Royal Honor for Prof. Dr. Nicoline Schalij-Delfos

After completing her medical training as an orthoptist and ophthalmologist in Utrecht, Prof. Dr. Schalij-Delfos joined the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in 2001. In 2008, she was appointed as the first professor of Pediatric Ophthalmology at the LUMC. On April 24, 2009, she delivered her inaugural lecture, titled “Caring for the Eyes of Tomorrow.”

In her role as a researcher, Prof. Dr. Schalij-Delfos collaborated with other researchers in various local, national, and international partnerships. She has published more than one hundred national and international peer-reviewed scientific articles and textbooks on retinopathy of prematurity, a rare eye disease that primarily affects extremely premature infants because the blood vessels in the retina have not yet fully developed. In addition, she has made numerous public appearances, including scientific workshops, lectures, and (poster) presentations both in the Netherlands and abroad.

How are your eyes?

Prof. Dr. Schalij-Delfos is also a co-organizer of various conferences and meetings. She has been interviewed on several occasions, including by *Jeugdjournaal* (2024), and has contributed to a podcast about ROP. In addition, she is co-author of the children’s book *Hoe zit het met je ogen?* (*What’s Up with Your Eyes?*), which describes the most common diagnostic techniques in a child-friendly way. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Schalij-Delfos serves as a reviewer for various national and international scientific journals.

Prof. Dr. Schalij-Delfos has received several grants to carry out various research projects, including grants in 2008 from the ODAS Foundation and the Blindenpenning Foundation to conduct “NEDROP: a national inventory on screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP).” The NEDROP study and its follow-up (NEDROP 2) have since resulted in several publications in peer-reviewed journals, a dissertation, an evidence-based guideline (2013), a patient brochure, an e-learning course, an ROP app, and quality indicators. In addition, she has been involved in the development of various guidelines and protocols, including the JGZ guideline on the Detection of Eye Abnormalities (2019).

Involved in education

In addition to being a physician, scientist, and manager, Prof. Dr. Schalij-Delfos has been involved in education for many years. She served as deputy training director in the Department of Ophthalmology at the LUMC for fifteen years and has been the chief training director in that department since 2021. As a doctoral advisor, Prof. Dr. Schalij-Delfos has supervised many doctoral candidates; she has also served on various thesis defense committees. In addition, she has served as a member (including on the board) of various organizations in the field of (pediatric) ophthalmology, such as the European Paediatric Ophthalmological Society (EPOS), the Dutch Ophthalmological Society (NOG), and the Global Council of the World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology (WSPOS).

In 2019, Prof. Dr. Schalij-Delfos received the “ODAS Award for Pediatric Ophthalmology” in recognition of her dedication over the past 20 years to the professionalization and improvement of pediatric ophthalmic care. In 2024, she was named an honorary member of the Dutch Ophthalmological Society in recognition of her many years of service to the organization.

Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau

Prof. Dr. Schalij-Delfos was awarded the title of Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau for her personal and exceptional achievements in, and related to, her primary role as an ophthalmologist at Leiden University Medical Center and professor of pediatric ophthalmology at Leiden University.