Sankara Nethralaya News
Sankara Nethralaya’s Eye Donation awareness rally at Marina
Sankara Nethralaya has consistently championed the noble cause of eye donation and has been making sincere attempts to enhance the volume of eye donations, to bridge the wide gap prevailing between the availability and need for cornea in transplant procedures, by spreading awareness on eye donation.
Since its inception the institution has been involved in awareness creation initiatives like short movies, lectures, articles and interviews on eye donation in journals and electronic media by its senior consultants and by conducting outdoor events. In continuation of this ongoing effort and as part of the National ‘Eye Donation Fortnight’, being observed nationwide from August 25 to September 8, 2016, the CU Shah Eye Bank, Sankara Nethralaya undertook a string of activities across the city which included eye donation awareness talks at Ford India, Hyundai Motor Company, Vijaya Hospitals, MMM Hospital and a massive human chain rally sponsored jointly with the Lions Club of Anna Nagar conducted at the DG Vaishnav College, Arumbakkam to create awareness on the importance of eye donation and to sensitize the public on the need to donate eyes by pledging the same.
The fortnight long events culminated in a massive awareness rally at the Marina Beach on 08.09.2016 (Thursday) being observed as “National Eye Donation Day”. The Walk titled “Sankara Nethralaya’s Walk for Vision 2016” commenced at 8.00 am at the Labour Statue. The walk had a huge participation of 1,500 members belonging to different age groups comprising students from the NSS, various city colleges, including educational institutions run by Sankara Nethralaya, members of leading corporate houses and senior management and staff members of Sankara Nethralaya. The enthusiastic participants held aloft placards espousing and educating the cause of eye donation and raised their voice drawing attention to the same.
Director General of Police – Civil Supplies CID, Dr Radhakrishnan IPS and Actor Nassar graced the event as the Chief Guest and addressed the audience on the need to donate eyes, flagged off the rally and joined the marchers. This was followed by an awareness talk on eye donation by Dr. T.S. Surendran, Vice-Chairman, Mrs Akila Ganesan Director – Administration, briefed the press on the dismal statistics in terms of availability and need for Cornea for transplant surgeries in the country and the need to overcome the same through increased eye donations.
The event was supported by ‘Bisleri’ the popular packaged water brand by its cost free water bottles and leading edible oil manufacturer ‘Gold winner’ provided Sun Caps and T Shirts to the participants.
The Pioneer in Ophthalmic Anaesthesia conducts key topical meet with great aplomb
As an eye care institution which can take justifiable pride in its stellar role in identifying ophthalmic Anaesthesia as a specialized field and developing it as a niche specialty in India, Sankara Nethralaya was honoured to conduct the specialty’s key annual meet, the ‘World Congress of Ophthalmic Anaesthesia’ (WCOA) in collaboration with the apex body for ophthalmic anaesthesia, the ‘British ophthalmic Anaesthesia Society’ (BOAS) at Chennai. The curtains went up on the 4th WCOA at the Sri V.D. Swami Auditorium at the Sankara Nethralaya main campus on the 2nd of September 2016, the prelude to the event helped Dr V.V. Jaichandran, Chief Organizing Secretary from the host institution give a brief on the WCOA and the objectives of its 4th edition to be held in Chennai in the following two days to the media and to the large gathering assembled on the occasion.
The two day scientific session opened on the 3rd of September 2016 to a packed conference hall at the ITC Grand Chola, a total of 10 national and 25 international faculty members registered for the event and the attendees comprising ophthalmologists, optometrists and anaesthetists were from across the world. The two day session was addressed by eminent professionals from diverse backgrounds and specializations; they were of a highly interactive nature and evoked lively debates and discussions. The sub-tenon’s workshop using goat’s eye and hands on practice simulation won high appreciation as a great learning experience. A riveting audio visual presentation on effective administration of anaesthesia to animals consisting of domestic pets like dogs, cats and birds to large wild animals like the lion, for performing various ophthalmic processes, by Prof Ramani from the Madras Veterinary College held the audience in total fascination. The presenter expressed her thanks to Dr. SS.Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus and Dr. Lingam Gopal, Senior Consultant, Sankara Nethralaya for their invaluable inputs in setting up the operation theatre at the veterinary college many years ago.
