Alek Oscar

Sofia, Bulgaria

Assoc. Prof Alexander is the President of the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom”. Prior to that, he served two terms as Chairman of the Sofia, Bulgaria, Jewish community, becoming in 2007 the youngest leader in the history of the community. He was also President of the European Association of Jewish Community Centers and Deputy Chairman of the European Council of Jewish Communities.

Assoc. Prof. Oscar was born on November 11th, 1978, in Sofia. He graduated magna cum laude from the Medical University in Sofia in 2003 and has since finished two residency programs – in Neurology and in Ophthalmology, as well as a Master Degree in Healthcare Management. Currently he is head of the Ophthalmology Clinic at Alexandrovska University Hospital and    of the ophthalmology department at the Medical University in Sofia.

In 2017 he was awarded by the mayor of Sofia with the "Badge of Sofia", for his active public and social activity and medical dedication.

In 2019  Assoc. Prof. Oscar was awarded with the State Order of Civil Merit First Degree,  for  merits in the development of civil society, the protection of human rights and freedoms and the strengthening of democratic institutions in Bulgaria.

On October 19th, 2020 he was awarded the title “Doctor of the Year 2020” by the Bulgarian Medical Union.

He developed welfare programs in benefit of the Bulgarian Jewish community members as well as the general Bulgarian society.  One of his most praised charity initiatives – the “Do Good”, started back in 2012, where over 30,000 children have been examined for free over the past 7 years and more than 1,000 glasses have been donated.

Assoc.Prof. Oscar is also the basis of the joint initiative between the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom”, the Bulgarian Medical Association and the Bulgarian Society for Ophthalmology   - “Together we will make it” which took place during the coronavirus lockdown. Thanks to their joint efforts and great desire, nearly 500 families of medical practitioners and their relatives in quarantine from across the country have been supported.

He is married to Karina Oscar, a marketing executive. Together, they have two children, Avi and Noa.