2023 Prize and Award Winners
Select award winners will present their work in SMP225, Prize and Awards, session, scheduled for Saturday, 18 March 2023; 8:30am – 10:00 am, Ceibo B. Click here to see those winners and presentations.
2023 A. Edward Maumenee Medal for Distinguished Services

Rafael Sánchez-Fontán (Mexico)
rafael sánchez-fontan MD (mEXICO)
2023 A. Edward Maumenee Medal for Distinguished Services
Established in 1983, the Pan-American Medal for Distinguished Services Award is presented at Pan-American congresses to individuals who have provided exemplary service to the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology for continuing education for ophthalmologists, the prevention of blindness and the promotion of scientific and cultural exchange among ophthalmologists in the Western Hemisphere. The name change took place in 1999 to honor A. Edward Maumenee, MD, for his extensive contribution to the Pan-American cause, making the award to be the A. Edward Maumenee Medal for Distinguished Services. Click here for the list of historical recipients.
2023 Benjamin F. Boyd Humanitarian Award for Service to the Americas

Department of Ophthalmology, UNIFESP-Federal University of São Paulo (Brazil)
Department of ophthalmology, unifesp-federal university of são paulo (brazil)
2023 Benjamin F. Boyd Humanitarian Award for Service to the Americas
The Benjamin F. Boyd Humanitarian Award for Services to the Americas was established in 1987 to acknowledge individuals who have extended singular and significant service to the people of the Americas through ophthalmological service and blindness prevention activities, public services related to the advancement of ophthalmology or blindness prevention, or such other service activities. Click here for the historical list of recipients.
2023 Dr. Bronwyn Bateman PAAO Award for Women’s Leadership in Ophthalmology and Vision Research

Alice R. McPherson (USA)
1926-2023
ALICE MCPHERSON MD (usa)
2023 Dr. Bronwyn Bateman PAAO Award for Women’s Leadership in Ophthalmology and Vision Research
The Dr. Bronwyn Bateman PAAO Award for Women’s Leadership in Ophthalmology and Vision Research was established in 2020, to recognize a female ophthalmologist from the Americas, Spain or Portugal as a leader in areas of research, education, clinical care, and/or organizational, governmental and/or public health contributions. The Awardee will have been in practice at least five years following her final training period (fellowship or post-doctoral training). The award was established by J. Bronwyn Bateman MD of Sacramento, California.
2023 The Enrique Graue Wiechers Award for Transformational Leadership

Carmen Barraquer Coll (Colombia)
carmen barraquer coll MD (colombia)
2023 The Enrique Graue Wiechers Award for Transformational Leadership
The Enrique Graue Wiechers Award for Transformational Leadership: Established in 2019, recognizes a senior ophthalmologist’s contribution to the development of institutions through the advancement of patient care, research, education, and training of human resources in Ophthalmology. The winner receives $2,500. The award was established by the Alumni of Dr. Enrique Graue Wiechers. Click here for the list of past recipients.
2023 Gradle Medal for Good Teaching

Francisco Contreras Campos (Peru)
francisco contreras campos MD (peru)
2023 Gradle Medal for Good Teaching
The Gradle Medal for Good Teaching was established in 1960 by Mrs. Audry Hayden Gradle in memory of Harry S. Gradle, MD, co-founder of the PAAO. The Gradle Medal for Teaching acknowledges excellence in teaching and education in the field of ophthalmology. This award recognizes a professor ophthalmologist who has demonstrated leadership in developing, implementing, or maintaining an outstanding training program and/or continuing education in the field of Ophthalmology. The awardee exemplifies excellence and promotes best practice in education. The awardee promotes positive relationships between the training program and the community and has been an advocate and leader in the field of Ophthalmology. Click here for the historical list of recipients.
Saturday, 18 March 2023; 8:30am – 10:00 am, Ceibo B
2023 J. Fernando Arévalo Young Ophthalmologist Award
The winner receives a $2,500 prize and presents a mini-lecture at the PAAO congress. The Fernando Arévalo Young Ophthalmologist Award was established by J. Fernando Arévalo, MD, a native of Venezuela.

Marina Roizenblatt (Brazil)
Marina roizenblatt MD phd (brazil)
“How to improve the skills of vitreoretinal surgeons”
Introduction by Mauricio Maia MD PhD (Brazil)
Marina Roizenblatt (Brazil)
- Retina specialist – Retina Division of the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil
- Post-doctoral research fellow Retina Division of the Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland USA
2023 Paul Kayser / RRF Global Award

Rajeev Muni (Canada)
rajeev muni MD MSc FRCSC (canada) & UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, DEPARTMENT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCES
“Bacillary Layer Detachment and Associated Abnormalities in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment“
Introduction by Allan R. Slomovic MSc MD (Canada)
Rajeev Muni (Canada)
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada
2023 Troutman-Véronneau Prize

Marcela Huertas Bello (Colombia)
marcela huertas bello MD (colombia)
“The therapeutic potential of Genipin corneal crosslinking in a Fusarium Solani species keratitis Ex vivo Model“
Introduction by Angela M. Fernandez Delgado MD (Colombia)
Marcela Huertas Bello (Colombia)
Ophthalmology Department, National University of Colombia
Bogota, Colombia
2023 Venezuelan Society of Ophthalmology “Fernando Arevalo Prize for the Best Free Paper PAAO-SVO”

Morela Silva Pacheco (Venezuela)
Morela silva pacheco MD (venezuela)
“Desenlace Clínico En Pacientes Con Lisis Y/O Perforación Corneal Asociada A Artritis Reumatoide Y/O Síndrome De Sjogren Tratados Con Rituximab Intravenosa“
Introduction by Francisco Millan Moreno MD (Venezuela)
Morela Silva Pacheco (Venezuela)
Anterior Segment, Uveitis
Centro de Cirugía Oftalmológica (CECOF)
Caracas, Venezuela