Ophthalmology Congress. This honor includes a $50,000 award from RRF, typically given following the special ceremony in Lausanne.

2022 Gonin Medalist

Stanley Chang, MD

Diploma of the Gonin Medal and Gonin Medal Awarded: Lausanne, Switzerland, March 24, 2022

Title: The Evolution of Retinal Detachment Surgery after Jules Gonin

Dr. Chang was also recognized during the World Ophthalmology Congress, held virtually in September, 2022

Education and Career Highlights

Stanley Chang, MD, is the K.K. Tse and Ku Teh Ying Professor of Ophthalmology at Columbia University Medical Center.  He completed his residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.  From 1995-2012, he was Chair of Ophthalmology at the Edward Harkness Eye Institute, and now remains an active faculty member. Dr. Chang has developed and pioneered several revolutionary surgical approaches to treat complicated forms of retinal detachment, improving outcomes for patients worldwide.  He was the first to use perfluoropropane gas in the management of retinal detachments caused by scar tissue proliferation (PVR) on the retina.  He developed perfluorocarbon liquids, a ‘heavy liquid’ used in flattening retinal detachment, and the related surgical techniques for vitreoretinal surgery.  In collaboration with Avi Grinblat, he developed a panoramic viewing system and led in the worldwide adaptation by retina surgeons to this technique.  He is the recipient of honors including the Hermann Wacker Prize from the Club Jules Gonin, Helmerich Prize from the American Society of Retinal Specialists, the Lifetime Achievement Honor Award and the Charles Schepens Lecture from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Jackson Memorial Lecture, the Alcon Research Institute Award, and the Lifetime Innovator Award from Ophthalmology Innovation Summit, and the Jules Gonin Medal from the International Council of Ophthalmology.  Consistently named as one of America’s best doctors, Dr. Chang was selected as National Physician of the Year by the Castle Connolly Guides in 2008.  He remains an active faculty member in clinical care, research and teaching at Columbia.

2018 Gonin Medalist

Jean-Jacques De Laey, MD, PhD

Diploma of the Gonin Medal: Lausanne, Switzerland, February 15, 2018

Title: Paraneoplastic retinopathies

Gonin Medal awarded: at the World Ophthalmology Congress, Barcelona, Spain, June 16, 2018

2014 Gonin Medalist

Alice R. McPherson, MD

Title: The Retina Specialty After Gonin: Personal Recollections and Contributions

Gonin Medal awarded: at the World Ophthalmology Congress, Tokyo, Japan, April 2, 2014

View online the May 2014 RRF Newsletter: Special Edition/Dr. McPherson named 2014 Gonin Medalist

2014 Newsletter Issue #1

Education and Career Highlights

Dr. Alice McPherson is an accomplished teacher, scholar, leader and pioneer dedicated to the study and treatment of retinal diseases.

Dr. McPherson received her baccalaureate and medical degrees and took her ophthalmology residency at the University of Wisconsin. She completed a retina fellowship with Dr. Charles Schepens at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.   Dr. McPherson is a professor of ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine specializing in macular degeneration and vitreoretinal diseases and surgery.  She is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the International College of Surgeons.

Her scientific contributions to ophthalmology began with pioneering scleral buckling procedures, cryotherapy and xenon arc and laser photocoagulation in the treatment of retinal diseases.  She was an early and vigorous advocate of photocoagulation in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.  This was initially a controversial position, later proven correct by the large, randomized prospective National Eye Institute Diabetic Retinopathy Study.

Retina Research Foundation

In 1969 she founded the Retina Research Foundation (RRF), one of the nation’s leading eye research organizations, dedicated to promote understanding, prevention and treatment of retinal diseases.  To accomplish this, in 1973 the RRF started to fund pilot research studies and in 1976 began collaborating with outstanding organizations to support a variety of programs in retina research around the world:

•    Helped to support ongoing studies conducted by internationally recognized award recipients
•    Established Research Chairs and Professorships at leading universities and institutions
•    Initiated international fellowships that provided advanced subspecialty training to young clinician-scientists who return to their home countries following training
•    Develop career advancement awards for young scientists.

The  collaborating organizations beginning in 1973 until present are Baylor College of Medicine, the Retina Society, University of Wisconsin, McPherson Eye Research Institute, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, International Society for Eye Research, Schepens International Society, American Society of Retina Specialists, Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Macula Society,  Club Jules Gonin, Swiss Ophthalmological Society, and International Council of Ophthalmology.  Retina research sites have been Texas 11, national 52, international 30, Pan American 21.

Honors and Recognition

Dr. McPherson’s extraordinary dedication and leadership has benefited many institutions and professional organizations.  The following are some of the honors and recognition she has received in acknowledgement of her important  contributions:

From the University of Wisconsin

University graduation commencement speaker and honorary degree awardee; renaming of the [McPherson] Eye Research Institute in her honor; founding member of the Advisory Board of the McPherson Eye Research Institute; McPherson House, a medical student learning community named in her honor; a McPherson Lectureship established in her honor; board member of the University of Wisconsin Foundation; Founding President of the University of Wisconsin Ophthalmology Alumni Association.

Harvard Medical School related recognition

Harvard Medical School Distinguished Alumni Professional Achievement Award; Trustee of the Schepens Eye Research Institute.

From the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

Vice President of Program Development, AAO Foundation; Second Vice President of the AAO; Lifetime Member, AAO Foundation Honorary Board of Trustees; AAO Circle of Vision at Gold Level; Inaugural Member, AAO Visionary Society at Gold Member level; Member, AAO Planned Giving Committee; AAO Honor Awards; AAO Editors’ Choice Symposium Discussant.

From the Pan American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO)

President; Benjamin Boyd Humanitarian Award; Guest of Honor, 2005 PAAO Congress, Santiago, Chile; Guest of Honor, 2013 PAAO Congress, Rio de Janeiro.
Other recognition from International Societies:  European Society of Ophthalmology, Invited Lecturer 2009 Amsterdam Meeting; International College of Surgeons, Vice Regent in Texas.

Other honors

President, Retina Society; First Everett Viers Lecture, Scott and White Clinic; President, Houston Ophthalmological Society; Editorial Board, Archives of Ophthalmology.

With a few of her eighty Vitreoretinal Fellows, Chicago Academy, October 2012

Dr. McPherson with Dr. Charles L. Schepens

Previous Gonin Medalists

2018    Jean-Jacques De Laey, MD, PhD

2014    Alice R. McPherson, MD

2010    Alan C. Bird, MD

2006    Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS

2002    Gottfried Naumann, MD

1998    Robert Machemer, MD

1994    Harold L. Ridley

1990    Barrie R. Jones

1986    Akika Nakajima

1982    Alfred Edward Maumenee

1978    Norman Henry Ashton

1974    David G. Cogan

1970    Gerhard Meyer-Schwickerath

1966    Jules François

1962    Hans Goldmann

1958    Alan Woods

1954    Stewart Duke-Elder

1950    Hermenegilde Arruga

1945    Paul Haillart

1941    Alfred Vogt

Dr. McPherson presented Gonin Medal by Dr. Bruce Spivey - WOC 2014 Opening Ceremony, Tokyo, Japan

Gonin Medal and Diploma of Gonin Medal

Dr. McPherson after presenting Gonin Medal Lecture, Jules Gonin Eye Hospital

Presentation of Diploma of Gonin Medal to Dr. McPherson

Dr. McPherson with Prof. Dominique Arlettaz, Dean Univ. of Lausanne, and Dr. JJ Delaey, Vice-Pres. ICO