Dr.M.Janani from the Sankara Nethralaya referral laboratory and Mr. Nimal Kumar from the IIT-Madras won the 1st and 2nd prize in the ‘Free Paper Presentation’, it is noteworthy to mention here that both the papers were co-authored by Dr.V.V.Jaichandran, Senior Anaesthesiologist, Sankara Nethralaya and Chief Organizing Secretary of the highly successful WCOA-2016.
A pat for budding and seasoned talent, divine enthralling music and contributions for a cause mark MS Amma centennial celebrations at Atlanta!
The Atlanta chapter of the Sankara Nethralaya Ophthalmic Mission Trust presented an extraordinary, 3 day centennial homage to Bharat Ratna Dr.M.S.Subbulakshmi. The curtains went up on the well prepared and organized event on the 3rd of September 2016 with a brief talk on Sankara Nethralaya and its achievements in research, education and cost free community eye care to indigent patients, by Dr. Seshu Sarma, Vice-President, Sankara Nethralaya, Ophthalmic Mission Trust, Inc, the fund raising arm of Sankara Nethralaya in the USA. Dr. Sarma also gave an interesting account about the ‘Mobile Eye Surgical Unit’ (MESU) which performs sight reviving cataract surgeries, totally cost free, right at the doorsteps of patients living in the most remote regions of India, with no access to quality eye care.
This was followed by a warm greeting and welcome to the Rasikas assembled in large numbers and dignitaries by Dr. Rao, President of the Hindu Temple of Atlanta. Speaking on the occasion Chief Guest of the day, Mr. R.Srinivasan, Consul, Indian Consulate, Atlanta, lauded Smt. M. S. for making India and Indians proud by her music. The most touching and inspiring speech of the afternoon however, was the one given by eleven-year old, Raveena Allie, who was born with no eyes. Her life story of being brought up by loving foster parents in the US and working her way up by overcoming her disability to become a honor student in middle school and excelling in innumerable extracurricular activities filled the listeners with a sense of confidence that if one is determined, nothing in life is insurmountable. The audience gave her a standing ovation for her rousing message and indomitable spirit.
This was followed by the main event of the day, an enthralling concert for three hours and more with a generous inclusion of MS Amma favorites by Padmabhushan Sudha Ragunathan and party; the resounding applause and requests for more songs captured the spirit of the day. Dr. Ram Sriram, President of the Carnatic Music Association of Georgia (CAMAGA), made the concluding remarks and a brief review of the concert. Mrs. Anu Nathan, chair of the essay competition being held to highlight the contributions of Smt. M. S. Subbalakshmi, as part of the Centenary celebrations announced the winners for different age groups
The winners of the essay competition were:
Elementary
1st Place: Neel Krishnan
2nd Place: Anand Krishnan
3rd Place: Maitri Sridhar
Middle School
1st Place: Nikitha Sridhar
2nd Place: Priyanka Yagneswaran
3rd Place: Shobana Santhanam
High School
1st Place: Nitheyaa Shree
2nd Place: Shashank Ganesan
3rd Place: Shruthi Santhanam
Another recognition being bestowed as part of the Centenary celebration the ‘Bharat Ratna M. S. Subbulakshmi award’ for years of contribution to Indian classical music was awarded to Smt. Subhashini Krishnamurthy – musician, composer, Vocalist, teacher, and Veena player. Ms. Subhashini was presented with a plaque and a blue silk saree, similar to the one that was popularized by Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi. The awards were given to the winners by Smt. Sudha Raghunathan who spoke admiringly of the winners and their accomplishments.
The second day of the three-day event showcased Atlanta’s local talent. The performers were young children and young adults trained in different schools of Carnatic music by eminent teachers in Atlanta. It was most inspiring to listen to children as young as 6 years of age, rendering compositions made popular by Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi with devotion and dedication.
The last and final day of the three-day event was highlighted by a one-hour video presentation on the life and accomplishments of Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi, put together by the renowned dramatist and director, Sri Syam Yellamraju. The video presentation was followed by group singing of the compositions of the great composer, Sri Annamacharya, popularized by Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi. The performers were local music teachers and musicians. It was a most befitting tribute to the memory of Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi.
