APGS Vice President & Awards Committee Hong Kong
Professor Clement C.Y. Tham is Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, and S.H. Ho Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). He is also Director of the CUHK Eye Centre and Honorary Chief-of-Service of the Hong Kong Eye Hospital.
Other positions include Vice President (International Relations) of the Asia-Pacific Glaucoma Society (APGS) and Convener of the APGS Award Committee, Secretary General and CEO Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APOA), Member APAO Award Selection Committee, Member Board of Directors, International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) and Member Global Advisors Committee, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
Prof. Tham was Chair of the Local Organising Committee, World Glaucoma Congress 2015 Hong Kong, Congress President and Chair of the Organising Committee, 2nd Asia-Pacific Glaucoma Congress (APGC) 2014 Hong Kong, and Chair of the Scientific Program Committees of the 27th APAO Congress 2012 in Korea, 1st APGC 2012 in Indonesia, 28th APAO Congress 2013 in India, and the World Ophthalmology Congress 2016 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
His primary academic interest is angle closure glaucoma and the laser and surgical treatments of glaucoma. He has over 90 peer-reviewed and indexed publications on glaucoma and delivered over 80 invited lectures. He has acted as an instructor in over 40 instruction courses at major international ophthalmology conferences, has presented over 150 papers in major scientific conferences and has held over 10 major research grants.
In recognition of Prof. Tham’s contributions to research and teaching in the field of glaucoma he has received the inaugural APAO Nakajima Award 2005, the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award in Hong Kong 2005, AAO Achievement Award 2008, APAO Achievement Award 2010, APAO Outstanding Service in Prevention of Blindness Award 2011, APAO Holmes Award Lecture 2013, APAO Distinguished Service Award 2013, Alim Memorial Lecture, Annual National Conference of Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh 2014, APAO De Ocampo Award Lecture 2015 and the Honored International Lecture, ASCRS Glaucoma Day 2015.
APGS Treasurer Australia
After completing a Bachelor of Medical Science in Cell Biology as the first medical student accepted to the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Prof. Healey went on to graduate with Honours from the Medical School of the University of New South Wales and St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. His postgraduate qualifications include Master of Medicine in Clinical Epidemiology and PhD in Medicine from the University of Sydney.
Prof. Healey completed a glaucoma fellowship at Moorfields Eye Hospital (London) from 2000 to 2001 before returning to Australia where he is now Director of Glaucoma Services at Western Sydney Eye Hospital, Director of Glaucoma Research at the Westmead Millennium Institute (Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney) and the chief glaucoma investigator for the Blue Mountains Eye Study. He is also Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and Honorary Medical Officer at Sydney Eye Hospital.
Prof. Healey holds many regional and worldwide positions including founder Board member and treasurer of the Asia-Pacific Glaucoma Society, Pacific Coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, Steering Committee member and Chair of the Associate Advisory Board, Bylaws and the World Glaucoma Day Committees of the World Glaucoma Association. He also has interests in postgraduate education most recently as Director of Training for the Sydney Eye Hospital and medical ethics as a member of the ethics Committee of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.
Prof. Healey has many research interests including: Glaucoma, Ophthalmic Epidemiology & Public Health, Cell Biology, Diagnostic Test & Screening Evaluation and Genetic Epidemiology. In 2005 he was honoured with the International Young Clinician-Scientist Award from the Association of International Glaucoma Societies. He has made over 200 scientific presentations at meetings throughout the world. He is an editorial board member of a number of journals and has published over 110 articles based on original research.
China
Prof. Ningli Wang has engaged in clinical and scientific research in ophthalmology for 34 years, and performed more than 20,000 surgeries. He currently serves as a consultant expert in Central Health Care Committee. The main areas of his works are: the pathogenesis and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.
He is the Director of Beijing Tongren Eye Center (Key Discipline of the Ministry of Education and Clinical Key Specialty of National Health and Family Planning Commission), and Director of the National Research Center for Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering Technology. He served as primary investigator (PI) of 11 major projects, including National High-tech R&D Program (863 Program), Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), NSFC Projects of International Cooperation and Exchange, Major Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. Besides that, he has led 2 national major blindness prevention projects. Prof. Wang has by now served as supervisor for 10 postdoctoral students and 52 doctoral students.
