Sankara Nethralaya News
Sankara Nethralaya’s most esteemed Vice-Chairman scales a new peak of glory in his professional journey!
It is with a sense of great joy and pride that we bring the great news that Dr.T.S. Surendran, Vice-Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya and member of the Board of the ‘Medical Research Foundation’ and ‘Vision Research Foundation’, the simple and easily accessible Dr.TSS to all of us has been chosen for one of the most coveted distinctions in the world of medicine. He has been conferred the highly prestigious ‘Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons’ the world’s highest professional qualification for Surgeons, by a most elite body comprising the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. This highly prestigious academic body is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practises, through its involvement in education, training, conducting examinations and liaison with medical institutions worldwide.
It is a glorious feather on the cap not only for him but also for Sankara Nethralaya the institution for whose growth and development he has been striving hard since its inception, a proud and highly elated Sankara Nethralaya family salutes and applauds its adorable Vice-Chairman and wishes him many more great accolades and laurels in his journey of service.
It would be interesting to recall at this juncture that it was Dr. TS.Surendran who received the senior officials from this August body in year 2014 when Sankara Nethralaya was chosen once again as a preferred centre for conducting the FRCS- Ophthalmology examinations in the South East Asia region, after a lapse of 10 years and briefed the electronic and print media on this important development.
Dual benefit, rapid molecular test at Vision Research Foundation’s referral laboratory brings lightning speed and better efficacy to the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.
The Sankara Nethralaya referral laboratory, as part of its deep commitment to quicker diagnosis and better management of tuberculosis has introduced the ‘Gene Xpert MTB/RIF Assay, code number-493, a World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed, revolutionary process which dramatically reduces the waiting time for diagnostic reports on both tuberculosis and multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) from the current 2 to 3 weeks to an incredible less than 2 hours. Furthermore the rapid detection of multi bacterium resistant tuberculosis, which is characterized by resistance to ISONIAZID and RIFAMPICIN two potent, front line drugs in the treatment of tuberculosis, assumes great importance as it enables the physician in selecting appropriate treatment regimens and reaching infection control decisions quickly rather than wait for 2 to 6 weeks the time it takes Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) to grow in standard culture process, with conventional drug resistance tests adding 3 more weeks to the process after isolation of M.Tuberculosis. This highly critical test is conducted at the Sankara Nethralaya referral laboratory’s ‘Revised National Tuberculosis Control program’ (RNTCP) recognized Mycrobacteriology section.
The Sankara Nethralaya referral laboratory offers this highly critical test to patients at a most affordable cost of Rs 2000/ per test, a highly subsidized price, made possible thanks to the lab being enlisted as a member in the ‘Initiatives for promoting affordable quality TB tests’ (IPAQT). Patients wishing to avail the service can do so by submitting their clinical specimen at the Sankara Nethralaya Referral laboratory, 2nd floor, Jayalakshmi Estate, Haddows Road, Chennai-6. For any further clarifications kindly contact Dr. M.Sowmiya of SN Referral laboratory (Contact no. through Intercom No.6425)
Email ID: drsowmiya@snmail.org vrfreflab@snmail.org drhnm@snamail.org
Lions International conducts a program for the visually abled at Sankara Nethralaya
It was a program with a difference organized by the Lions International at the Sri V.D.Swami Auditorium on the 25th of July 2015, an evening when a differently ‘ABLED’ extraordinary young lady hand-held and ‘escorted’ a thrilled and amazed audience of seasoned eye care champions and supporters from the Lions Clubs and employees of a renowned eye care institution, down a little known pathway; she moved with the felicity of a person who knew her pathway and to those being led it was not a walk down a dark alley but a passage well lit and hurdle free, an eye opening trip which was enlightening, entertaining, educating and most importantly ‘Soul Stirring’.
The day’s proceedings got off with a warm welcome to the gathering, the special Chief Guest Ms. Khadija Hatim Yusufali, Lions District Governor Balaji Rathnam and his ‘Guru’ Lion G.V.Raman, by Lion S.N.Harinarayanan, he thanked the star speaker for her presence and the Lions for organizing a most meaningful program on ‘How a visually impaired person can live a meaningful and fulfilling life’.
