At the Opening Plenary of UEG Week 2025 in Berlin on October 5, something very special happened. Our very own WEO President, Professor Lars Aabakken, received the UEG Lifetime Achievement Award. Here at WEO, we couldn’t be prouder.
In his speech, Prof. Aabakken shared a heartfelt message. He reminded us of the importance of finding two things in life: a great life partner and a great mentor.
He described mentors as "people with vision, with insights, with door-opening capacity, and just general wisdom."
At WEO, we profoundly believe in the power of mentorship. And we’ve found one of the very best mentors in him.
With a career spanning nearly four decades, Prof. Aabakken has helped shape the world of GI endoscopy through clinical excellence and education. From standardizing terminology to advancing medical training, his work has impacted thousands of professionals, and even more patients, around the world.
You can read more about his remarkable journey on the UEG website.
And don’t miss this beautiful tribute by our Secretary General, Mário Dinis-Ribeiro, highlighting some of the key moments that have defined Prof. Aabakken’s career.