At the conclusion of the program,Dr.Sarma thanked her co-trustees of SN OM Trust,Moorthy Rekapalli and Bala Indurti and the President of CAMAGA,Dr.Ram Sriram and all the others who contributed to the 3 day event. She expressed her deep gratitude to all the donors who contributed generously to the Sahasra Nayanam project and the Chitoor Gift of Sight project. She further expressed her sincere appreciation to journalist Sri Mahadev Desai for his excellent coverage of the three-day event and Mr. Ravi Penumarthy for taking superb pictures of the event.
Fifteenth Dr E Vathilingam Memorial Scientific Session
DR E Vaithilingam Memorial Scientific session conducted by Elite School of Optometry had a remarkable event successively for the fifteenth time on 6th and 7th august 2016 at Sri V D Swami Auditorium. Around 325 delegates participated, Along with them we had 103 delegates from 12 different schools of Optometry located across the country.
The Exuberant two days session started with Welcome address followed by a note about Dr EV Memorial Scientific sessions held annually in memory of late DR E Vaithilingam. Dr Krishna Kumar, Principal Elite School of Optometry gave an interesting talk about late Dr EV’s associations and recalled Dr EV’s memorable experiences with ESO and Sankara Nethralaya.
The highlights of this year scientific session was ESO-SN’s Log MAR & IPVS(illuminated Pocket Vision Screener) charts ,were released by Dr T S Surrendran and Dr Pramod Bhende .A diligent work with extra ordinary minds of optometry team behind the screen for almost an year ,was there to achieve this milestone. Free Paper session, Clinician to Researcher, E-Poster sessions were held. E- Abstract book which was introduced this time ,( http://www.eso.sankaranethralaya.org/drev2016-abstracts- ebook/index.html#p=1) received applauds and appreciations from the participants .Along with these initiatives, we as a team thrived to take optometry education into next level by conducting a workshop on Advanced Teaching and Learning methods in Optometry Education for the faculties in the fields of Optometry and Vision Science across the country .Our Guest speakers , ESO Alumnus Dr Hema Radhakrishnan ,Senior Lecturer&Deputy Associate Dean ,University of Manchester,UK gave talk on “Peripheral Refraction & Myopia progression “and DR Richa Verma ,Lecturer from Deakin University ,Australia conducted the workshop on “Advanced Teaching and Learning methods in Optometric Education” with innovative concepts of team based learning (TBL) and problem based learning (PBL) .
On the Second day, Dr Sumathi Narayanan President, Creative Communication& Management Care and faculty of ESO gave a wonderful talk on “Compassionate Communications for Clinicians”. Her talk had roars of applauds from the participants and she had nailed the word compassion, among all our optometry professionals. The Scientific Session came to an end with Quiz , distribution of travel grants, best paper and best poster presentation .Under innovative instruments category Mr. Jude, student of Elite school of Optometry bagged for creating Portable Visual Field analyzer and Ms Jamuna Sri & Ms Indira Kumari from SRM University bagged for creating Construction of portable projectable Hess chart. For video contests Ms Lavanya from Shri Prakash Institute of Optometry won the prize . In free paper session ,Ms Archayeeta Rakshit ,Optometrist Sankara Nethralaya won for her oral presentation on “Effective tool to measure depth of suppression in amblyopes in a clinical set-up “ and Ms Navya Deepthi Davara from Bausch & Lomb School of Optometry won for her oral presentation on “ Eye tracking in visual search experiment in normally sighted adults”. Under E poster category Mr. Jothi Balaji, Manager – Optometry won for “Rubrics for clinical optometry skill evaluation: the Sankara nethralaya experience” and Nikhil, student from Nethradhama School of Optometry won for “The correlation between macular thickness and myopic refractive error”. In Clinician to Researcher session Mr. Amit Bhowmick on “Pseudo convergence insufficiency: clinical findings and management for the primary eye care practitioner-a case report” & Ms Shubikhsa, student ESO on ADEM & NMO-inflammatory demyelination won the prizes. Two days scientific session was a scientific feast in all fields of Optometry and Vision science with sharing of knowledge in different expertise .Awaiting for the next scientific feast.
