The Indian Panorama

Tag: Dr Raju

  • The Indian Panorama is grateful to Dr. V.K. Raju and the Eye Foundation of America for their work and support

    • By I.S. Saluja

    The Indian Panorama is grateful to Dr. V.K. Raju, President of the Eye Foundation of America and the board of directors of the Eye Foundation of America for their noble humanitarian work and great support to the publication. Their collaboration in publishing the special edition to pay tribute to Martyrs of India on the Martyrs Day is worth appreciation and deserves our gratitude.

    We take this opportunity to briefly introduce the eminent eye surgeon and a great philanthropist and his  team  dedicated to creating a world without childhood blindness.

    Dr. V.K. Raju

    VK Raju, MD, FRCS, FACS

    Ellis Island Award Nominee 2019

    Ophthalmologist, Regional Eye Associates

    President and Founder, Eye Foundation of America

    President and Founder, Goutami Eye Institute

    Clinical Professor, West Virginia University

    Director, International Ocular Surface Society

    Adjunct Professor, GSL Medical School

    Adjunct Professor, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University

    Author: Musings on Medicine, Myth, and History-India’s Legacy

    Dr. VK Raju received his medical degree from Andhra University, India and Residency and Fellowship in UK. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American college of Surgeons.

    V.K.Raju, MD, FRCS, FACS is a clinical professor of ophthalmology at West Virginia University, WV, USA, and practicing ophthalmologist at Regional Eye in Morgantown, WV, USA. In 1977, work began on what is now known as the Eye Foundation of America. With Dr. Raju’s guidance, the Eye Foundation of America’s work has grown. To date, the Eye Foundation of America has performed over 4 million vision screenings in rural areas of over 30 countries across the world, the latest being Guatemala in November, 2023.  Through the Eye Foundation of America, over 400,000 sight-saving surgeries have been performed at no cost. Over 800 medical professionals, including many residents and ophthalmologists, have been trained to identify and treat eye diseases.

    Dr. Raju remains highly involved as the Founder and President of the Eye Foundation of America to this day, returning to India every few months to participate in educational programs, vision screening camps, and surgeries.

    New green Goutami Eye Institute under construction

    His insatiable drive to improve the lives of others has also resulted in the recent culmination of another lifelong goal. The construction of another eye hospital is underway with wings devoted to specialties including ocular oncology, pediatric ophthalmology, and the retinopathy of prematurity, a disease effecting premature babies.

    Dr. V.K. Raju with President Jimmy Carter

    Dr. VK Raju has received awards from American Academy of Ophthalmology four times for his teaching, research and international service. A partial list of awards include Doctor Nathan Davis International award of Excellence in Medicine by American Medical Association Foundation, Lifetime Achievement Award from WV State Medical Association, the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama, Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman award for Achievement in Medicine, House of Lords, London. He also received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Achievement Award from West Virginia University. He was also inducted into Medical Missions Hall of Fame by University of Toledo and Medscape placed him among the best doctors in America. Recently, he was awarded The Indian Panorama Lifetime Achievement Honor by  Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India’s  Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

    Dr. Raju receiving The Indian Panorama Lifetime Achievement Honor from Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

    For over 40 years, Dr. Raju has dedicated himself to eliminating avoidable blindness in children and adults through outreach programs, surgeries, and educational efforts. V. K. Raju has published over 100 scientific articles, 17 book chapters, and 2 books. Still, he will tell you, “My work is only the beginning.” Only this morning, Dr. Raju shared with me two quotes. Now these quotes are a pointer to his mind.

    “Of all the senses vision is the most precious.”

    ( SARVENDRIYANAM NAYANAM PRADHANAM- in Sanskrit.

    80% of our learning is through vision.

    Join us in giving a gift of vision “

    Another now.

    “There is nothing new under the sun.”

    In this world, nothing is more important than children’s nutrition and education. If we give them nutrition and education, they will take care of themselves.

    Since 1977, Eye foundation of America is striving to do just that.

    “Be part of that effort”.

    He often speaks about the colossal work which needs to be done to prevent childhood blindness. He is passionate about his vision of a world without childhood blindness.

    Luckily for him, he says, he has been blessed with a wonderful team who are always there to share his vision and work for its realization. Let me introduce the readers of The Indian panorama to this great team.

    The Eye Foundation of America Board of Directors.

