March 2020
Prestigious survey by leading international magazine rates Sankara Nethralaya among the “Best 4 Ophthalmic institutions in the World”!
It came as a global quality certification for an institution with such credentials as ‘First ISO certified eye hospital in Asia’, accredited by NABH, the highest quality certification for health care providers in the country, rated consecutively as ‘Best Eye Hospital’ by several prestigious national surveys, when ‘Newsweek’ the international weekly declared it as one among the ‘Best 4 Ophthalmological Institutions in the World for Year 2020’
The survey was conducted on a global basis between September – November 2019, by Statista a leading Research and Analysis organization and Geo Blue a trusted provider of health insurance, especially to international tourists. The evaluation included a survey of discharged patients, recommendations by thousands of experts including leading doctors, hospital managers and other health care professionals, some of the key parameters taken into consideration were patient experience, both in relation to a specific treatment undergone and overall feel and Medical KPI (Key performance Indicators) on critical areas like quality of treatment and hygiene levels.
The jury consisted of a team of highly distinguished health care professionals from the world’s leading research, academics and clinical care centers from a diverse background consisting of experts in IT usage in health care, outstanding clinicians, researchers, health reform champions, thought leaders, patient safety and engagement experts, pioneers in health care innovation and experts in operating non-profits. This gave the evaluation a holistic approach, taking all the above parameters into consideration.
The global acknowledgment making SN the only ophthalmic institution in India to be featured in the world’s best league, comes as a matter of great pride to every member of the SN family and a befitting tribute to Dr SS.Badrinath the visionary and pioneer who founded the institution 4 decades ago, on the 4 pillars of world class clinical care,focused research, quality teaching and training initiatives and community care and above all as a transparent, ethical institution run on the basis of love and service.
A high level meeting of specialists unravels the complexities of a highly challenging area of eye care
The Aditya Birla Sankara Nethralaya and Kamalnayan Bajaj Sankara Nethralaya jointly organized a ‘Continuing Medical Education’ (CME) session on a ‘Orbital & Adnexal Tumours’ a most critical threat to vision, on 2nd February 2020 at the Kamalnayan Bajaj Sankara Nethralaya, Kolkata. The meet was aptly named ‘X Files’ a term which denotes mystery, secrecy, suspense and surprise in popular fiction and cinema, in view of the complex, baffling and hard to ascertain nature of complications effecting this region. The one day seminar focusing on the niche area of orbital and adnexal oncology was organized by Dr Bipasha Mukherjee, Director, Oculoplastic Services, Sankara Nethralaya main campus, Chennai, as the Organizing Chairperson and Dr.Mohomed Shahid Alam, Senior Consultant, Aditya Birla Sankara Nethralaya, Kolkata, Organizing Secretary and was attended by more than 60 leading practitioners specializing in Ophthalmology, Radio-Oncology, Medical Oncology, Head & Neck Onco-Surgery and Plastic Surgery, from Hyderabad,Cochin,Chennai,Bangalore,Bombay and New Delhi.
The meeting helped in evaluating, studying and better understanding of diagnosing and treating ‘Adnexal Malignancy’ from the diverse view points of these specialists from across diverse fields. This multidisciplinary approach resulted in an in-depth and significant exchange of knowledge, know-how and real time experience leading to an enhanced understanding of several baffling issues pertaining to an ophthalmic challenge, that can be a cosmetic deformity,a threat to vision or even fatal.
The impact of the meet reflected in the attendees expressing their deep satisfaction at the learning and exposure gained and interest in attending similar programs in the future.
The institution that placed Optometry in the Indian map now places Indian optometry in the world map!
Sankara Nethralaya’s optometry star has done it again!the irreprisible champion of its initiatives in optometry in her diverse roles as a dedicated teacher, avid researcher, passionate children’s eye camp organizer, pioneer of its special initiatives like the Binocular vision clinic,Myopia Control Clinic, Special Children clinic, Vision therapy clinic and a proven subject matter expert with a Doctorate in Optometry from BITS and honour of being the First Indian to be awarded a ‘Diplomate’ by the AAO and appointed as ‘Endeavour Ambassador’ by the Australian High Commission to collaborate in education and research programs between India and Australia, Dr Rizwana Husaindeen will now be India’s voice for optometry in the global arena! The announcement from the sanctum of Optometry the ‘American Academy of Optometry’ (AAO) breaking the great news that she has been appointed as the ‘President of the AAO’s India Chapter’ making her the Numero Uno of Indian optometry came on the 24th of February 2020. It was a wonderful coincidence that the announcement which places India in the world map came on the 80th birthday of Dr S S Badrinath, a befitting birthday gift to the visionary who sowed the seeds for the inception and growth of optometry in the country, the man who envisaged its role and place in overall eye care dispensing.
The news comes as a watershed development as it heralds the entry of India’s optometry into the realm of world optometry through a sanction by the American Association of Optometry to establish the long awaited India Chapter of the AAO affiliated to the US & International Chapters. A major success for the strong representation made by the President elect, to start an exclusive India chapter at the AAO during her visit to the 3rd World Congress of Optometrists & 98th meeting of the AAO in October 2019. This comes as a strategic development which would open the floodgates to a whole new world of opportunities in academics,research,exchange programs,collaborative study to Indian optometrists at every level.
The new role is not only an acknowledgment of Dr Rizwana’s subject matter expertise but a clear recognition and acknowledgment of her immense and proven organizational,planning,execution,administration skills and far sighted Vision for Optometry which the new role demands in abundance.It is a proud day for the Sankara Nethralaya family and Indian Optometry and we express our hearty congratulations and sincere best wishes to her to scale new heights and to place her stamp of excellence and individuality in her new role, as she had in every role that she had donned in the past.