Sankara Nethralaya Alumni congregate over a dynamic session
The Alumni ensemble at Sankara Nethralaya symbolizes a unique feature unlike other meets, for it encompasses a gathering for a scientific know- how exchange, the opening statement by Dr. Mohan Rajan, Secretary, Sankara Nethralaya Alumni Association captured the spirit of the 27th Sankara Nethralaya Alumni meet on 19th July 2016. Extending his warm welcome to the more than 190 enthusiastic participants from across the country and the world, renowned eye surgeon and CEO of Rajan Eye Care expressed his deep thanks to Dr. Jyotirmay Biswas, Director of Uvea and Ocular Pathology for his tremendous support for the event through the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, expressing a high word of praise for his academic excellence he remarked that he had brought great pride to his mentor by surpassing him in the number of international publications and journal contributions. Dr Jyotirmay Biswas dedicated the day’s proceedings in memory of Dr. Surbhit Choudhry, Director, Eye Health Centre, Noida, a Vitreo Retinal expert groomed by Sankara Nethralaya, recalling his glorious career and versatile personality.
The day’s sessions, themed “Debates and Discussions in Ophthalmology” started on a vibrant note with discussions and presentations on challenging topics like “Globe Rupture precedence over orbital fracture”, “Vitrectomy – therapeutic role in Uveitis disease control”, “Dry Eyes and artificial tears”, “Diabetic macular edema and its treatment” by a host of specialists on a platform for knowledge transfer.
Delivering the SN Alumni Oration Dr. Anita Agarwal, Professor of ophthalmology at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, the proud author of the Fifth Edition of the Gass Atlas of Macular Disease and recipient of 2014 J. Donald M. Gass Medal for outstanding contributions in understanding Macular diseases awarded by the Macula Society and the 2015 Optic (UK) Lecture Medal awarded by the Royal college of Ophthalmology UK, paid rich encomiums to her mentor Dr Prof J Donald M Gass – through a talk ‘A Genius and traversal through his journey’. She recalled how the genius immaculately and meticulously handcrafted each diagnosis by preparing sketches prior to the advent of high end ophthalmic equipments, which captured miniscule information. She remarked that her mentor was one amongst the ten most influential ophthalmologists’ of the century and co-authoring landmark research papers with him on the genetics of macular degeneration was a learning curve in her career.
Congratulating Dr. Anita Agarwal on the stupendous journey of the genius, Dr SS Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus hailed praises on the consultants for the RETINA summit, embracing the theme “Guru Dhevo Bhava”. He used the platform to invite all the Alumni to the forthcoming music concerts in the USA being performed in memory of the legendary music icon Dr. M S Subbulakshmi, whose charity shows raised huge funds for Sankara Nethralaya.
The day’s witnessed interesting talks by members participating in the “Nataraja Pillai free paper session”, the prize for the best talk was bagged by Dr Mohamed Shahid Alam, Associate Consultant, Department of Oculoplasty, Sankara Nethralaya for his exciting lecture on “3-D ocular prosthesis fabrication”. The event also witnessed felicitation to Dr. D. Ramamurthy, AIOS President and concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Mohan Rajan.
The crusaders against blindness adulate the champions of light and hope
Helen Keller Remembrance Day was observed with reverence on Tuesday, 7th June 2016, from 5.30.PM at the Sri. V.D. Swami Auditorium, Sankara Nethralaya, 18, College Road, Chennai 600006 by the Lions Club of Central Madras in association with Sankara Nethralaya.
The function being held as a honour to the indomitable courage and hope of a person who had over the years become an iconic figure for the vision impaired and crusaders against blindness started aptly with a quote from her talk “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. The highest result of education is tolerance’, ‘the only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision” – quoted the Chief guest of the day MJF Lion S. Rajendran, President, Lions Club of Central Madras in his welcome address adding that the Lions Club International was proud to observe Helen Keller day every year for over 17 years.
Lion Senguttuvan presented the genesis of the awards, following which Ms. Renjini Madhavan, Manager – Training, Department of Optometry praised Dr. G Sitalakshmi as the “Alice in wonderland – Sankara Nethralaya” with innumerable credits as a corneal surgeon and expertise in osteo odonto keratoprosthesis.
Felicitating Vice Chairman Sankara Nethralaya Dr T. S. Surendran for his remarkable achievement of being conferred the FRCS, the Chief guest of the day, gave away the “I” (EYE) care awards to the Mobile Eye Surgical Unit, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai and Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Loresho, Nairobi, Kenya for their institutional contribution in serving the downtrodden and the under privileged. The ‘Knight of the Blind award’ was presented to Mrs. Sudha Srinivasan, a visually impaired bank official with several international certifications to her credit and a motivational speaker, ‘Dr. G.Sitalakshmi Gift of Sight” Award in memory of Dr. Sitalakshmi, a phenomenal cornea surgeon, was presented to Dr.Jyotee Trivedy, Lions Sight First Hospital, Loresho, Nairobi, Kenya by Lion Andal Rajaram who paid rich laurels to the yeoman service rendered by the young doctor with over 45000 successful cataract surgeries to her credit, at remote corners of the dark continent, bringing light of vision to the poor and needy through her 100 odd outreach programs and being an inspiration to women.
