Heidelberg, Germany, 10 October 2024 — At the opening ceremony at their annual congress in Berlin, Germany, the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) awarded Christoph Schoess, founder and long-serving Managing Director of Heidelberg Engineering, the esteemed Theodor Leber Medal. This prestigious accolade is presented to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to scientific ophthalmology or the DOG, even though they are not ophthalmologists themselves.
Christoph Schoess’ impact on the field of ophthalmology is truly remarkable. With a background in business administration, Schoess holds a business degree (Dipl.-Kfm.) from the University of Cologne, and furthered his academic journey for 1.5 years in Tokyo, focusing on Asian studies, economics, and the Japanese language. After gaining professional experience at renowned companies such as Urenco, Dietz, Norsk Data, and Pfaff, he took on the role of CFO at Heidelberg Instruments. In 1990, he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey with Dr. Gerhard Zinser founding Heidelberg Engineering, a company that has since become a world leader in high-resolution ophthalmic imaging.
Under the visionary leadership of Schoess and Zinser, Heidelberg Engineering revolutionized imaging solutions for ophthalmic diagnostics. The company’s innovations have advanced the understanding and treatment of eye diseases, such as glaucoma, by developing cutting-edge imaging techniques for both the posterior and anterior segments of the eye. Presenting the award, Frank Holz, Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Bonn, Germany explained, “Under the leadership of Christoph Schoess and his team, Heidelberg Engineering has become one of the global market leaders in the field of high-resolution ophthalmological imaging and associated software. This also includes AI solutions for analyzing imaging data.”
A key element of Christoph Schoess’ success lies in his respect and understanding of the importance of collaboration with scientists and clinicians globally, as well as entrepreneurial spirt and work ethic. His dedication to improving patient outcomes by partnering with clinicians to optimize innovative imaging technologies has made Heidelberg Engineering products indispensable tools for eye care professionals. “Christoph Schoess is an outspoken advocate of entrepreneurship and innovation. He firmly believes that the future of our country and Europe depends to a large extent on the extent to which societies are willing to invest in education, progress and hard work,” Holz shared. “We reinvested everything in the company, always with the goal to discover innovative technology that was useful to the eye doctor.“ He expressed his gratitude to Dr. Gerhard Zinser and his team, who laid the foundation for this success, and added: “Such success is never the result of one person alone, but always the achievement of a team, which now includes nearly 700 employees.”
By awarding the Theodor Leber Medal, the DOG recognizes Christoph Schoess for his outstanding lifetime achievements, which have shaped the future of ophthalmic care through groundbreaking technological advancements. His contributions continue to support and inspire the international ophthalmic community, ensuring Heidelberg Engineering remains at the forefront of innovation in the field.
For more information about the Theodor Leber Medal and the work of the German Ophthalmological Society, please visit https://dog.org/die-dog.