He has published 429 peer-review papers as the first author or corresponding author, including 167 SCI articles, with 5388 citations in total and 4765 citations by others. Among his publications, 25 papers are published on articles (first author or corresponding author) the top two international ophthalmology journals; 4 papers are published on Nature Genetics and 1 paper on Nature Communication. In terms of the number of articles published in the glaucoma field, he ranks the first in China and top 10 worldwide. He is the chief-editor of 26 textbooks and monographs on ophthalmology and 12 standard specifications, and has been authorized 20 patents. As PI, he was awarded 2 National Science and Technology Progress Second Class Awards and 4 Provincial Science and Technology Progress First Class Awards.
Taiwan
Dr. Catherine J. Liu is professor of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine in National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. She is also the chairperson of the Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital. In December, 2017, she was elected as President of the Ophthalmological Society of Taiwan. In 2010, Dr. Liu was the President of the Asia-Pacific Joint Glaucoma Conference held in Taipei, which is the first joint meeting of the three international glaucoma organizations in the Asia Pacific region, preceding the establishment of Asia-Pacific Glaucoma Society.
Dr. Liu was graduated cum laude from National Yang-Ming University, then received residency training in the Department of Ophthalmology in Taipei Veterans General Hospital. From 1992 to 1993, she received glaucoma fellowship training in Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. After that, she went back to Taipei and has been dedicated to the practice and research in the field of glaucoma, as well as medical education and prevention of blindness, for more than 25 years. Dr. Liu pursuits her research interest in diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, ocular blood flow in glaucoma, wound healing after glaucoma filtration surgery, primary angle closure glaucoma, oxidative stress and eye disease, vision-related quality of life in glaucoma, development of sustained drug delivery platform, and application of artificial intelligence in glaucoma screening. She has published more than 100 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, and has served as a reviewer for several prestigious journals including Ophthalmology, JAMA Ophthalmology, British Journal of Ophthalmology, and Eye.
India
Dr Tanuj Dada completed his graduation and post graduation from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and was awarded the gold medals for the best undergraduate, best postgraduate in ophthalmology, the Ophthalmic Research association award for the best Senior Registrar and the Mohan Lal Wig gold medal for the best clinical research under the age of 35 years. He has received the World Glaucoma Congress Film Festival Award 2011 ,American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award 2009, SAARC achievement award 2008, the special poster recognition at the World Glaucoma Congress (Singapore 2007) ,and silver plate by the European Glaucoma Society meeting (Florence 2004). He has also been awarded the, Krishna Sohan Singh Trophy for Best Clinical Talk twice (2007,2000) and the AC Agarwal trophy for the best free paper 3 times by the Delhi Ophthalmological society. He was the Organizing Chairperson for the first International Congress on Glaucoma Surgery in India (New Delhi 2010).
He has published the All India Ophthalmological Society guidelines for glaucoma investigations and medical therapy. He has authord 2 textbooks on Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery, 5 text books on glaucoma , compiled the first international video atlas on glaucoma surgery , and produced the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) educational DVD on Gonioscopy for post graduate training in the country. He has written 85 chapters and has over 140 publications in peer reviewed indexed journals. He has innovated several new techniques of cataract and glaucoma surgery including modified phaco-in-situ, SLOCT guided bleb needling, bimanual MICS combined with trabeculectomy and sutureless pars plana vitrectomy in phacomorphic glaucoma. He serves on the ARVO international committee, Executive Committee of the International Society Glaucoma Surgery, Code of Practice committee and Associate advisory board of the World Glaucoma Association .He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Current Glaucoma Practice , global editor Glaucoma for World Ophthalmology.
Bangladesh
Prof. Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Glaucoma Specialist & Phaco surgeon, currently working as Senior Consultant at Bangladesh Eye Hospital. He is the former Professor and Head of Ophthalmology Department at BIRDEM Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Graduated MBBS in 1982. Later he obtained Diploma (DO), Membership (MCPS) and Fellowship (FCPS) in Ophthalmology. He had fellowship on Phacoemulsification with Dr. Pannet Pangputhipong at Bangkok in 1997 and on Glaucoma with Prof. Robert Ritch at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, USA in 2005.