Speaking on the occasion Lion G.V.Raman shared his experience with members of the ‘Academy of the Blind’ with the audience and lauded the visually impaired as a determined and confident lot, he expressed his wholehearted appreciation to Lion SN.Harinarayanan for propagating the cause of ‘Sight for the blind’. The senior Lion office bearer sprung a pleasant surprise to the audience by announcing that Lion Dr. SS.Badrinath, Founder & Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya has been selected by Lions International for their highest and most coveted honour ‘Ambassador of Goodwill’ for the year 2015. He added that Dr. SS.Badrinath in his characteristic humility had expressed that the award was not for him as an individual but an acknowledgement for Sankara Nethralaya and hence any representative from the institution could receive it with pride. Lion G.V. Raman added that senior office bearers of the Lions International, Chicago chapter, which was conferring the honour were however very particular that they confer their highest distinction in person on the distinguished recipient on a later date, after his return from the USA.
Ms. Sarika Gopalkrishnan, Head, Low Vision Clinic, Sankara Nethralaya, an expert on low vision, a ‘Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry’, a selector for the ‘World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) and an accomplished low vision care professional whose expertise is sought by the office of the State government’s Commission for the differently abled, in selecting low vision aids and a person passionately committed to the cause of enhancing the life of those with low vision complaints, was aptly chosen by the organizers of the function to introduce the most versatile Chief Guest and Star speaker of the day. Ms. Sarika gave a most touching account of the chief guest, describing her as a totally independent person, a perfect housewife, instructor and a role model; she shocked the audience with the amazing revelation that Ms.Khadija was an ace skydiver and mountaineer, who had scaled the snowy peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro. Ms. Sarika utilized the opportunity to express her deep and heartfelt gratitude to the Lions Club, particularly to Lion S.N Harinarayanan for their generous support, which made the LVC at Sankara Nethralaya a reality. Lion Harinarayanan made a brief intervention to the intro to give the audience a touching note on how Ms Khadija came to Chennai, tracing the request from Lion Ashok Mehta from South Africa seeking a Fellowship opening at Sankara Nethralaya for Dr. Hatim and his own role in taking up the case successfully with Dr. S.S.Badrinath.
The Chief Guest of the day began her speech by highlighting some disturbing figures on visual impairment and the encouraging fact that 85% of blindness is preventable and curable. She took the audience on a spellbinding trip on how a visually impaired person could lead a ‘better than normal life’; she enchanted her audience on how simple things like a thoughtfully placed rubber band on a tooth brush, the bubbling sound of boiling tea, Braille cloth tags differentiating colours of dresses, a colour indicating clip in a dress to the most advanced, built-in gesture based i-phone, GPS Apps, talking clock, i-phone camera which makes an announcement of the image being shot, Kurzweil scanning systems and joint access with speech (JAWS) apparatus could help a visually impaired person to not only live independently but also a fulfilling life of serving fellow human beings, in her role as a physiotherapist, adding that the person in question actively browses the internet and sends mails etc. Ms Khadija ended her most absorbing and moving talk with an earnest appeal for better rehabilitation services to the visually impaired.
Speaking on the occasion Lions District Governor Shi Balaji Rathnam described visually impaired people as people with ‘Supreme Vision’ and an ‘undying spirit’, he underlined that it was more important to be ‘humane’ than ‘human’. The Governor had a high word of appreciation for the Lions
Club of Central Madras and Lion Harinarayanan the tireless champion of the visually impaired; he explained that the Lions Club of Golden Vision donates support gadgets to the visually impaired at the Kola Perumal School. Speaking on the occasion Lion K.S.Babai gave an interesting account of a visually impaired faculty member of her college who had endeared herself to her students through her great work.
The most touching and absorbing function came to an end with a Vote of Thanks by Lion C.T.Natesan, to the Chief Guest Ms. Khadija Hatim Yusufally, Sankara Nethralaya, its staff members and the Lions members assembled in large numbers.
Board member of the Medical Research Foundation underlines and reiterates Sankara Nethralaya’s service to society to a distinguished audience.
