Summer School of Practical Ophthalmology in Prague

Meet our Alumni

Over the last two years, we have hosted aspiring Ophthalmologists from 17 countries.
We are honoured to offer such an international platform.

The Summer School of Practical Ophthalmology 2024 was not only a highlight of my summer, but also a milestone in my medical studies! I was impressed by the variety of sessions on offer and the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge of experienced clinicians and researchers. One focus this year was on the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and its role in the future, a topic not previously covered at my home university. The insights into this area of research were very well explained and met with great interest from us participants. The many opportunities to improve our surgical skills were an absolute highlight. Thanks to the good preparation, suture techniques and surgical steps of cataract surgery could be practiced and understood directly on the pig's eye. I also enjoyed meeting young and motivated people from all over Europe and discovering the uniquely beautiful city of Prague with them. I will remember these days for a long time to come and I would like to thank everyone involved for this wonderful experience, especially our organisers!

Lukas

University of Leipzig

Attending Summer School of Practical Ophthalmology 2024 was a unique experience that allowed me to connect with like-minded students from all around Europe and expand my skills in Ophthalmology. The program provided a unique opportunity to practice surgical techniques and get introduction to the possibilities of AI in the field, areas I haven't got the chance to practice or explore during my studies.
In addition to the practical and theoretical skills, the organisers and lecturers provided us with unique insights into their own path in ophthalmology. They were extremely helpful and friendly and their eagerness to help, teach and be present was remarkable. Moreover, networking with fellow participants offered a great opportunity to make new friends and get inspired of what they do in terms of research, fellowships and student jobs. The program was designed in a creative way that allowed us to explore new knowledge in the field not usually offered in classrooms, get hand-on experience, ask questions to experts in the field and work together with future colleagues from other universities in Europe. All in all, this experience was truly unique and enriching on both personal, social and professional levels.

Sedra

University of Copenhagen

One of the best experiences I ever had as a medical student. I am feeling so lucky that I could be part of the Summer School of Practical Ophthalmology in Prague. I would recommend everyone who is interested in the field to apply without a second thought. Not only because of the opportunity to develop practical skills but also to meet great and inspiring people. From Vasil and Martin to all the contributors, everyone added their unique touch to make this Summer School unforgettable.

Eleni

University of Sofia

The Summer School of Practical Ophthalmology was a wonderful three-day event, which encompassed lectures, seminars and workshops on different topics in Ophthalmology. We had the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest physicians and scientists, to meet other medical students and young doctors from around Europe and to spend a wonderful weekend in Prague. The Summer School felt like the ideal end to my days as a medical student, bridging the way towards a future in Ophthalmology. It was an enlightening experience, and it was truly an honor to participate.

Athanasia

University of Thessaloniki

What a fantastic Summer School! This three-day course offers unparalleled training for a future career in Ophthalmology. We had the privilege of attending lectures from experts affiliated with prestigious institutions such as Oxford and Harvard, complemented by hands-on workshops in ophthalmic instrumentation. Personally, I found the wet labs particularly impressive, especially the instruction in corneal sutures and cataract surgery. The slit lamp workshop prepared me so effectively for my rotation at an American hospital that I received praise from professors. And let’s not forget the exceptional food provided throughout the course. All of this was offered entirely free of charge! I wholeheartedly recommend this school to any aspiring ophthalmologist.

Eugenie

Strasbourg University

The Summer School was a great opportunity for both preparing for the first job in the hospital as well as having international exchange with over 14 different countries. With the main focus on practically relevant knowledge and skills it was really helpful and a lot of fun. We all greatly enjoyed the Summer School and I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to train as an Ophthalmologist.

Daniel

LMU Munich

The Summer School was not only a unique opportunity to gain valuable practical skills but also to connect with many young doctors and medical students who share same passion for the competitive but ever so fascinating field of Ophthalmology. Each day of the Summer School was packed with a variety of activities. From hands-on workshops where we could work on our slit-lamp skills and try out microsurgery in the wet lab to many inspiring lectures delivered by leading experts in the field. I am so very thankful for this experience as it helped me to gain some confidence in my skills and connect with other like-minded people who I dare call friends after just three awesome days. Everything fell into place perfectly, I cherished every moment of it and I deeply appreciate this little community we created.

Michaela

Charles University

The Summer School of Practical Ophthalmology has been a great experience in which I was able to enrich my knowledge in ophthalmology as well as connect to other professionals of the field. I consider of particular importance having had access to workshops and wet labs so early in my training, which will surely shape my future career in this interesting field.

