Aravind-Madurai, 3-4 February

Under the guidance of Dr. G. Natchiar, the first-ever meeting of the electrical maintenance staff was held at Aravind-Madurai with the aim to foster fellowship, discuss recent parameter audits, share experiences and outcomes, review lessons learned from incidents, discuss energy and cost-saving practices, promote environmental sustainability, and outline future development activities.

During the meeting, Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, Senior Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services at Aravind-Madurai, delivered a special address emphasising the significance of the electrical department in healthcare systems. A technical learning session was conducted by a resource person from L&T, a major electrical equipment manufacturer.

As part of the programme, participants were taken to Aravind-Madurai facilities, Aurolab, Aurofarm, and Nithyatha, along with visits to Meenakshi Amman temple and Alagarkovil temple. The session concluded with a brief meeting with Dr. G. Natchiar.

Aravind-Madurai, 1-2 February

The Central Office of HR, Aravind-Madurai, organised an HR Retreat attended by Regional HR Directors from various zones, MLOP Doctor In-Charge-1, and MLOP Superintendent-1 from all hospitals. Facilitated by the HR Team’s mentor, Cindy Harrison, Vice President, Human Resources, Henry Ford Health System, the retreat focused on strategic HR planning for 2024. The team’s engagement with external HR consultants last year, studying the employees’ perspectives, was presented as a report during the retreat. 

Aravind-Madurai, 12^th February

The Department of Cataract and IOL Services at Aravind-Madurai hosted the Cataract Retreat. The retreat aimed to facilitate discussions on current practices and identify opportunities for standardisation amidst evolving trends in cataract surgery. The event featured multiple sessions and discussions, leading in the formulation of a roadmap for future initiatives. This gathering brought together HODs, SMOs, and MLOPs from the IOL Departments of various Aravind centres.

Aravind-Madurai, 10-11 February

The Department of Cataract and IOL Services, Aravind-Madurai organised a CME Programme titled Phacoexcel 2024 under the theme “Explore the Excellence”. The event included classroom lectures and video sessions focusing on case handlings in cataract surgery. Renowned international and national speakers, along with internal faculty members from Aravind, led the sessions. A total of 153 delegates participated in the event. Additionally, a pre-conference workshop, held the day before the main event, provided hands-on training in secondary IOL implantation and simulated phacoemulsification techniques, benefiting 29 participants.

Aravind-Madurai, 30-31 January

The Central HR Team organised the two-day workshop aimed at empowering participants with essential principles for personal and professional growth. Conducted by the certified trainer, Cindy Harrison, who was personally trained by Stephen Covey, the workshop included interactive sessions, group discussions, and practical exercises. These sessions helped attendees gain insights into each habit and apply them in their daily lives. Around 40 participants from the managerial cadre and a few doctors across Aravind Eye Hospitals attended. 

Aravind-Madurai, 27-28 January

Aravind-Madurai organised a two-day symposium on diabetic retinopathy led by Dr. R. Kim, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. Naresh Babu, Chief, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. V. Muthukrishnan, Retina Consultant, Aravind-Madurai, and the organising committee. The programme commenced with the ceremonial lamp lighting by Dr. P. Namperumalsamy,  and Dr. G. Natchiar.

The event served as a platform for discussions on retinal damage due to diabetes and the latest advancements in treatment procedures. Renowned experts in the field of ophthalmology from America and Israel were involved in the discussion virtually. Sessions highlighted topics such as epidemiology, clinical pearls in diabetic macular edema (DME), investigative modalities, surgical modules, and the future of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Prominent experts from various parts of the country, Dr. Shukla, Dr. Lowenstein, Dr. Rajiv Raman, Dr. Mahesh Shanmugam, and Dr. Mahesh Gopalakrishnan, actively engaged in this conference. The symposium garnered attendance from approximately 200 delegates across India.

Aravind-Madurai, 26-28 January

A three-day CPE programme was organised for the Stores team from all Aravind centres, focusing on enhancing clarity regarding inventory management practices, standardising store functions, defining roles and responsibilities of staff, and providing training on the Material management system (MMS).

The resource persons included Dr. Balaji, Dean, MBA Programme, Thiyagaraja School of Management, who presented on the Importance of achieving operational performance in stores. Additionally, Sivaram, AGM, and Kannan, Senior Manager, TAFE, Madurai, facilitated an interactive session on Supply chain reorganisation.

Aravind–Tirupati, 25^th January

Aurosambaralu is a monthly event at Aravind-Tirupati designed to bring out the talents of staff members and foster unity among departments. This year’s Aurosambaralu commenced with a Rangoli competition themed around Republic Day, enthusiastically participated in by MLOPs and administrative staff. A patient’s attendant served as the judge, evaluating the colourful Rangoli creations.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 24^th January

Aravind’s 111^th Vision Centre at Komaralingam, Tirupur District, was inaugurated by R. Jeyaramkrishnan, Former MP, Madathukulam, in the presence of Dr. V. Narendran, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Coimbatore, and prominent members from the locality, including K. Eswarasamy, M.A. Shahul Hameed, Sharmila Banu Zahra Hussain, and A. Achimuthu. The centre will be managed by Aravind-Coimbatore. On the first day, a total of 40 patients had their eyes examined.

Aravind-Theni, 9-10 January

The two-day Personnel meet held at Theni focused on highlighting the importance of the personnel department, its role, processes, and responsibilities. The programme included various sessions covering topics such as policies, planning and scheduling work, discussions about statutory acts applicable to hospitals, process flow within the department, allocation of additional duties and responsibilities, centralisation of work, and sharing. A total of 18 attendees, including senior managers, managers, nursing superintendents, coordinators, and admin assistants from 14 branches, participated in the event.