Ayudha Pooja Celebrated at Sankara Nethralaya
On October 10, 2024, Sankara Nethralaya celebrated Ayudha Pooja. During the festive occasion, a traditional pooja ceremony was performed, honoring the tools and instruments essential to the organization. Employees were offered “pori” (rice puff) prasadham following the ceremony.
In addition, employees were delighted to receive gifts of their choice from three different categories. This celebration marked a day of worship and gratitude and strengthened the bonds among employees.
DMEK Wet Lab Conducted by Cornea Department at Sankara Nethralaya
The Cornea Department of Sankara Nethralaya conducted a DMEK Wet Lab on September 29, 2024, at the Sky Lounge of the Padma Bhushan Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus in Chennai. The event commenced at 8 a.m. with a welcome address by Dr. Niveditha Narayanan.
A series of informative sessions followed, beginning with Dr. Rama Rajagopal’s presentation on “Donor Eye Selection” and Dr. Meena Lakshmipathy’s talk on “Patient Selection.” Dr. Niveditha Narayanan further explained “DMEK Decoded,” while Dr. Prateek Gujar discussed “DMEK Graft Unfolding.” Insights were shared by Dr. Prema Padmanabhan following which Dr. Sudhir RR spoke about his experience with DMEK.
The day concluded with a hands-on Wet Lab session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Shruti Muralidharan.
6th INOS Annual Conference Held at Sankara Nethralaya
The 6th Annual Conference of the Indian Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (INOS) was held at the Shri VD Swami Auditorium, Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus, Sankara Nethralaya, on September 21-22, 2024 following a pre-conference on September 20, 2024. The two-day event, conducted by Sankara Nethralaya and INOS, featured insightful sessions and discussions on the latest advancements in neuro-ophthalmology.
The first day included several engaging sessions, highlighted by the INOS Oration. Prof. Vimala Menon was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to the field. Numerous abstracts were also presented, showcasing innovative research.
On the second day, the conference continued with more sessions and abstract presentations, further enriching the scientific exchange and collaboration among experts.
OPTINT Conference Highlights from Sankara Nethralaya, Optometry Department
The Second National Optometry Conference, OPTINT, organized by the Optometric Association of Tamil Nanbargal (OATN), was successfully held at Sri Ramachandra Medical College on August 31 and September 1, 2024. This event brought together professionals and students from the field of optometry to share their research and advancements.
The Department of Optometry proudly submitted a total of eight abstracts, showcasing the innovative work of our team.
Awards and Recognitions:
- Best Oral Presentation (Regular Category): Ms. Tharakeswari T, Senior Optometrist, received this prestigious award for her outstanding presentation, reflecting her expertise and dedication to the field.
- Best Poster Winner (Case Report Category): Ms. Diksha Rathi was recognized for her exceptional poster.
- Best Poster Runner-Up (Case Report Category): Ms. Anindita Choudhury earned commendation for her impactful case report presentation. Ms Diksha Rathi and Ms Anindita Choudhury, Master of Optometry students (The Sankara Nethralaya Academy) submitted their case report under the guidance from the team of Binocular vision.
These achievements highlight the talent and hard work from the Department of Optometry, Sankara Nethralaya. Congratulations to all the participants and awardees for their remarkable contributions!
The Sankara Nethralaya Academy Wins Best Academic Institution Award
The Tamil Nadu Dr M G R Medical University conducted its “Research Day” on September 26th, 2024. Hon. State Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian was the Chief Guest. The event was presided by the Vice Chancellor of the TN MGR Medical University Dr Narayanaswamy.
This event awarded the UG and PG colleges affiliated with the TN MGR Medical University under various systems of medicine. The award was decided based on the overall academic performance including criteria of the number of students, pass percentage and the performance in the continuous provisional affiliation (CPA). Schools of Medicine, Nursing, AYUSH and Allied Health Sciences were awarded. There are 757 affiliated colleges to the university and every year 30000 students pass out from the university.
The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA) was awarded the “Best Academic Institution for Allied Health Sciences ( P.G.) degree courses” in a grand event attended by 2500 delegates in the TN MGR Medical University Silver Jubilee Auditorium. This award is being instituted for the first time from 2023-24 onwards.
The event also witnessed awards given for various research projects done by the faculty and students under the various disciplines.
Dr N Anuradha, Principal of the TSNA, Ms C G Sreedevi, Asst Registrar- TSNA, Mr Senthilkumar, Associate Professor and HOD, Faculty of Management attended the event and received the award.
Sankara Nethralaya Scientists Ranked in Top 2% of World’s Leading Researchers by Stanford University
Stanford University has named several scientists from Sankara Nethralaya in its list of top 2% of researchers worldwide, highlighting their contributions in research. Out of the 2,23,252 scientists recognized globally, Sankara Nethralaya’s consultants Dr. Jyotirmay Biswas, Dr. L. Vijaya, Dr. Ronnie Jacob George, Dr. Rajiv Raman, and Dr. Parthapratim Dutta Majumder have earned their places for their groundbreaking work in vision science. Dr. Baskaran M also made the list for work done while practicing in Singapore. The rankings, released on September 17, reflect the standardized citation metrics based on publications from 2023, and span 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields. This recognition proves the global influence of Sankara Nethralaya’s researchers in advancing eye care and medical science.
Yet another Doctoral researcher from Elite School of Optometry!
Congratulations to Dr. Ramya S
Dr. Ramya S, successfully defended her PhD Viva Voce on 12th September 2024 and became the 12th doctoral scholar from the renowned Elite School of Optometry (ESO). ESO in collaboration with the SASTRA Deemed University offers undergraduate, postgraduate and Doctoral studies in various specialties of optometry. Dr. Ramya is currently working with ESO, run by Sankara Nethralaya as a Senior Optometrist and Associate Professor.