Chief Guest of the day, PMJF Lion. N.S.Sankar, International Director, Lions Clubs International, showered encomiums on the great work being carried out by Sankara Nethralaya in alleviating the suffering of the blind and visually impaired for nearly four decades now. He extended an invitation to Sankara Nethralaya to set up a Lions Sankara Nethralaya centre at Pondicherry in their newly constructed building under the Tsunami Reconstruction program, to serve patients in the neighbourhood.
To make the occasion more significant, the Lions club extended their helping hands by giving Two Digital Magnifier Devices, NICCI, CC TV to two visually impaired persons, Mr. George Cooper and Mrs. Kasturi Priyadharshini to help them in pursuing their studies to qualify for the Banking profession.
PMJF Lion G.M. Balaji Rathnam, Dist. Governor, Dist.324A1, and PMJF Lion Dr. S.S. Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya, MJF Lion G.V.Raman Lion Dr. K.S.Lakshmi, PDG .District.. Governors, Dist. 324A1, Lion B.R.Rao, PMC, MD316, Hyderabad, and Lion Dr. K.S. Lakshmi, Past Dist. Governor, MJF Lion SR Muruganandham, MJF Lion K.Jayaraman, Lion H.Raghothaman graced the occasion. MJF Lion S.N. Harinarayanan, Chairman Sight First and Manager –Projects, Sankara Nethralaya coordinated the program and Lion Abirami Rajendran proposed the Vote of Thanks.
Launch of critical children’s eye care initiative marks 70th Independence Day celebrations at Sankara Nethralaya
The ophthalmic institution passionately committed to providing physical and financial independence by bringing back the ‘light of vision’ into the life of the visually impaired especially the indigent, observed the nation’s 70th Independence Day with customary patriotic fervour and launching of a critical eye care initiative to benefit rural children. The day’s proceedings started with a warm welcome to the Chief Guest of the Day, Justice S.Jagadeesan and the distinguished dignitaries from ORBIS the institution’s partner in service for more than 2 decades by Dr.T.S.Surendran, vice-chairman of Sankara Nethralaya. He gave an interesting account of the legal giant’s brilliance in his field and his many achievements and had a high word of praise to the service partner with whom ORBIS Reach the new initiative targeted at screening children in Kanchipuram district was being launched, he underlined that the SN-ORBIS partnership had successfully trained 72 professionals comprising paediatric anaesthetists, nurses and optometrists.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Rahul, Ali, India Country Director, ORBIS gave an insight on its activities in Latin America, Africa and Asia, he recalled the advent of ORBIS in India via the enchanting hospital in the air. He stunned the audience with the startling revelation that a child was going blind in some part of the globe every minute and underlined that it was the primary responsibility of every ophthalmologist to ensure the eye health of children to fulfil their ‘Right to Education’ he had a high word of praise for the Qatar Development Fund, the funding agency of the project being launched, which through the ‘Qatar Creating Vision’ project supported cost free eye camps across the world. He explained that ORBIS-Reach project being launched would not only be involved in correcting refractive errors but pave way for better medical management for children with complications in their vision. The India Country Director, ORBIS finished his interesting talk with a high word of praise for the Sankara Nethralaya-ORBIS team for developing a project on ‘Indian preferred Practice Pattern’ for paediatric ophthalmology and competency based assessment rubrics applied to multiple cadres at Sankara Nethralaya and his dream of a world where no child will go needlessly blind.
Delivering the Chief Guest’s address Chief Justice S.Jagadeesan expressed his anguish that ‘Freedom’ and ‘Liberty’ secured at great sacrifice by the freedom fighters and national leaders was being interpreted as being self centred, intolerant and impatient, he added that we have failed to imbibe the qualities of great leaders like Bhagat Singh, Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Kappal ottiya Thamizhan VOC Chidambaranar and Thiruppur Kumaran, he rued that negative factors like population explosion, terrorism and unemployment have also grown along with the nation’s growth in positive areas and fervently appealed to own responsibility as citizens for a better society and better human welfare. The chief guest hailed Sankara Nethralaya for fostering integration among its employees to extend better patient care, hospitality and exemplary coordination to achieve its global position.