Prof. M. Nazrul Islam is the President of Bangladesh Eye Care Society. He is the Immediate Past President of the Bangladesh Glaucoma Society, He is the Chairman of the Board of Management of Jessore Community Eye Hospital and Jessore Eye & Laser centre. He is a member of the executive board of Asia Pacific Glaucoma Society( APGS), Asian Angle Closure Glaucoma Club (AACGC).
Prof. Nazrul Islam is the author of over 60 medical and scientific papers. He edited Journal of the Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh (1995-2000), Journal of the Bangladesh Academy of Ophthalmology (2003-2006).Presently he is the Chief Editor of Journal of Bangladesh Glaucoma Society and Editor of Bangladesh Ophthalmic Journal. He was invited to speak or chair in the World Glaucoma Congress, American Academy of ophthalmology, Asia Pacific Glaucoma Congress, Asia Pacific Association of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (APACRS), All India Ophthalmmological Congress and other National Conferences.
Prof. Nazrul is the writer of five books in Bengali language, one android app on ‘Glaucoma Bangla’ .He received no. of Gold Medal from home and abroad.
APGS Secretary General & Congress Chairman Malaysia
Dr. Fang Seng Kheong is presently a senior consultant ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist at the International Specialist Eye Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
He graduated with MBBS from the University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur in 1986, obtained a Masters of Surgery in Ophthalmology, National University of Malaysia in 1994, and become a clinical fellow in glaucoma Department of Ophthalmology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney under Dr Ivan Goldberg in 1995.
His career has included consultant ophthalmologist in a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Head of the Glaucoma service between 1995 to 1999, and then Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist and Glaucoma Specialist at the Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital from 1999 to May 2007.
Dr. Fang has been Honorary Secretary of Asia Pacific Glaucoma Society since 2012 and President of the Malaysian Society of Ophthalmology since 2013. He holds many other positions including: member of the IMAGE Asia Pacific Glaucoma Advisory Board since its inception; Elected Council member of the APAO since 2010 as regional secretary representing Malaysia; Chairman of the Young Ophthalmologist Standing Committee of the APAO since 2013; Board member of ASEAN Ophthalmology Society since 2013; Editorial Board of the International Glaucoma Review of the World Glaucoma Association, Asian Journal of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Surgery News APAO Edition and EyeWorld Asia Pacific. Dr. Fang has received distinguished service awards from APAO in 2007 and the Asian Angle Closure Glaucoma Club in 2012.
APGS President Thailand
Dr Prin Rojanapongpun is a chairman and Associate Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology at Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. He is also a consultant at Bumrungrad International and Sukumvit Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.
He received his bachelor degree of science and medical degree from Chulalongkorn University, and did his ophthalmology residency at the same medical school and the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Dr. Rojanapongpun pursued his clinical glaucoma fellowship at the University of British Columbia under Professor Stephen Drance. He also did a short glaucoma visiting fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Duke University and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. In 1993, he received a Japanese Ophthalmological Society scholarship to Dokkyo University in Japan.
Dr Rojanapongpun holds senior positions in several professional ophthalmologic societies, including Executive Board of the Asia Pacific Glaucoma Society (APGS), President of the Asian Angle Closure Glaucoma Club (AACGC), Immediate Past President of South East Asia Glaucoma Interest Group (SEAGIG), President of the Thai Glaucoma Society, Executive Board of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand, Advisory Board of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO), Immediate Past Council and Chair of the Advocacy Committee of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) and Executive Board of Asia Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (APACRS). He also serves as chair, committee and consultant to many other national and supranational societies and industries.
Dr Rojanapongpun is a distinguished glaucoma and cataract lecturer. He has received awards from AAO, ASCRS, APACRS, APAO, and the Red Cross Society. He’s been invited to teach and lecture in 17 countries in Asia and another 17 countries in America, Europe, Africa and Australia (where several countries were visited multiple times). He’s delivered more than 300 lectures at national and international congresses. He performed live surgery in 7 countries and trained many surgeons to perform both cataract and glaucoma surgery. Dr. Rojanapongpun’s current major research interests include angle closure glaucoma, the epidemiology and diagnosis of glaucoma, as well as the medical and surgical management of patients with glaucoma. He has published in many domestic literatures and international peer reviewed articles.
