omlog: a blog by Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India!

Sri. B.S. Raghavan, IAS (Retd.) visited Sankara Nethralaya

Dr. S.S. Badrinath, Sri. B.S. Raghavan, IAS (Retd.), Dr. K. Ravishankar, Dr. J. Biswas, Mr. A.P. Irungovel, Mr. Mahaligam. Mr. V. Murali gave an presentation about Teleophthalmology.

57th Republic Day celebrated at Sankara Nethralaya

The 57th Republic Day of the Indian Republic was celebrated with great joy by the employees of Sankara Nethralaya. Sri. B.S. Raghavan, IAS (Retd.,), was the Chief Guest for the function. He hoisted the National Flag on the Republic Day Celebration at Sankara Nethralaya on 26th January 2006 and delivered his keynote address. He said that it was the responsibility of every Indian to do his best with passion for the development of our country. In this respect, he said, Sankara Nethralaya has fulfilled its commitment to India. He said that SERVICE has 7 attributes: Sensitivity, Empathy, Responsiveness, Values, Involvement, Commitment, and Excellence. Sankara Nethralaya stood as an embodiment of these 7 attributes.

Employees who had completed 10 years of Service with the Foundation were honoured at the function. Merit Scholarships for the children of employees who have done well in their studies were also distributed. Dr. K. Ravishankar, Sri B.S. Raghavan, Dr. S.S. Badrinath, Dr. Vasanthi Badrinath.

An Honor for Our Chairman Dr. S. S. Badrinath

Our Chairman, Dr. S. S. Badrinath was honored by Sree Morbi Mitra Mandal on 24th January 2006. The felicitation ceremony took place at Sankara Nethralaya, 18, College Road, Chennai. Initiated by Mr. C.B. Shah, donor and well-wisher of Sankara Nethralaya, the Sree Morbi Mitra Monday felicitated Dr. Badrinath for his yeomen service in the field of Opthalmology.

Receiving the felicitation, Dr. Badrinath, said in his inimitable way, that the felicitation was for Sankara Nethralaya and all its employees for the work everyone has done together to make Sankara Nethralaya a foremost institution in India. Our Chairman, Mr. C.B.Shah, Dr. K. Ravishankar, Dr. T. S. Surendran.

Dr. Balaji Srinivasan visited Elite School of Optometry

Dr. Balaji Srinivasan, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai visited Elite School of Optometry on 21st January 2006. He gave a lecture on "Trends in Optical Telecommunication".

Jana Gana Mana: India's 56th Republic Day

We are proud to serve India and wish it even more peace and prosperity in the coming years. To celebrate this 56th Republic Day wouldn't you consider making a donation to our worthy cause? Thousands of poor Indians benefit from our services but we cannot do it without your generous and timely financial assistance. Please make a donation in India's glorious past, present and future.

For more information about Sankara Nethralaya or Sankara Nethralaya OM Trust, Inc. please feel free to contact one of our board members living near you.

Thank you for your continued support.

New Partners in Eye Care

Guest Lecture was given by Dr. Mohan Sundararajan at Sankara Nethralaya on 19th January 2006 on the occaison of 80th Brithday of Dr. N.S. Sundaram

On the occasion of Dr. N.S. Sundaram's 80th Birthday, Dr. Mohan Sundararajan visited Sankara Nethralaya on 19th January 2006 and gave a lecture on "Emerging Trends in Nano Biotechnology".

An "Inspiring" Gift to Sankara Nethralaya

"SIKKUPPALAKAI" (BOOK STAND) - USED BY ONE OF THE GREATEST POETS OF OUR NATION SHRI. SUBRAMANIYA BHARATHI IS GIFTED TO SANKARA NETHRALAYA.

"Uruthi Konda Nenjinai Va" - "Come forward with a determined heart and mind"! So sang one of the greatest poets of India, Shri. C. Subramaniya Bharathiyar. On 19th January 2006 Shri. K.V. Krishnan - nephew of the great Shri. C. Subramaniya Bharathiyar visited Sankara Nethralaya with his daughter Smt. Anandhi Srinivasan and Shri. S. Natarajan and presented the Book Stand used by this great poet to Dr. S. S. Badrinath, the man whose determination to provide world class eye care in India shines forth through Sankara Nethralaya. The "Sikkuppalakai" was used by Shri. C. Subramaniya Bharathiyar to read a literature and Vedas.

Shri. K.V. Krishnan is son of Smt. Lakshmi Ammal, the sister of Shri. C. Subramaniya Bharathiyar. Shri. K.V. Krishnan is engaged with Tamil Sangam of Varanasi.