    We have no doubt that the vision of Dr. Raju to have a world without childhood blindness will be realized. If human effort could create a world without polio, why can’t the world be free from childhood blindness?

    We wish you, Dr. Raju and your dedicated team all success.

  • Dr V.K. Raju: On a mission to eliminate childhood blindness from the world

    Dr V.K. Raju: On a mission to eliminate childhood blindness from the world

    Founded by eye surgeon and humanitarian Dr V.K. Raju, the Eye Foundation of America has spread its work to 30 developing countries, training medical personnel to serve the needy, and spreading education on preventive eye care. 

    World-renowned eye surgeon with a specialization in corneal transplant surgery, and humanitarian Dr Vadrevu K. Raju is diligently and passionately pursuing his mission to rid the world of childhood blindness. His Eye Foundation of America (EFA) has set up eye camps in 30 developing countries, training medical personnel to serve the needy, and spreading education on preventive eye care and healthy lifestyle choices.
    For the past four decades, Dr. Raju and his foundation have been working to eliminate avoidable blindness in areas plagued by poverty and poor access to medical care. This is done under the guiding principles of service, teaching, and research. It is accomplished through eye camps and brick-and-mortar hospitals in developing countries, training of medical personnel to serve the needy.
    EFA’s reach extends to 30+ developing countries and the USA. The Foundation has served 4 million patients and performed 350,000+ vision-saving surgeries, with over 25,000 surgeries performed on children.
    Since its inception in 1979, the EFA has facilitated 600+ physician exchanges and trained 200+ ophthalmologists, equipping these medical practitioners with the tools to join the global fight against blindness.
    Dr Raju has helped to build two hospitals in rural India: the Srikiran Eye Institute and the Goutami Eye Institute. Goutami has a wing dedicated exclusively to children.
    The EFA has plans to build a service and research eye hospital in India where no child will be denied treatment and children from around the world can come to receive services.

    Dr Raju was presented Excellence in Medicine award by GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin), Virginia chapter in 2021.

    But Dr Raju’s impact goes beyond mere numbers. He understands that true empowerment lies in education. EFA’s programs equip patients with knowledge about eye health and hygiene, enabling them to make informed choices and prevent future complications. This ripple effect extends beyond the individual, as patients become agents of change, sharing their knowledge within their communities.
    Dr Raju has also focused on preventing a lifetime of blindness in premature babies. When a baby is prematurely born, its body is not fully developed, the eyes included. ROP or retinopathy of prematurity happens when there is an abnormal development of retinal blood vessels on the retina.  ROP has to be treated during the window of 3 weeks to 3 months.

    Dr V.K. Raju doing eye screenings at a school in Delhi.

    Dr. Raju was born in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh in India. He earned his medical degree from Andhra University and completed an ophthalmology residency and fellowship at the Royal Eye Group of Hospitals in London. He is board-certified in ophthalmology and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) and the American College of Surgeons. and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
    He has resided in Morgantown, West Virginia since 1976, where he is currently a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at West Virginia University.

    In West Virginia, Dr. Raju accepts patients who do not have medical insurance and performs surgical procedures that are not covered, often pro bono. This allows many of these patients to remain functional members of society.

    Dr Raju has received many honors and awards, including 26 distinguished awards and 17 gold medals. In his adopted home state of West Virginia, he was awarded the Lions Club International (Morgantown) Jarrett Award. Morgantown Rotary honored him for community service in 2000. The award he is most proud of is the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award from West Virginia University.

    Dr V.K. Raju delivered a lecture at Apollo Hospital in Delhi.

    The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has awarded Dr. Raju four times for his teaching and research contributions, including the Outstanding Humanitarian Award in 2002 for $1 million of his own money that went into building hospitals in India, teaching, and providing services to needy patients.
    The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) awarded Dr. Raju with their prestigious Distinguished Community Service Award in 2007. President Barack Obama conferred on him the 2016 President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

    The University of Toledo in Ohio inducted him into the Global Medical Missions Hall of Fame in 20017.

    Dr. Raju has authored hundreds of papers and publications and is the co-author of Musings on Medicine, Myth, and History: India’s Legacy, along with his daughter, Leela V. Raju
    Dr. Leela Raju, his daughter and fellow ophthalmologist, is the EFA’s Secretary and Coordinator for Education and actively participates in its mission.

    Dr Raju and Mrs Rani Raju with their daughter Dr Leela Naidu, son Ashok Raju and his family.