Prof Xiulan Zhang, MD, PhD, glaucoma specialist, is currently the Vice Director of the Glaucoma Department, Director of the Clinical Research Center and Director of the Institution of Drug Clinical Trials at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center in Guangzhou. She is also a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and the Chinese Medical Association's Chinese Ophthalmological Society. She has served as secretary of the Chinese Glaucoma Society and as a council member of the Chinese Neuro-ophthalmology Society. She has published more than 160 articles in international and Chinese peer-reviewed journals, one book "Illustrated Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma" (September 2014) and six book chapters. She has received 20 scientific grants including four from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. She serves as an editorial board member of many ophthalmology journals and a reviewer for many peer-reviewed journals including Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, PLoS One, British Journal of Ophthalmology, Molecular Vision and Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. She has received a number of prestigious awards including the National Science and Technology Progress Award. In light of her research on anatomical dysfunction in glaucomatous eyes and how surgical intervention can help, she was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in ophthalmology in 2014.
DA-WEN LU, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center in Taipei, Taiwan. He is now the Director of Ophthalmology Department at Tri-Service General Hospital. He currently also serve as the president of Taiwan Glaucoma Society and Board member of Taiwan Ophthalmological Society and Asian- Pacific Glaucoma Society. He is also a member of Glaucoma Research Society.
Dr. Lu received his medical education and Ph.D. program at Medical School of National Defense University, Taipei, Taiwan. His fellowship in glaucoma was with Dr. Spaeth at Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Lu has special interests and expertise in the areas of glaucoma, ocular pharmacology, and experimental research.
Dr. Lu has authored over 150 published papers, appearing in numerous medical and scientific journals. He received outstanding performance awards from National Science Council of Taiwan and Asian-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology. His current areas of research interest include investigation in the causes of glaucoma, glaucoma filtering surgery, clinical trials and neuroprotecti
Philippines
Dr. Norman M. Aquino currently serves as Chief of the Glaucoma Service of the American Eye Center. He is also Clinical Associate Professor and Assistant Chief of the Glaucoma Service of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital.
He received his medical education and completed his residency training in Ophthalmology at the Philippine General Hospital-University of the Philippines. He then completed fellowship training in glaucoma at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary–Harvard University.
He is an examiner of the Philippine Board of Ophthalmology and is Board Director of the South East Asian Glaucoma Interest Group (SEAGIG). He was a founding member and Past President of the Philippine Glaucoma Society and has served in the Executive Council of the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Aquino continues to be invited as speaker and resource person in many local and regional meetings and scientific fora. His clinical interests in glaucoma include visual field testing, imaging, treatment modalities of refractive glaucoma, pediatric glaucoma, and glaucoma education and training.
Convenor of APGS-MIGS Interest Group; Singapore
Associate Professor Chelvin Sng is a Consultant at the National University Hospital in Singapore. She graduated from Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge University with triple First Class Honours and Distinctions. As a recipient of the Academic Medicine and Development Award, she completed her glaucoma fellowship at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
A/Prof Sng has a special interest in the use of glaucoma drainage devices. Besides being trained in the implantation of Ahmed and Baerveldt tube shunt devices, she is amongst the first surgeons in Asia to be accredited in the use of several novel micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices. She was awarded a grant to study the outcomes of MIGS in Asian patients, and has conducted training courses on MIGS at ESCRS and APAO meetings. She was the Lead Guest Editor of a Special Edition on MIGS in the Journal of Ophthalmology and is currently working with Springer to edit a book on MIGS.
A/Prof Sng is also actively involved in research on glaucoma surgery and imaging. She was awarded the New Investigators Grant from the National Medical Research Council for her work on the “Novel Ocular Biometric Risk Factors in Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma”. She is the co-inventor of the Paul Glaucoma Implant, which has attained CE mark and is currently undergoing commercialization.
A/Prof Sng has received international awards from AAO (Best Poster Prize), ASCRS (Best Paper of Session Prize), ANZGIG (Travel Scholarship) and ARVO (Travel Grant). She was also awarded the Singapore Society of Ophthalmology Young Ophthalmologist Award, and is involved in the Ophthalmology Futures Forums as the Director of the Asian Organising Committee.