At an informal meeting in the Chairman's Office, Shri. K.V. Krishnan handed over the "Sikkuppalakai through Shri. J. Swaminathan, son of Shri. K.V. Jagannathan (Ki. Va. Ja) - a great Tamil writer and founder of the famous Tamil Monthly - Kalaimagal to Dr. and Mrs. Badrinath

Shri. Rama Gopalan - a friend and well wisher of Sankara Nethralaya and also the founder of Hindu Munnani, Shri. T. Rathinam (Deputy General Manager - Technical), Shri. G. Shivaraman (Senior Manager - Patient Relation) and Shri. A.P. Irungovel (Manager - Medical Sociology) also joined this momentous occasion.

Shri Lopen Sangay Dorji, Swamiji from Bhutan visited Sankara Nethralaya Teleophthalmology Dept. on 18th January 2006.

Mr. Ashwin Kothari, Trustee, Aditya Birla Foundation and Dr. B.K. Trivedi Cheif Executive Officer, Aditya Birla Memorial Hosiptal, Pune visited Sankara Nethralaya on 18th January 2006.

Sankara Nethralaya opens Surgical Facilities

An Operation Theatre Complex was Inaugurated at Rural Eye Hospital, St. Thomas Mount center of Sankara Nethralaya, functioning at 8, G.S.T Road, Chennai on 18th January 2006. Dr. K. Vasudevan, Principal and Chairman of Prince Group of Educational Institutions inaugurated the New Operation Theatre Complex.

Notable Visits

Mr. Ravi Mehra, Managing Director of Eye Tech Industries, Mumbai, Mr. Gary, Service Engineer, Topcon, Singapore and Mr. Sambandan, Director, Suraj Eye Tech (P) Ltd, Chennai visited Sankara Nethralaya on 17th January 2006. Mr. Ravi Mehra handed over a cheque of Rs. 60,000 to Dr. Lingam Gopal towards sponsorship to our website Ekalavya in the presence of Mr. T. Rathinam and Mr. V. Murali of Sankara Nethralaya. They also visited Sankara Nethralaya Teleopthalmology Department.

Sudha K. Iyengar, USA visited Sankara Nethralaya

Sudha K. Iyengar, Associate Professor, Division of Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology School of Medicine, Case - Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA visited Sankara Nethralaya on 16th January 2006. She completed her Ph. D in 1992 at University of Pittsburgh in the Research Area - Genetics of Complex Human Disorders. She is currently working on mapping quantitative trait loci associated with ocular disorders in  a population from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, end - stage renal disease and speech - sound disorders. She is a member of several large consortia to map genes for complex traits such as diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy and sarcoidosis. The purpose of her visit is to help us in stratifying the samples and study design for the project on understanding the Genetics of complex eye diseases like the adult onset Cataract angle closure Glaucoma Diabetic Retinopathy and ARMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration).

Mr. Shyam Sundar Singh visited Sankara Nethralaya

Mr. Shyam Sundar Singh, Alumnus of Elite School of Optometry, currently practicing in Toronto, Canada gave a presentation on "Presbyopia - Latest trend in management" on 13th January 2006 for Elite School of Optometry Students.

Dr. ARYA, Director of Medical Services visited Sankara Nethralaya

Dr. ARYA, Director of Medical Services, General Health & Team, Government of Uttaranchal visited Sankara Nethralaya on 11th January 2006. They were taken for a hospital tour.

Sankara Nethralaya Chief Wins Bhagawan Mahaveer Awards for Excellence

The Tenth Bhagawan Mahaveer Awards for Excellence in Human Endeavour 2004 was presented to Dr. S.S. Badrinath, Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya by Governor T.N. Chaturvedi at Bangalore on 11th January 2006. The Mahaveer Awards are given annually for excellence in human endeavour in the fields of non-violence and vegetarianism, education and medicine, community and social service.

Governor T.N. Chaturvedi presented the awards to the President and Chairman of Sankara Nethralaya Chennai, Dr. S.S. Badrinath, Dr. Sharadkumar Dicksheet of Pune, and Rajmal S. Jain of Rajasthan. They were honoured for their contribution in the field of education, medicine and community and social services.

The Governor said the awardees were role models who could mould the future generations and inspire them. " Humanism still exists and these contributors can show us the path, " the Governor added.

For more details please read link

Visitors

A Team of Faculty and Students from Cornell University college of agriculture and Life Sciences visited Sankara Nethralaya on 6th January 2006. Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New york, USA is one of the world's leading universities providng education to students under the able guidance of Internationally recognized faculty in their respective fields.

Honourable Chief Minister of Tripura Mr. Manik Sarkar visited Navasuja Sankara Nethralaya as a patients on 8th January 2006. He was very happy regarding the service offered to him by Sankara Nethralaya. Mr. V. Murali and Mr. G. Sivaraman gave a presentaion on Teleophthalmology.

Swami Viruurthananthar, Editor fo the journal Shri. Ramakrishna Vijayam, Shri Ramakrishna Mutt, Mylapore visited Teleophthalmology on 8th January 2006.

Dr. R.S. Dwivedi, Microbiologist from Hongkong visited Teleophthalmology on 9th January 2006.

