Professor Jugnoo Rahi awarded prestigious Bowman Medal by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists

10 Jun 2026, 11:41 a.m.

A woman in glasses smiles broadly at the camera while holding up a box with a large silver medal inside.

Professor Jugnoo Rahi, Professor of Ophthalmic Epidemiology at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at GOSH has been awarded the prestigious Bowman Medal by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) at its annual Congress.

The Bowman Medal is the most senior honour bestowed by the College. Named after William Bowman, widely regarded as the founder of modern ophthalmology in the UK, the award recognises outstanding contributions to the field. Bowman himself was an extraordinary clinician-scientist, elected a Fellow of the Royal Society at just 25 years old and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons at 27.

The honour is particularly notable as it is rarely awarded to clinical academics, making Professor Rahi’s recognition a significant milestone for translational and population-focused research in vision and child health.

As part of the award, Professor Rahi delivered the Bowman Lecture, where she showcased the impact of collaborative research across institutions, including GOSH and UCL. Her lecture will highlight the work and partnerships that underpin advances in paediatric eye health.

Professor Rahi’s work exemplifies the power of collaboration between clinical care, research, and policy to improve outcomes for children and young people with eye conditions.

This recognition reflects not only her individual leadership and impact, but also the strength of the wider research ecosystem across GOSH, UCL, and their partners in advancing child health.

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