The Alumni Association of the College of Engineering, Guindy (AACEG) is among the city’s elite and prestigious professional bodies and has a diverse and high level member base. It boasts of a member profile consisting of ‘Captains’ of industry, technocrats and senior officials serving in the private and public domain. The members of the AACEG, in addition to their pursuit of bettering their own field of specialization and addressing issues pertaining to their vocation are also bonded by a common passion for service and giving back to the society and constantly engage themselves in several service and suffering alleviation initiatives through this August body.
The members of the AACEG had organized a lecture in memory and honour of one of their most accomplished teachers, Dr K.S.Hegde, a man whom they held in high regard and about whom they had fond memories, he had served their institution as Principal with great distinction, a blood donation camp was also organized on the occasion as a mark of their respect to him. Shri V.Vaidyanathan, former Chairman of Sankara Nethralaya and member of the Medical Research Foundation’s Governing Board and a senior member of the AACEG was invited to deliver the “Dr.K.S.Hegde Memorial Lecture” at the college auditorium in the Anna University campus, Guindy. The senior member of the Sankara Nethralaya family leveraged the opportunity to give a most interesting and absorbing account of his institution’s endeavours towards bringing the light of life and smile back on the face of the visually impaired, he emphasized its massive cost free services by way of community ophthalmology camps to the economically backward sections of society. The distinguished alumni gave a fascinating audio-visual presentation about the ‘Mobile Eye Surgical Unit’ (MESU) a most advance medico-engineering marvel, a ‘first of its kind in Asia’ operation theatre on wheels, developed jointly with IIT-Madras and how it takes the most advanced cataract surgery, totally cost free, right to the doorsteps of the most socially/economically backward sections of society, living in highly inaccessible regions of the country including tribal, hilly hamlets, to a highly engrossed and impressed group of techies comprising of engineers from different disciplines. Shri Vaidyanathan concluded his lecture with an emphatic appeal for individual and institutional support to help Sankara Nethralaya dispense its high quality, cost free services to an increasing patient base all over the country; he also utilized the opportunity to underline the critical need for eye donation in the country and need to spread awareness on the same and distributed eye donation pledge forms to the esteemed gathering.
The most interesting and absorbing talk helped in taking Sankara Nethralaya’s cause to a highly distinguished and influential group.
The Sankara Nethralaya family pays its respectful homage to a man of Science with a heart of Gold!
The members of the Sankara Nethralaya family bow their head in reverence to one of their institution’s greatest well wishers as they bid a tearful farewell to Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ.Abdul Kalam, former President of the Nation, Eminent Atomic Scientist, Visionary and above all a simple, down to earth humanitarian passionately committed to the well being and prosperity of his motherland and its citizens. Sankara Nethralaya was blessed to have his hallowed presence in its premises on two occasions and considers his laudatory remarks on its pioneering role in stem cell research, in his inaugural speech at the Asia-ARVO and his observation ‘Today morning I entered the ‘Temple of the Eye’. This Mission is God’s Mission. The country salutes Sankara Nethralaya, as the greatest compliment and acknowledgement of its services. These words from one of the nation’s noblest son’s would remain green in the institution’s collective memory and motivate us to reach greater heights in fulfilling the dreams of a great man who strongly believed that Science and Scientific findings would have true meaning only if they help in alleviating the suffering of the common man.
The Vidyasagar Institute for Bio-Medical Science successfully conducts the BITS Practice School-I Programme
The BITS Practice School-I Programme was conducted by the Vidyasagar Institute of Bio-Medical Science (A unit of the Medical Research Foundation) between 22nd May and 16th July 2015 at the Sankara Nethralaya Main campus. A total of 10 students from different BITS campuses, 2 from BITS Pilani, 4 from BITS Hyderabad and 4 from BITS Goa participated in the same. The students did their projects in the R.S Mehta Jain Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology (3), Centre for Bioinformatics (2), L & T Microbiology Research Centre (2), SN ONGC Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology (2) and Nano Biotechnology Department (1).
We take pleasure in sharing the topics covered by the students and their guides from the institution.
