Dr. Hugh Parsons Receives Mongolia’s Order of the Polar Star

Dr. Hugh Parsons Honoured with Mongolia’s Highest Civilian Award given to a Foreign National

In a ceremony held in Ulaanbaatar, Dr. Hugh Parsons, founder of Laurel Surgical Foundation and a respected Canadian ophthalmologist, was awarded the Order of the Polar Star (Алтан гадас одон), the highest honour Mongolia bestows on a foreign citizen. Presented by Mongolia’s Foreign Minister B. Battsetseg, this prestigious award recognizes Dr. Parsons’ exceptional contributions to improving eye health and surgical training across the Mongolia.

A Decade of Service to Mongolia’s Eye Health

For over a decade, Dr. Parsons has led medical missions that have screened more than 20,000 patients and performed over 1,750 sight-restoring surgeries in some of Mongolia’s most remote provinces. His work has reached communities in Bayankhongor, Gobi-Altai, Arkhangai, and Selenge, where access to specialized medical care is often limited. Each mission combines free surgical care with advanced training for ophthalmology residents, ensuring that the benefits extend far beyond the days of the mission itself.

Building Sustainable Surgical Capacity

Dr. Parsons’ impact is not measured only in the number of surgeries performed, but in the lasting skills and infrastructure he has helped create. Through partnerships with the First Central Hospital in Ulaanbaatar, he has been instrumental in developing Mongolia’s first public vitreo-retinal surgical program, establishing the country’s first ophthalmology wet lab for residency training, and supporting the acquisition of advanced diagnostic equipment such as the first public Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine. These advancements have elevated Mongolia’s ophthalmology training to international standards and provided a safe environment for residents to gain hands-on surgical experience.

A Legacy of Sight and Sustainability

The Order of the Polar Star is more than a recognition of past achievements. It is a testament to Dr. Hugh Parsons’ enduring commitment to Mongolia’s people and healthcare system. His vision extends beyond temporary aid, focusing on sustainable, Mongolia-led eye care that will continue to change lives for generations. By training future surgeons, equipping hospitals, and bringing sight-saving care to those most in need, Dr. Parsons has left an indelible mark on Mongolia’s medical landscape; one that this highest national honour fittingly acknowledges.