Chennai Ophthalmologists Receive Elizabeth Blackwell Award
Acknowledgment of Excellence in Teaching
Five consultant ophthalmologists from Sankara Nethralaya have been honored with the Elizabeth Blackwell Award for Excellence in Teaching. This recognition is awarded for their significant contributions to medical education and mentorship in the field of ophthalmology. The awardees include Dr. Veena Baskaran, Dr. Suganeswari G., Dr. Niveditha Narayanan, Dr. Dhanashree Ratra, and Dr. C.K. Parameswari. The accolade was jointly conferred by the Women Ophthalmologists Society and Women Ophthalmologists Worldwide.
Dr. Veena Baskaran
Dr. Veena Baskaran specializes in Cataract and Medical Retina and currently serves as the director of Jaslok Community Ophthalmology Services at Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai. She obtained her medical degree from a university in Chennai and later earned a Diploma in Ophthalmology from the Government Ophthalmic Hospital in Egmore, Chennai. In 2010, she completed her DNB Degree at the Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya.
Dr. Baskaran’s clinical fellowship in General Ophthalmology was completed at the Medical Research Foundation from 2006 to 2008. She also pursued an integrated fellowship in Medical Retina while serving as an associate consultant at Sankara Nethralaya from 2011 to 2012. Her career at the Jaslok Community Ophthalmic Centre includes roles as an associate consultant from 2008 to 2015 and as a senior consultant from 2015 to 2020. Currently, she heads the Department of Community Services and continues to provide senior consultancy in Medical Retina and Cataract services at C.U. Shah Nethralaya, Chennai.
Dr. Suganeswari G.
Dr. Suganeswari G. is a senior consultant in the Vitreoretinal department and an accomplished Ocular Oncologist with over 14 years of experience in ophthalmology. Her career began as a Resident at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Government Ophthalmology Hospital, Madras Medical College, Chennai. Dr. Suganeswari has made significant contributions to ophthalmology through her numerous publications, presentations, and participation in international clinical trials.
She holds an Ocular Oncology Fellowship from the National Cancer Centre in Tokyo and completed her Pediatric Retina fellowship at Kindai University in Osaka, Japan. Additionally, she serves as a project director at the Lions Skills Transfer Training Program and reviews for several prestigious journals including Eye, BMC, and the British Journal of Ophthalmology. Her involvement in international clinical trials focuses on Diabetic Retinopathy, Choroidal Neovascular Membrane, and Retinoblastoma.
Dr. Niveditha Narayanan
Dr. Niveditha Narayanan is a distinguished medical professional dedicated to advancing ophthalmology and accreditation within eye hospitals. She has a robust academic background and extensive experience in healthcare technology, contributing significantly to the field. Dr. Narayanan completed her MD at I.P. Pavlov, First Medical Institute in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1994, followed by a Diploma in Ophthalmology from the Helmholtz Eye Research Institute in Moscow in 1996.
Dr. Dhanashree Ratra
Dr. Dhanashree Ratra boasts over 27 years of experience as an ophthalmologist. She has successfully established and managed vitreoretinal departments in various prestigious institutions both in India and abroad. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards for her exceptional contributions to the field. Dr. Ratra has also played a significant role in research as a principal investigator for multiple clinical trials and has contributed extensively to academic journals as an editor and reviewer. Her previous positions include Specialist Consultant Ophthalmologist at Apollo Hospitals in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Bangalore, as well as an Overseas Specialist Ophthalmologist at CMER Dennis Lam Hospital in Shenzhen, PRC. She holds an MS in Ophthalmology from Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram.
Dr. C.K. Parameswari
Dr. C.K. Parameswari, a Senior Consultant in the Department of Comprehensive Ophthalmology, has over 12 years of experience in the field. She earned her MBBS degree from Siddhartha Medical College, NTR University of Health Sciences, Andhra Pradesh, and completed her D.N.B. from Voluntary Health Services and Udhi Eye Hospital in Chennai. Dr. Parameswari also completed a two-year Fellowship in Comprehensive Ophthalmology and Medical Retina at the Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya.
Before her fellowship, she served as an Assistant Professor at A.C.S Medical. Dr. Parameswari is involved in teaching postgraduate students in Comprehensive Ophthalmology and training them in cataract surgeries. She is recognized for her expertise in cataract surgeries, her ability to assess and treat medical retina-related disorders, and her commitment to providing excellent patient care.