On Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Professor Jacques Marescaux was awarded the rank of Commander of the Chilean Order of Bernardo O’Higgins at the Chilean Embassy in Paris, in the presence of Mrs Michèle Barzach, former French Minister of Health, and Mr Fernando Quintana, Honorary Consul of Chile in Strasbourg.
This distinction was officially awarded by Mrs Marcia Covarrubias, Ambassador of Chile in France. This award was attributed to Professor Marescaux by Dr. Michelle Bachelet, President of the Republic of Chile.
This honor aims to reward the IRCAD and Professor Marescaux, President of the Institute, for the excellent training of surgeons worldwide, and more particularly surgeons from Chile attending the most innovative surgical training programs, for a vast majority of patients around the world to benefit from this cutting-edge surgery. More than 300 Chilean surgeons were trained at IRCAD over the last 5 years.
The President of the Republic of Chile was keen to award the highest Chilean distinction to Professor Marescaux before the end of her term of office on March 11, 2018. This prestigious distinction bears the name of Bernardo O’Higgins who was the legendary figure of Chilean independence and the first President of the Republic of Chile.