Her thesis titled “Role of customized visual and multifactorial interventions in preventing falls among individuals with visual impairment in South India” was completed under the guidance of Dr. Anuradha N, Principal, Elite School of Optometry. The project was funded by Judge Shri. P V Parameswara Iyer & Smt. Kamala Bai Endowment Award, Elite School of Optometry instituted by Dr. P. P. Santanam, the first Principal of Elite School of Optometry.
Her work was greatly appreciated by the external examiner Prof. B. R. Shamanna, Professor, School of Medical Sciences, University of Hyderabad for conceptualization, logical sequence and extensive background work in falls and visual impairment. He also applauded her for answering specific research questions by identifying adults with falls and visual impairment, proposing “SMART” intervention strategy using qualitative approach and testing the same for a subset of subjects in real life situations using experimental design. She was also congratulated by faculties, optometrists and students who attended the viva voce examination.
Dr Arun Kumar, Medical Science Liaison, AbbVie, USA was the second reviewer who appreciated the sincere efforts of Dr. Ramya in converting this much needed intervention into a reality and testing for effectiveness.. He believed that this work would add value to the patients with vision impairment to function better in their lives.
Sankara Nethralaya Marks 46th Foundation Day with Fun and Festivity
Sankara Nethralaya celebrated its 46th Foundation Day on September 8, 2024, with a day filled with joy, competition, and festivity. The event, held at Kalaivanar Arangam, saw enthusiastic participation from employees, students of the Elite School of Optometry, and The Sankara Nethralaya Academy.
A series of competitions brought out the talents of Sankara Nethralaya’s teams, with each performance met with cheers from colleagues and friends. The highlight of the day was the “Juke Box” singing competition, where the SN Dare Devils hit all the right notes to secure the win, leaving the SN Knight Riders to take the runner-up spot.
The energy only amplified with the “Dance League,” where captivating performances set the stage on fire. Once again, the SN Dare Devils danced their way to victory, while the SN Titans gave a strong performance to claim second place.
The “Show Stealers” ramp walk showcased creativity and style, with the SN Knight Riders strutting their way to the top, while the SN Sunrisers followed closely behind as runners-up. In a fun-filled final round of “Siricha Pochu” that had everyone in splits, the SN Dare Devils once again emerged victorious, with the SN Sunrisers taking second place.
At the end of the day, it was the SN Dare Devils who swept the overall championship trophy, leaving the SN Knight Riders to proudly take the runner-up title.
The little ones weren’t left out of the excitement, as a drawing competition was organized for the children of SN employees, allowing the young artists to showcase their creativity.
The celebration was graced by several distinguished leaders of Sankara Nethralaya, including Chairman Dr. T. S. Surendran, President Dr. Girish Shiva Rao, Honorary Secretary Mr. Ramachandran, and Honorary Treasurer Mr. Kannan Narayanan, who enjoyed the performances as much as the participants did.
Another major highlight of the day was the much-anticipated launch of Sankara Nethralaya’s newly redesigned website, which boasts a sleek and stylish look. The new website offers a fresh, modern experience, combining user-friendly navigation with visually appealing design.
With fun, laughter, and team spirit shining through, the Foundation Day celebration was a delightful success, reminding everyone that Sankara Nethralaya is a family that knows how to celebrate together!
Sankara Nethralaya Launches Sankara Nethralaya Elite School of Optometry (SNESO) in Kolkata
The grand event took place at the Novotel Kolkata Hotel and Residencies on August 24, 2024. The Honorable Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Shri Biman Banerjee, inaugurated the college. The event was honored by the presence of Shri Dr. Partha Pratim Lahiri, Registrar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology; and Shri Basudeb Banerjee, Former Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal.
Almost 40 years ago, on September 17, 1985, the Elite School of Optometry (ESO) was established in Chennai as the first modern school of optometry in India to offer a four-year professional degree program. The vision of the great founder of Sankara Nethralaya, Padma Bhushan Late Dr. S. S. Badrinath, has made the Elite School of Optometry a testament to excellence in optometric education, research, clinical practice, and community outreach. Building on this strong foundation, ESO has now opened its first branch in Kolkata.”
The SNESO is set to provide cutting-edge facilities and a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for the evolving demands of the optometry field. SNESO will offer 30 seats for the Bachelor of Optometry programme from the current academic year in its New Town, Kolkata campus. With admissions currently underway, classes are scheduled to commence in September 2024.
Sankara Nethralaya Opens New Modular OT Complex in JKCN
Sankara Nethralaya has officially opened its new Modular OT complex, located on our JKCN campus’ 2nd floor, HTP block, as of August 22, 2024 with an official pooja. This state-of-the-art facility marks a milestone in Sankara Nethralaya’s commitment to delivering exceptional ophthalmic care and addressing the evolving needs of both patients and staff.
Constructed in just five months, the new Modular OT complex includes three additional operating theatres dedicated to anterior segment surgeries. This expansion is set to alleviate the previous shortage of full-day OT slots, thus supporting consultants in providing more specialized care. Operations in the new OT complex are expected to be started in the first week of September.
The new facility falls in line with the latest advancements in hospital design, aiming to enhance operational efficiency while minimizing disruption to ongoing services.
The Mahyco Block OT complex in our Padma Bhushan Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus, a cornerstone of Sankara Nethralaya since 1991, conducted its final surgeries on August 24, 2024.
Sankara Nethralaya extends its gratitude to the donors who played a crucial role in the construction of this new OT complex. Their support has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.
The new Modular OT complex is anticipated to enhance surgical capabilities and patient care, marking an important milestone in Sankara Nethralaya’s journey.