JEDDAH: The Group Medical Director of Magrabi Hospitals & Centers Dr. Alaa Al-Danasouri has become the first non-American to be appointed as a board member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
This selection comes as a result of his vast experience and international reputation within the ophthalmology field.
Mutasim Alireza, managing director of Magrabi Hospitals & Center (MHC), announced the news during a special dinner event the group held in honor of Al-Danasouri at Laylati ballroom in Jeddah.
“The selection of our group chief medical officer as the first non-American ophthalmologist in this position by the AAO brings great satisfaction to Magrabi Hospitals & Centers and his achievements in the ophthalmology international arena are a source of pride to all of us,” he said.
In 2009 the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS) based in San Francisco also appointed Al-Danasouri as its president.
He was also awarded the Kritzinger Award, a trophy usually granted to those physicians with great contributions in the clinical, educational and research fields. The Kritzinger Award is granted annually in a special ceremony held in memory of Dr. Kritzinger Michael.
In his appreciation speech, Al-Danasouri pointed out that his appointments are considered a success, not only for himself, but also to all ophthalmologists in the Middle East.
He concluded that doctors in this region now have a direct voice to represent them in the AAO.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is considered the highest reference for all ophthalmologists around the world. Al-Danasouri said that without the support of all his colleagues in the Kingdom and the Middle East he would not have been able to achieve this success.
Al-Danasouri is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, and the President of the Scientific Committee of the Middle East African Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) as well as a pioneer surgeon in Lasik & refractive surgeries worldwide. He is the first surgeon to conduct lens implant surgery to correct severe vision errors in the Middle East.