Andrea

Humanitas University

This Summer School has been incredible from every point of view. We had the opportunity to do practical workshops that would be otherwise impossible to do for medical students. The guest lectures and the organisers were amazing and ready to help. This is for sure the best place to meet fellow Ophtalmology enthusiasts and learn practical skills. Absolutely recommended!

Luigia

Humanitas University

As an Ophthalmology enthusiast, I couldn't imagine not sending an application to such an event after I read the email from my university. It exceeded my expectations! Impossible not to love the people I’ve met, Prague, the workshops, the topics of the lectures and everything else in between. I would do it all again a few more times with the same excitement if I could. Thank you so much for everything, it was amazing.

Inès

Sorbonne University

It was an indescribably enriching experience! High-quality training and lectures, friendly tutors and colleagues, new interesting discoveries and beautiful Prague. It was also so nice to meet new people from all over Europe, who have the same dream as me – to become an ophthalmologist. Thank you very much, dear organisers!

Emilija

Vilnius University

Meet our previous speakers.‍

We are delighted to have hosted such a wide range of lecturers from world-class institutions. Personal mentorship provided by experienced researchers is a crucial component of a successful career in Ophthalmology, and we pride ourselves on providing it to our attendees.

Prof. Michael D. Abramoff, MD, PhD

University of Iowa

American neuroscientist, ophthalmologist, vitreoretinal surgeon, computer engineer, and entrepreneur

Michael Morley, MD

Harvard Medical School

VR surgeon, Emeritus Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Grayson W. Armstrong, MD, MPH

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Director of Ophthalmology Emergency Service at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Instructor in Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School

João Pedro Marques, MD, PhD, FEBO

University Hospital Coimbra

Ophthalmic Genetics & Retina specialist, Head of the Retinal Dystrophies Clinic at CHUC; EVICR.net Retinal Dystrophies Expert Committee member

Ahmed Shalaby, MD, Msc, FRCOpth

University of Oxford

Vitreoretinal fellow at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation, DPhil Candidate at Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford

Pavla Hubálková, PhD

Wired Czech republic

Scientist by profession, in her current practice she is fully engaged in scientific journalism and popularization of science. She is a recipient of a Fulbright scholarship, the Chairman's Award of the Council for Research, Development and Innovation is awarded for the promotion or popularization of research.

Dr. Med. Sophie-Christin Ernst

Universitätsspital Basel

Ophthalmology Resident at University Hospital Basel, Research Affiliate at Technical University Berlin focussing on Value-based Healthcare and Co-Founder of Patients4Digital

Prof. Pavel Studený, MD, PhD, MHA

University Hospital Královské Vinohrady

Head of Ophthalmology Department, Královské Vinohrady University Hospital

Adam Kopecký, MD, PhD, FEBO

University Hospital Ostrava

Oculoplastic surgeon with interest both in reconstruction and aesthetic surgery. Fellowships and observerships in Canada, Germany, Austria and UK. Full ESOPRS member.

Justin Engelmann, PhD

University College London (UCL)

Is a postdoctoral researcher in Pearse Keane's group at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, working on machine learning for retinal image analysis.

Dominic Williamson

University College London

PhD candidate fousing on AI-enabled Healthcare at UCL, supervised by Pearse Keane and Daniel Alexander.

Meet our team

Vasil Kostin, MD

DPhil Candidate
Univesity of Oxford

Doctoral Student at University of Oxford focusing on prime editing of Stargardt disease. Recipient of the Macular Society Scholarship, and a MedTech co-founder recognised as a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree. Vasil focuses as well on AI and its applications in Ophthalmology and has worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard University‘s Ophthalmology AI Lab. He is dedicated to driving advancements in eye care through innovation and education.

Martin Horák, MD

PhD Candidate
Charles University

Doctoral Student at Charles University working on a thesis focused on Corneal Genetics and Eye Banking. Martin has a strong research background which he honed at Charles University and University of Oxford. For his academic work, he was awarded with multiple scholarships, grants and awards, culminated in a fully funded PhD position. His borscht recipe has sparked many myths and legends and is generally considered delicious. Martin is a dynamic individual passionate for innovation, academic work and patient care.

Zbyněk Straňák, MD, Ph.D.

Deputy Chief of Ophthalmology Department
Královské Vinohrady Faculty Hospital

Accomplished ophthalmology surgeon specializing in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). His pioneering research on applying RPE cells to pigs‘ subretinal space shows promise for advancing AMD treatment. Dr. Straňák also serves as a respected lector at the Institute For Postgraduate Medical Education, sharing his knowledge and passion for eye care with future ophthalmologists.