The momentous occasion ended with the distribution of meritorious, annual performance awards for employees and departments of Sankara Nethralaya by the Chief Guest.
A well researched illustration on the critical impact of the most dangerous form of malaria, on the retina receives high recognition
An insightful poster on post malarial impact on the retina, titled “Demonstration of microemboli with FFA (Fundus fluoresceine Angiogram) in a case of proliferative retinopathy secondary to falciparum Malaria” by Dr. Aditya Verma, Consultant at the Vitreo-retinal department of Sankara Nethralaya was awarded the ‘Best Poster’ award at the recently concluded Retina Summit- 2016, held at Chennai.
The Sankara Nethralaya family convey its hearty Congratulations!! to Dr Aditya Verma for this path breaking finding and wishes him many more great achievements in his professional and academic career.
International summit on the ‘Retina’ starts on a note of deference to the providers of ‘Light’
The retina is commonly understood as a part of the eye that transmits the light to the brain as images or information, even by those uninitiated into the science of ophthalmology or optometry. Retina Summit 2016 the annual topical seminar on this most critical part of the eye started quite aptly with great deference to the ‘Gurus’ or Teachers/Mentors who just like the retina let the ‘Light’ of knowledge and wisdom into our lives. The institution which came into being as the fulfilment of the holy command of a ‘Guru’ and the institution with great deference to the centuries old glorious ‘Guru-Sishya’ Parampara, held the three day ‘Retina Summit 2016’ on the week of Guru Purnima, a period marked by reverence, adulation and acknowledgement of Teachers, with the theme ‘Guru Devo Bhava’ which exalts the Guru to the status of the creator.
The day’s proceedings got off at the packed Rajendra Hall of the ITC Grand Chola, Chennai with the lighting of the lamp by the distinguished dignitaries and the hosts Dr. SS.Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus and Dr. Vasanthi Badrinath, Director-Clinical Services, Sankara Nethralaya and a soulful invocation to Saraswathi, the Goddess of learning and knowledge, by Dr.Pradeep, Senior Vitreo-Retinal Consultant. This was followed by a most spirited introductory talk, touching topics as diverse as the retina being an electro physical wonder, his mentor Dr. SS.Badrinath, the unique financial model of his institution and how it was a shining example of public-private partnership beneficial to both, his institution’s impact on research, academics and patient care, by Dr.Pramod Bhende, Director, Medical Affairs, Sankara Nethralaya and Program Director-Retina Summit-2016. Dr. Bhende underlined that a meeting on the retina assumed great significance as retinal and vitreo-retinal care accounted for the highest percent of patients treated at the institution, he added that the Bhagwan Mahaveer Vitreo Retinal services performed 200 cost free retinal surgeries on an average per month, has 566 publications to its credit and offered long and short term Fellowships on the specialty, it accounted for 1/3rd of all activity at the institution and touched on all the 4 founding pillars of Sankara Nethralaya. Following the in-depth introductory speech Dr. Tarun Sharma, Director, Bhagan Mahaveer Vitreo Retinal services gave a wonderful note on the qualities that made the ‘Guru’ the most important person in one’s life, he underlined that as the Teacher he taught and as the mentor he brought out the best in his Sishyas. He followed his definition of a true Guru with a query to the audience in general if they knew a Guru who met all these parameters, which was answered with a thunderous one voice response resounding the name ‘Dr. S.S.Badrinath!!
Speaking on the occasion the man whom the gathering adulated as the perfect Guru gave a profound interpretation to the word ‘Guru’ he explained that a Guru is not a person who had influence only on the knowledge and learning of his sishyas but a person whose ideals, philosophy and personal example had a significant impact on their beliefs, values and moulded their life. Underlining the fact that the Guru will always take care of his disciple he gave a most touching and poignant example of how his Guru Chandrasekerandra Saraswathi Swamigal sacrificed a 2,500 year custom, by refraining from a head bath after Amavasya as this could jeopardize his post operative recovery and have an adverse impact on the reputation of his Sishya who had performed the eye surgery on him. He explained that Sankara Nethralaya was founded as an ‘Alaya’ on the principles inspired by his Guru who is also the Jagadguru and treats 40% of its patients totally cost free.
