This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
APAO-AAO welcomes international delegates, mourns leader's passing
NUSA DUA, Indonesia — The joint meeting of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and American Academy of Ophthalmology opened here with traditional Balinese dance and music and marked the passing of one if its leaders, Prof. Yasuo Tano.
 Tjahjono D. Gondhowiardjo |
"On behalf of the Indonesian Ophthalmologist Association I would like to extend our warmest welcome to more than 3,200 delegates from 73 countries," Tjahjono D. Gondhowiardjo, MD, PhD, congress president, organizing committee chairman and president of the Indonesian Ophthalmologist Association said. "I also would like to express my deepest appreciation for your bravery to travel under the shadow of the swine flu."
At the start of the ceremony, the participants honored the passing of Prof. Yasuo Tano with a moment of silence.
"Yasuo Tano should have been standing here at the podium, celebrating the achievements of APAO and the conclusion of his successful second term as president," Frank J. Martin, MD, said. "I am humbled and saddened as president-elect to be standing in his place."
 Frank J. Martin, president-elect of the APAO, leads the delegation in a moment of remembrance for Prof. Yasuo Tano, president of the APAO who passed away this year. |
Dr. Martin announced the establishment of the Prof. Yasuo Tano Travel Grant, which will provide support to allow young ophthalmologists to attend future APAO congresses. The grant will be supported by donations and proceeds from the sale of the A-Z book series, of which Prof. Tano was senior editor.
During the opening ceremony, Bruce E. Spivey, MD, MS, was awarded the Jose Rizal International Medal, which is awarded to those from outside the Asia-Pacific region who have made outstanding contributions to ophthalmology in the region.
"I am honored, humbled and pleased to accept this award," Dr. Spivey said.
The meeting also featured a performance of the traditional Balinese Barong Dance, symbolic of good triumphing over evil, and participants were provided angklungs, a traditional Balinese bamboo instrument, from the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism.