Edinburgh

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As one of the most vibrant and cultured cities in Europe, Edinburgh is a wonderful city to visit, with a fantastic selection of shops, bars, restaurants, museums and sites of interest.

Situated in an area of Scotland that once was volcanic, it is not only the political capital of Scotland, but very much the cultural capital.

Probably the most famous part of Edinburgh is The Royal Mile, which links Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is fifteen minutes’ walk from the FOCUS Course venue. Although called the Royal Mile, the actual distance is one mile and 107 yards from entrance to gates.

Edinburgh is famous for holding large festivals each August. The Fringe Festival started in 1951 and from a very small beginning has grown to a large scale performing arts festival. In previous years there have been about 500 groups from around the world, performing in over 200 venues.

Course Venue

The course runs between the main eye hospital in Edinburgh, The Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, and the nearby Hotel Novotel. Please attend Novotel for registration.

Please contact us if you require accommodation advice. The Novotel have previously offered significant room discounts for FOCUS delegates who wish to stay there. 

Car parking in central Edinburgh can be challenging and is not free. Please check with your chosen hotel if they have parking available, otherwise we recommend train travel (or bus/tram if coming from the airport).

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Course Founders

The Edinburgh FOCUS Course was founded by Dr Vikas Chadha, Dr Vijay Hegde, Dr Shyamanga Borooah and Dr James Cameron in January 2007, when the first course was held in the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Edinburgh.

The course aim was to teach basic practical skills in ophthalmology to trainees with little or no ophthalmology experience. It was conceived during the major changes in medical training under the banner of ‘Modernising Medical Careers’ in the NHS. The entire course was created and developed by trainees here at the Eye Pavilion.

Current Faculty Members

Dr James Hazelwood, Specialist Registrar

Dr Kim Ah-See, Specialist Registrar

Dr Dan Beck, Specialist Registrar

Dr Juan-Lyn Ang, Specialist Registrar

Dr Niamh O’Connell, Specialist Registrar

Dr Jo Mair, Specialist Registrar

Dr Niharika Nalagatla, Specialist Registrar