The students were given a good exposure to both the theoretical and practical aspects in their assigned areas and topics and gave a good feedback of their learning experience and interactions with faculty at the end of the training programme. Dr Ronnie George, Director Research, Vision Research Foundation, Dr. K.Lily Therese, Programme Coordinator (VIBS) and Dr.P.R.Deepa, PS-I Instructor & BITS Programme Coordinator, Chennai distributed participation certificates to them. Dr.H.N.Madhavan, Director of VIBS and faculty from all the departments appreciated the deep enthusiasm and interest with which the participants learnt the various techniques.
Chief receives high honours from diverse bodies
The Indian Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society’s Annual Convention was inaugurated recently in the city by the Honourable Health Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr.C.Vijaya Baskar, the society’s India Secretary General Dr.Amar Agarwal hailed Dr. SS.Badrinath’s role in blindness eradication and awarded him a Gold Medal for his contribution to ophthalmology on the occasion. Dr. SS.Badrinath was also among the honoured dignitaries who received the first copy of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s book ‘Transcendence – My spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji’ at a glittering book launch held at the Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi.
Sankara Nethralaya takes a giant step towards unravelling the intricacies of the Ocular Surface
Comprehending the magnitude and diverse array of abnormalities, ophthalmic issues and the very functioning of the Ocular Surface had been among the more daunting areas of ophthalmology and by its intrinsic nature the area had remained a challenge to ophthalmologists the world over, since a very long time. The Ocular Surface and Keratoprosthesis Conference (OSKON-2012) bearing the theme ‘From Darkness to Light’ organized by Sankara Nethralaya, three years ago, as a high level interaction in the field, could justifiably take the credit for being the first major initiative towards bringing together ophthalmologists specializing in the area of ocular surface from the world over and enabling a critical dialog among them. If the OSKON 2012 made a great beginning by succeeding in consolidating the apprehensions and questions of these professionals, in terms of issues plaguing the ocular surface and helped in delving deeper into the field, the OSKON 2015 conducted recently was a high level exercise in exchanging the latest techniques, findings, sharing experiences and knowledge from across the globe, as its theme ‘A world eye view of the Ocular Surface’ aptly summed up. The event got off with a simple curtain raiser held at the Sri V.D. Swami Auditorium, Sankara Nethralaya main campus on the 9th of July 2015.
Senior Ocular Surface professionals from Sankara Nethralaya, Dr.Geetha Krishnan and Dr.Bhaskar Srinivasan took the audience back on a fascinating ‘Journey of the Decade – 2005-2015’ with a racy narration on how the dawn of the century witnessed the ophthalmic fraternity pondering over and delving deeper into the realm of the Ocular Surface, rapid strides made in the area in terms of successful sight restoring refractive surgeries, finding of new solutions to Corneal blindness caused due to internal and external factors like effect of chemicals, the advent of ‘Modified Osteo-Odonto Keratoproshtesis’ (MOOKP) the revolutionary tissue process evolved by Professor Giancarlo Falcinelli. Dr.Geetha followed this up with a quick introduction of the distinguished participants, their areas of specialization and distinctions; she had a high word of praise for ‘Rotary International’ for their generous grant for research in Cornea and the great work being carried out by the ‘Dr.G.Sitalakshmi Memorial Clinic for Ocular Surface disorders’ at the Sankara Nethralaya main campus.
Speaking on the occasion Dr.SS.Badrinath, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya recalled the stellar role played by Dr. H.N Madhavan, Director, L&T Microbiology Research Centre, Sankara Nethralaya in growing Corneal Stem Cells in the laboratory, he had a high word of praise for Dr.Prema Padmanabhan, Dr. Geetha Krishnan and Dr. Bhaskar Srinivasan and recalled the tireless efforts of Late Dr.G.Sitalakshmi in mastering and adopting the MOOKP process at Sankara Nethralaya and her Guru Professor Falcinelli’s wish that Sankara Nethralaya should not confine itself to being a treating centre but also a teaching centre for MOOKP. It was a moment of great pride for the host institution when the visiting dignitaries invited on stage by Dr.Geetha to share their views on the meet, showered their praise on it by observing that a visit to Sankara Nethralaya was an opportunity to learn and that they have come to learn, share and collaborate; the crowning glory of the day of course was the tribute from the legendary Professor Giancarlo Falcinelli who in his inaugural message lauded the MOOKP Centre at Sankara Nethralaya as the best among all the centres in the world which he had trained on the process.