Ennangalin Sangamam program by Dept. of Medical Sociology

Dept. of Medical Sociology jointly organized a meeting with Nalloor Vattam on 8th January 2006 (Sunday). The theme was Ennangalin Sangamam (Unity of thoughts for good social causes). There are 120 voluntary social workers participated the program.

Our Cheif Executive Officer Dr. K. Ravishankar inaugurates the program by lighting the kuthu vilakku and delivered welcome address & talk about Sankara Nethralaya including Rural Eye Hospital Operation Theatre inauguration.

Our Chairman Dr. S. S. Badrinath & Director Lab Services Dr. Vasanthi Badrinath a released a hand book " Ennangalin Sangamam " and the first copies received by Shri Uttam Raj - Founder of Seva Barathi Blood Bank, Shri Ragavan - Founder of Gayathri Trust, Shri Muthiah - Teacher from Thenkasi & Shri Sridhar - Founder of Mythri Educational & Charitable trust.

The CD on our Tele - ophthalmology projects and movie on eye donations starring Shri. Rajinikanth screened on this occasion.

Swami Vimuurthananthar, Editor of the journal Shri Ramakrishna vijayam, Shri. Ramakrishna Mutt, Mylapore was the chief guest and delivered a lecture on SEVA.

There was four themes discussed and team members presented their views on

Blood Donation & Eye Donation

Developments of villages

Home for orphans, Elders & Mentally retarded peoples

Education

The function on went on well and it was over followed by vote of thanks by Shri. A.P. Irungovel.

Academics at Sankara Nethralaya

Dr. A. V. Ramanan, Consultant Paediatric Rheumatologist, North Bristol NHS Trust, Royal Bristol Children's Hospital and Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath UK visited Sankara Nethralaya on 4th January 2006. He gave a lecture on " Uveitis in Children - A Rheumatologists perspective ". It was organized by the Uvea department.

Six our student interns of the Elite School of Optometry (R. Aiswaryah, R. Ayeswarya, S. Sherin Mercy, V. Lakshmi Priya, V. Abinaya Priya and K. Spandhana ) attended the Low Vision Aids Workshop organized by National Insititute for the Visually Handicapped in collaboration with the Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute ( Deemed University ), Porur from 4th January 2006 to 6th January 2006.

Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati and Dr. Balamurali Ambati visited Sankara Nethralaya on 6th January 2006. Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati gave a lecture on " Complement activation in age related macular degeneration " and Dr. Balamurali Ambati gave a lecture on " New Techniques in Cataract and Corneal Surgery ".

Guest Faculty: Mrs. Jyothi Dave President from Indian Contact Lens Society, Mumbai visited Elite School of Optometry and gave a lecture on " Prescribing Conact Lens in the 21st Century " on 7th January 2006. The meeting was organized and coordinated by Ms. Rajeshwari, senior optometrist and incharge, Contact Lens department.

Our Network Expands

Sri Narayani Health & Research Centre, Vellore

The inauguration of the Ophthalmic wing at Sri Narayani Health & Research Centre, Vellore was held on 3rd January 2006. Dr. C. Madhavan will be the consultant ophthalmologists there. Both he and an optometrist from Sankara Nethralaya have been deputed to that centre. The Out Patient Department started functioning on 3rd January 2006, the day being the birthday of Sri Narayani Amma. The Operation Theatre would start functioning shortly.

Dr. Kumaraswami Health Centre, Kanniyakumari

Opening Ceremony of Teleophthalmology Connection Centre with Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai and Cancer Outpatient Department was held on 8th January 2006 at Dr. Kumaraswamy Health Centre, Perumalpuram, Kanniyakumari Dist. under the presidentship of Prof. S. P. Thiyagarajan. Dr. Gnanasoundari, Director of the centre welcome'd the gathering. MJF. Lion. G. V. Raman, Past Governor of Dist. 324A1, Lion C.T. Natesan, President, Lions club of Central Madras, Dr. Rajiv Raman, Director Incharge of Teleophthalmology, Sankara Nethralaya, Dr. T. Guna Sagaran, Dean, Kanyakumari Medical College, Dr. Samuel Dhason, Mission Compound feliciated the function. MJF. Lion. Dr. C. V. Ananthasayaram Past President, Lions Club of Central madras and the donor of the entire project spoke on the occasion. Mr. S. Rajarathinam, Mr. Seetharam, Trustees and the member from Lions club of Central madras also participated in the function.

Sir Ratan Tata Team visited Sankara Nethralaya

Mr. Hoshang D. Malestra, Dr. Sudeep Singh Gadok and Mr. Arun Pandhi from Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai visited Sankara Nethralaya on 3rd January 2006. The team visited the various centres of Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai including the Special clinic for Computer Users at Navasuja Sankara Nethralaya, the Teleophthalmology department and the Elite School of Optometry besides the Jaslok Community Ophthalmology Center. The spent time understanding the runing of the Sir Ratan Tata Fellowship for training in cataract surgery and met the past and present fellows.