[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/WitelHas.jpg” caption=”S. Witelson and K. Hasanee”]A McMaster medical student in his final year of studies is the first recipient of the Dr. Henry Chaim Witelson Memorial Prize in Ophthalmology.

The award, announced by McMaster neuroscientist Sandra Witelson on behalf of the memorial prize advisory committee, goes to Khalid Hasanee. He was chosen from a group of excellent applicants for his important and interesting proposal, as well as his outstanding accomplishments to date.

Hasanee will use the $2,500 prize to support an elective study in ophthalmology at the University of Western Ontario and the University of Ottawa.

Henry Witelson, chief of ophthalmology (EM& S), Hamilton Civics Hospital, died in 1997. He was a devoted clinician to thousands of patients in the Hamilton region and beyond since 1969. He was also a life-long student of forefront ophthalmology, frequently visiting other centres and leading surgeons in North America to learn new ideas and techniques. The purpose of this award is to provide the opportunity for medical students to do an elective in ophthalmology.

On behalf of partners, the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, the McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences and the family, Sandra Witelson expressed her sincere thanks to those whose contributions made this prize possible and which continues to honour the name and work of Dr. Henry Chaim Witelson in perpetuity.