IoO celebrates academic staff promotions

Congratulations to Maryse Bailly, Mariya Moosajee, Frank Larkin (MEH Consultant), Stephen Tuft (MEH Consultant), Ananth C Viswanathan (MEH consultant) on being promoted to the position of Professor; to Narciss Okhravi (MEH consultant) on being promoted to the position of Professorial Teaching Fellow; and to Dawn Sim (MEH consultant), Tessa Dekker and Adam Dubis on being promoted to the position of Associate Professor.

 Professor Andrew Dick, Institute Director, said:

“Celebrating during COVID is not something that I would have readily envisaged. So, it is most welcome and certainly a great pleasure for me to see our success in the 2020 promotion round. Please join me in congratulating the awardees. Promotion at UCL requires a demonstration of excellence and levels of achievement commensurate with standards expected at UCL across research, education, enablement, and citizenship and enterprise. Promotion therefore is a great testament to individual excellence. Our success also displays the strength of the partnership between UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital.
 

Some quotes from the recipients 

“Becoming a Professor of Molecular Ophthalmology at UCL is a dream come true. I have always followed two principles, 'Sapere Aude - dare to be wise, and 'work hard, play hard'. I have enjoyed every pursuit undertaken, no matter how varied, and my research has always enthused and excited me. I believe this accolade must be shared with my research team, both past and present from UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. A big thank you to all those who have believed in me, supported and guided me. I hope that this achievement will offer inspiration to many others who aspire to follow a clinical or academic pathway 
Prof Mariya Moosajee
 

“I am delighted and honoured to be admitted to the highest academic rank at UCL. When I first stepped through the doors of the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology 26 years ago to study for my MD in Visual Psychophysics, the strong bond between the Institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital was exemplified by Roger Hitchings and Fred Fitzke, my clinical and scientific mentors. That bond has been maintained and strengthened. The current senior leaders at the Institute (Andrew Dick, Director) and Moorfields (Nick Strouthidis and David Probert, Medical Director and CEO) are due great credit for an island site which is second to none in producing high quality ophthalmic research, answering the questions which matter to our patients.
Prof Ananth C Viswanathan
 

“I am delighted to have been promoted to Professorial Teaching Fellow, the first such Professorship in Ophthalmology. The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital have a
proud tradition of delivering excellence in education and training for many thousands of undergraduates and postgraduates from differing professional backgrounds.  Now, more than ever, we need to rigorously apply educational wisdom combined with clinical expertise to produce the best professionals for tomorrow’s healthcare systems. I am confident that our joint institutions will continue to lead in this rapidly changing environment. I hope this accolade for my efforts reaffirms education- based careers for my many clinical colleagues and students worldwide. I’m looking forward to working with them to capitalise on the many opportunities this pandemic has brought us so we can deliver education in innovative ways, not only protecting sight but also treating the eye disease of our patients. 
Prof Narciss Okhravi
 

“"Growing up, all I wanted to do was follow in the family profession. My dad said go and be bigger. I worked hard, and kept working, developing a passion for understanding how the eye works and trying to help save the precious sense of sight for other people. Growing up, I never dreamed of leaving the corner of the US state where I was born, now 7 years at UCL, I look back at the amazing trip it has been. However, as I look forward it is with excitement for the discoveries, experiments and places still to go! Our successes are never achieved alone, so more than anything I want to thank those within and outside UCL that have taught me, mentored me, collaborated with me and pushed me to keep learning and working."Growing up, all I wanted to do was follow in the family profession. My dad said go and be bigger. I worked hard, and kept working, developing a passion for understanding how the eye works and trying to help save the precious sense of sight for other people. Growing up, I never dreamed of leaving the corner of the US state where I was born, now 7 years at UCL, I look back at the amazing trip it has been. However, as I look forward it is with excitement for the discoveries, experiments and places still to go! Our successes are never achieved alone, so more than anything I want to thank those within and outside UCL that have taught me, mentored me, collaborated with me and pushed me to keep learning and working.
Adam Dubis

Links to academic staff profiles 
 

• Dr Maryse Bailly
• Dr Mariya Moosajee
• Prof Frank Larkin
• Stephen Tuft
• Ananth C Viswanathan
• Prof Narciss Okhravi
• Dawn Sim
• Dr Tessa Dekker
• Dr Adam Dubis

Other links 

• UCL Promotions 2019-2020