Eye on education

Ophthalmic surgeon Dr Rumi Jehangir’s teaching experience of 39 years was recognized with The Best Medical Teacher Award from the Maharashtra Ophthalmological Society (MOS) at their 43rd conference in Kolhapur from October 27-29, 2023. The largest state society of ophthalmologists affiliated to the All India Ophthalmological Society, the conference was attended by 1,600 delegates. The Society bestowed recognition awards for various contributions in diverse aspects of ophthalmology.

Dr Rumi Jehangir at the Kolhapur conference

An alumnus of the Seth G. S. Medical College of King Edward Memorial Hospital up to postgraduation, Jehangir was attached to the institution’s ophthalmology department from 1969 to 2005, when he retired as honorary professor. The soft-spoken doctor, whose private clinic generally overflows with patients, was appointed professor emeritus in 2016. In addition, Jehangir has served as honorary ophthalmic surgeon at The B. D. Petit Parsee General and Breach Candy hospitals. The surgeon has worked in Talwada, a tribal area in Maharashtra, one weekend every month, in an effort to remove curable blindness.

He has served as the secretary, vice president and president of MOS in prior years. The role of the Society is to improve and facilitate clinical care of patients, research in newer modalities of eye treatment, transfer of skills and medical education, among others, states their website. "It holds meetings and seminars in smaller towns in order to disseminate knowledge in remote areas (and) offers a platform to junior doctors to showcase their presentation skills and share their problems and views,” stated a note from the surgeon’s office. The MOS also advises in medico-legal matters and encourages sports and fitness.

Jehangir has been a founder member and secretary of the Vitreo-Retinal Society and president of the Bombay Ophthalmologists’ Association. Some of the organizations where he has served as trustee are Sola Hakim Medical Research Centre, Frashogar Charities and Lotus Eye Hospital.

F. J.