A magnificent highlight of the day was the recollection of the Gurus who moulded their life by the veritable Gurus of the retina, assembled on the day, they shared their experiences with their guru, the impact they had on them and the values for life they imbibed from them. It was most heart warming to note that some of them recalled their teachers who taught them back in elementary school. Introducing his Guru to the audience Dr. Lingam Gopal, Senior Consultant and Member of the Board, Medical Research Foundation started his talk with the statement that he was taking the liberty of assuming the role of a self appointed representative for a large number of people who had gathered at the venue as his Guru was also the Guru for all of them. He described his Guru as an exceptional teacher who moulded their knowledge and character, a teacher who held their hands, a teacher who was meticulous, unwilling to compromise and a teacher who was also their philosopher and guide. Dr. Lingam Gopal observed that one of the essential qualities of a Guru was being an example to emulate but the Guru he was referring to was too multifaceted, a man who was a philosopher, disciple, doctor par excellence, adept fund raiser, institution builder, administrator and visionary, a mixture of virtues which made it very difficult for anyone to emulate him. He added that his Guru’s success which reflected in the Saga of Sankara Nethralaya was too big an achievement to replicate and he was happy that he could emulate just a part of him; he added in lighter vein that the man who remains the Guru to a large number of people in the gathering including himself, Dr. SS.Badrinath can be emulated only if he lowered his expectations on his sishyas.
The organizers had a most novel and pleasant surprise for the senior dignitaries in the form of portrait specialist Shri Vilas Nayak, whose magic strokes with the painting brush brought their adorable Gurus right before them just as each of them finished their heart warming account of them. The joy and tears in the eyes of the men and women who had reached great heights and glory in their careers, as they stood gazing with respect, love and a strong sense of nostalgia at the portrait of their Gurus, was the ‘moment of the day’ and captured the saying ‘Guru Devo Bhava’ in its true spirit!
The following two days witnessed high level exchanges, real time knowledge exchanges, debates and discussions on the latest research findings and processes in the field of vitro-retina by participants from across the nation and the globe.
Key advancements mark colloquium on Laboratory Diagnostics
‘Emerging trends in Laboratory Diagnostics’ Sankara Nethralaya’s initiative to discuss the latest developments in diagnostic practice proved to be a mindboggling knowledge exchange for its participants comprising Students from various institutions, Research Scientists, Lab Professionals at the packed hall at Sri V D Swami Auditorium on Saturday, 25th June 2016.
Welcoming the gathering, Director – Administration, Ms. Akila Ganesan pointed that it was critical for one to be open to “Learn, Relearn and Unlearn” while paying rich encomiums to the stalwart Dr H N Madhavan, who remained a backbone and guiding light to the Vision Research Foundation and its developments in critical areas of Micro Biology, Genetics, Bio-Chemistry and Nano Technology.
After the formal lighting of the Kuthuvillaku to mark the beginning of the session, Prof S Ramani, Prinicipal, the Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA) briefed the gathering on the objectives of his institution and how it stood as a pillar of Sankara Nethralaya by imparting education on Clinical courses.
In his Presidential address, Dr C N Srinivas, Director of Laboratory Medicine, MIOT Hospitals elaborated on the Journey to quality “I to ISO”, elaborately highlighting essential inputs for Quality, he underlined the need for a Management System that included Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Improvement and Quality Cost and how NABL accreditation endorsed the overall competence and operations of the system in place.
Dr V K Ramadesikan, a pioneer Bio-Chemist, Professor and Head of Bio-Chemistry Department at the Tagore Medical College and Hospital, in his lecture on “Sample collection in Clinical Bio-Chemistry – common errors and pitfalls” indicated on the critical role of labs in patient care and how to bring in zero level cognitive and non cognitive errors and differences in lab diagnosis.
The brain storming sessions included a wide range of topics including “Recent advances in Laboratory Hematology”, “Urine Automation”, “Basics of Molecular Microbial techniques”, “Advances in Immunohistochemistry” by stalwarts in the field, along with poster presentations by students of Medical Laboratory technology.
The most invigorating session concluded with a prize distribution and vote of thanks by Dr. Vandana, Lecturer at the Sankara Nethralaya Academy.