Elena Barraquer Compte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elena Barraquer Compte
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| Born | May 30, 1954 |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | Eye surgeon |
| Known for | Eye surgery in Africa |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Joaquín Barraquer |
Elena Barraquer Compte, born on May 30, 1954, is a famous eye surgeon from Spain. She is an ophthalmologist, which means she specializes in eye care. Elena is well-known for her work in fixing cataracts and doing corneal transplants. She also started the Elena Barraquer Fundación. This foundation helps organize trips to Africa. Her teams of surgeons go there to perform eye surgeries for people who need them. She has received important awards for her work, like the Medal of Honor of Barcelona in 2012.
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Early Life and Education
Elena Barraquer was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1954. Her family has a long history of medical research, especially in eye care. She is the fourth generation of eye doctors in her family! Even though her brother was expected to continue the family tradition, Elena decided she wanted to be an eye surgeon too.
Her father, Professor Joaquín Barraquer, and her grandfather, Ignacio Barraquer, were famous for their work on cataract surgery. Her great-grandfather, José Antonio Barraquer Roviralta, even started an eye society in Barcelona in 1903. Elena's brother, Rafael Ignacio Barraquer Compte, is also an eye surgeon.
Elena graduated in surgery from the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 1977. She then did an internship at the Vall Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona. In 1978, she won a scholarship to study at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. While there, she went on her first surgical trip to Port au Prince in Haiti. She also spent two years researching eye conditions. Later, she joined the Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore to study eye pathology.
Helping People in Africa
Elena Barraquer has made many trips to Africa, sometimes as many as twelve times a year. She helps people who cannot see because of cataracts. Cataracts make the eye's lens cloudy, causing blurry vision. Surgery can remove the cataract and restore sight.
Her family's original charity foundation decided to focus more on education and research. Elena felt it was important to continue the eye surgeries in Africa. So, she started her own foundation, the Elena Barraquer Fundación. This foundation attracts young doctors who want to help people see again.
One trip to Cape Verde involved hundreds of operations. The team brought about 500 kilograms (about 1,100 pounds) of medical supplies. These surgeries not only help adults see and return to work, but they also allow children who were caring for blind family members to go back to school. This work has a huge positive impact on communities.
Elena and her brother are still co-owners of The Barraquer Clinic, a well-known eye clinic.
Awards and Recognition
Elena Barraquer has received several awards for her important work:
- 2012: Medal of Honor of the City of Barcelona
- 2017: Codespa Award in the Solidarity SME category
- 2018: Queen Sophia Spanish Institute award
Images for kids
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Elena Barraquer Compte
See also
In Spanish: Elena Barraquer Compte para niños