The three day high level deliberations that followed the curtain raiser witnessed in-depth discussions, debates, exchange of new procedures and processes in the Ocular Surface arena and proved to be a great learning experience to the participants.
The image of a great admirer and generous supporter get enshrined at Sankara Nethralaya
Nani A.Palkhivala was a living legend of his times, he strode the world of economics, law and finance like a Titan, he was an erudite scholar, powerful orator and legal luminary, his authority over tax laws and the constitutional law are legendary. He was an outspoken and uncompromising civil liberties activist and served with distinction as India’s Ambassador to the USA. While his professional excellence and brilliance are well known, there is a lesser known facet to this great persona; Nani Palkhivala was a compassionate humanitarian and a socially conscious person with a strong urge to contribute to society. He held Dr. SS.Badrinath and Sankara Nethralaya the institution he founded in the highest esteem, after a visit to the eye care facility’s main centre at Chennai and observation of the quality of service offered and the highly professional financial/administrative management of the institution he lauded Sankara Nethralaya as “The Best Managed Charitable Organization in India”.
Sankara Nethralaya considers this high compliment from an economics genius and financial wizard of our times as the greatest tribute to its self sustaining financial model. So impressed was Shri Nani Palkhivala with the quality of eye care dispensed, especially the cost free care to indigent patients that he bequeathed a considerable portion of his property to support the cost free community services of Sankara Nethralaya; an entire building at the Sankara Nethralaya Main centre is named as Srimathi Nargesh and Sri Nani A.Palkhivala block as a sign of the institution’s gratitude and respect to the noble and philanthropic couple.
Sankara Nethralaya’s association with the man who complimented it as a place which reinforced his waning faith in the goodness of mankind, the philanthropist who bequeathed a considerable portion of his property to support its cost free community services, continued long after his demise. Members of the Nani.A. Palkhivala Memorial Trust producing a documentary on the life of the great man for the benefit of posterity, visited many places and met people near and dear to him, people who had closely interacted with him to compile their first hand experience and their impressions on him, to give viewers a broader picture of the man. The team made a trip to Chennai earlier in the year to visit Sankara Nethralaya and spoke to its Founder and Chief Architect Dr SS.Badrinath. The Trust members recently gifted an archival quality print of the life like portrait of late Nani A.Palkhivala by renowned artist Shri Suhas Bahulkar to Sankara Nethralaya.
It was a most memorable day for Sankara Nethralaya family when the Nani Palkhivala Trust chose Sankara Nethralaya’s, main centre at Chennai to hold the highly prestigious ‘Nani A.Palkhivala Memorial Lecture’ the annual event commemorating his memory and greatness. The event held on the 9th of July 2015 at the Sri V.D Swami Auditorium, Sankara Nethralaya main campus and witnessed the gathering of a large number of participants from the legal fraternity, the Nani Palkhivala Trust, Consultants, senior management members of Sankara Nethralaya and the general public who held him in great esteem. The proceedings got off to a great start with Shri S.Mahalingam, Member ‘Nani Palkhivala Arbitration Centre’ and former CFO of TCS describing the man being remembered and honoured as a scholar, economist, industrialist, author, philanthropist, visionary and extraordinary speaker and shared some memorable moments he was privileged to have with him.
Speaking on the occasion a visibly moved Dr SS.Badrinath, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya recalled that Shri Nani Palkhivala was particularly impressed by the cleanliness in the institution when he had visited Sankara Nethralaya in the early 90’s. The following moments witnessed the most touching exchange of thoughts in the form of letters between a kind and generous benefactor and a noble, service minded doctor and his institution, a golden, closely guarded communication which was privy to the two until it was made public on the momentous occasion; the audience were moved by the generosity of a man who in phases gave away his stocks and savings of a life time and how in his characteristic humility refused to be felicitated in public for what he called was a private act. Dr. SS.Badrinath recalled the fondness that the Kanchi Mahaperiyava had for Shri Nani Palkhivala and how he formed the ‘Veda Samprokshana Nidhi’ with the help of a generous donation made by him to the Mutt.
