Glimpses 2009-2010.pdf - LV Prasad Eye Institute

G Pratibha Rao
Pratibha Rao played an important role in the creation and development of
LVPEI. As the first major donor for the project, she catalysed fundraising
in the United States even before HEI was founded. Over the years, she
encouraged Dr Gullapalli N Rao and was a constant source of ideas and
support. She developed the aesthetic profile of the Institute and worked
relentlessly to implement it, creating LVPEI’s unique identity as a place that
“does not look or feel like a hospital”. She created a framework for the
Education Centre and was also Managing Editor of the Indian Journal of
Ophthalmology, transforming it from an erratic, low quality publication into
a journal of international repute. She motivated the ophthalmic industry to
partner in the effort to enhance the image of Indian ophthalmology, thus
making the journal financially sound.
Later, she moved on to a larger platform of democratic reforms, helping to found Lok Satta, a civil
society organization dedicated to governance reforms and the Lok Satta Party, where she plays an
important leadership role.
Prof V Ramalingaswami
One of India’s most eminent scientists and internationally renowned
pathologist and nutrition scientist, Prof V Ramalingaswami was Director
of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and Director
General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). He transformed
that organization so much that the ICMR headquarters were named
“V Ramalingaswami Bhavan” after him.
Never has anyone else in India’s medical scene received such acclaim for his
work and vision, nationally or abroad! Prof Ramalingaswami was a legend and
held many high-level positions. He chaired the World Health Organization’s
global advisory committee on medical research and was adviser to UNICEF,
Population Council, Canadian International Aid Agency, as well as many other agencies. He was also
Professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and Visiting Professor at several leading universities
across the world, including Harvard and Oxford.
Prof Ramalingaswami inspired and supported Dr Gullapalli N Rao’s plan to move to India to set
up an eye care institute that would not only provide world class clinical care to all but also pursue
frontline research. He encouraged Dr D Balasubramanian, then Director of the Centre for Cellular
and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad to head LVPEI’s research wing.
At his stately home in New Delhi, he played host to the nation’s most learned and powerful. He was
truly a Renaissance man – a Sanskrit pandit and a Shakespearean scholar.
Mr K P Prasad
A successful industrialist and entrepreneur, Mr K P Prasad assisted
Dr Rao in laying the groundwork of LVPEI. He helped found and develop
the Hyderabad Eye Institute and also recruit staff in those early days. He
funded one of the first ophthalmology fellowship positions. He and his wife
have remained loyal supporters of LVPEI.
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