Two Puducherry doctors selected for Chang-Crandall humanitarian award for 2026

PUDUCHERRY: Aravind Eye Hospital chief (cataract & intraocular lens services) Dr Haripriya Aravind and the hospital’s chief medical officer Dr R Venkatesh were selected for the Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award for the year 2026, recognising their service and compassion.

They will be presented with the awards during the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation’s conference in Washington DC on April 11 this year. Endowed by a generous gift from David and Victoria Chang, ASCRS Foundation instituted the Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award in 2017 to honour and recognise outstanding humanitarian work in the field of cataract blindness and disability.The $100,000 award is donated to the awardee’s non-profit organisation of choice. The doctors, Haripriya and Venkatesh, have earmarked the cash prize for the Aravind Eye Care System. Both Haripriya and Venkatesh have long, accomplished careers in ophthalmology and work within the Aravind Eye Care System.Haripriya first joined Aravind in paediatric ophthalmology after completing her residency there. “I did like it, and then Dr G Natchiar suggested I join the adult cataract and intraocular lens (IOL) department.”

Working at a large-volume hospital/ department, Haripriya said it has been interesting to look at ways to make things better for patients and to work with a large team.Venkatesh completed his residency in 1997 and became a consultant/ medical officer in the general cataract unit under the guidance and mentorship of Natchiar. He also worked in outreach activities doing high-volume cataract surgery, especially manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS).

It was not just volume, but focused on quality and training people in MSICS, especially young residents. Around 2000, when Aravind planned a new expansion to Puducherry, Venkatesh had the opportunity to choose a specialisation in addition to cataract, and he chose a 1-year glaucoma fellowship. “I did a fellowship in Madurai,” he said, “and then in 2003, when the new hospital was inaugurated, I moved, and it's been 23 years now in Puducherry,” he said.