Welcoming the distinguished Chief Guest of the day Honourable Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Shri Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Shri N.Venkatesan, member of the Palkhivala Trust hailed him as a member of a distinguished family and a most accomplished legal professional who rose up the ladder through his excellence. Delivering the Chief Guest’s address Honourable Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul lauded late Shri Nani Palkhivala as a man who had left an indelible mark in the sands of time, he recalled that while Shri Nani Palkhivala had a deep respect for the Constitution of the country, framed by the founding fathers of the nation, he was also conscious of the role of change and dynamism in this instrument to ensure that it helped in the better empowerment of the common man. The Chief Guest praised Madras as the centre of Medicine, Music and Culture, he emphasised the need of good educational institutions in the legal and medical field to produce quality professionals from both disciplines and observed that medical field was relatively more fortunate, thanks to the contribution of private enterprise to its growth. This was followed by the most awaited event of the day, the unveiling of the portrait of late Shri Nani Palkhivala by the eminent Chief Guest, to the thunderous, standing applause of the large gathering. It is interesting to note that the portrait of the eminent Jurist was unveiled at the Supreme Court considered the ‘Temple of Justice’ by Chief Justice of India honourable Shri HL. Dattu and the same was unveiled at Sankara Nethralaya, fondly referred to as the ‘Temple of the Eye’ by Honourable Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Shri Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Dr.Jyotirmay Biswas, Head of the Uvea Department at Sankara Nethralaya gave a most interesting introduction of the star speaker of the day Dr. V.K Raju, Department of ophthalmology, West Virginia University and thanked him for his presence and participation. What followed was an enthralling speech on the topic ‘From Nani Palkhivala to V.S Naipaul’ the world famous ophthalmologist and long time friend of Dr SS.Badrinath and Sankara Nethralaya kept the audience in spell binding attention with a wonderful comparison, contrast and interesting portrayal of two great contemporary personalities, who were different in their approach and temperament but had a common passion for their motherland. The star speaker made interesting deviations with his observation on the need for learning for the sake of learning, the need to revive the fine art of reading, the advancement of the Indian cinema industry even way back in the early 60’s, he fervently appealed to the 1.2 million physicians of Indian origin practising all over the world to pool their talent and eradicate all ailment including blindness, he underlined that childhood blindness was mankind’s most cruel curse and lauded Sankara Nethralaya’s endeavours towards eliminating the same. He ended his speech with a surprise gesture, a donation to be used as a corpus to create what he termed as the ‘Danavantri Lecture’ to his old friend and Chief of Sankara Nethralaya Dr.SS.Badrinath.
The momentous day came to an end with a Vote of Thanks by Shri R.Anand, Trustee, Nani Palkhivala Foundation, recalling the old and most touching association between Shi Nani. Palkhivala and Sankara Nethralaya the institution he held close to his heart and the most powerful speech he delivered impromptu when he had visited the institution in the early 90’s.
MoU for BSc Ophthalmic Dispensing – 4 Years Course jointly by The SN Academy and Govt of Tamil Nadu`s Periyar University – Salem on 01.07.2015
Being a super speciality eye hospital with a reputation built over three decades of noble service, Sankara Nethralaya extends its community services in Healthcare Education too through its academic wing The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA).
In order to reach out to larger fraternity of students, TSNA has signed an MOU with Periyar University, a State University in Salem, for offering a professional course BSc (Ophthalmic Dispensing) with three years of intensive study followed by one year internship.
This educational programme is backed by a strong knowledge base and medical expertise, supported by state of the art infrastructure facilities. Besides eligibility for educational loans from banks, BSc – Ophthalmic Dispensing degree certificate from a UGC recognized government university enhances the scope for the students in terms of employment as well as higher studies in India and abroad.
This course is open for admission for plus two passed students with a minimum of 50% in aggregate. Applications can be downloaded from www.thesnacademy.ac.in and the contact number is 91769 44244