On June 16, 2018, at the general assembly of the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis (AOI) held in Barcelona, Spain, Professor Zhao Jialiang from the Department of Ophthalmology, PUMCH, was elected vice president of AOI. This is so far the highest title held by a Chinese in international academic institutions on ophthalmology.

AOI is an academy-centered international academic institution which is devoted to protecting human vision and achieving results in ophthalmology education and clinical practice. Its VP is a member of the leadership, which is nominated by the president and voted by the general assembly. Professor Zhao was elected in 2004 academician of AOI, the first Chinese scholar ever elected. So far there are 83 AOI academicians from worldwide, including five from the Chinese mainland.

Zhao’s election is the world’s recognition of his long-term efforts in ophthalmological undertakings in China and the world. He introduced world advanced ideas and techniques to China, and on the other hand made tremendous innovative efforts to bring China’s ophthalmology to the world and gain it more say on the international stage. Zhao’s winning the honor is an honor of China’s ophthalmological community and an acknowledgement of what China has contributed to the world’s ophthalmological undertakings.

Zhao Jialiang, a profile

Zhao Jialiang is professor with the Department of Ophthalmology, PUMCH. He worked as director of Ophthalmology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, director of the Department of Ophthalmology, PUMCH, chairman of the 7th, 8th and 9th Chinese Ophthalmological Society, Chinese Medical Association and director of its blindness prevention group, editor-in-chief of Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology, deputy director of Society of Rehabilitation, China Disabled Persons' Federation, director of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, director of its Society of Ophthalmologists and director of Committee of Prevention and Treatment of Visual Damage.

From 2004, he was elected academician of AOI, director of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, director of International Council of Ophthalmology, vice chairman of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and chairman of Blindness Prevention Committee. From 2011, he worked as president and director of Society of Ophthalmologists, Beijing Medical Doctor Association, and director of Society of Ophthalmology, Chinese Non-government Medical Institutions Association.

He won the second prize of State Sci-tech Progress Award, second and third prizes of Beijing Sci-tech Progress Award, second prize of China Medical Sci-tech Award, China Ophthalmologist Distinguished Achievement Award, Lifetime Achievement Award of Society of Ophthalmologists, China Medical Doctor Association, China Medical Doctor Award, Carl Kupfer International Blindness Prevention Award, APACRS Distinguished Achievement Award, APAO Award, APAO Arthur Lim Award, Chinese American Ophthalmological Society Golden Apple Award, “Doheny Scholar” with Doheny Eye Institute, UCLA, APAO Jose Rizal Award, OCAVER Distinguished Leadership Award, and AAO Achievement Award.