Dr Sengamedu Srinivasa Badrinath is the founder of one of India's largest charitable eye hospitals - Sankara Nethralaya. He is currently the president of the Medical Research Foundation of which Sankara Nethralaya is the hospital unit, a registered society, a charitable non-profit ophthalmic organization. He is also the Chairman Emeritus of Sankara Nethralaya. Today Sankara Nethralaya enjoys a good national and international reputation and recognition under his astute leadership.

HIS Contribution to Healthcare Landscape in India ;

Dr Badrinath founded the Medical & Vision Research Foundations in Madras in 1978 with a group of philanthropists. Sankara Nethralaya, a charitable not-for-profit eye hospital, is a unit of the Medical Research Foundation. On average, 1200 patients walk through the hospital doors, and 100 surgeries get performed every day. The institute also offers training programmes for graduates in Ophthalmology.

Laurels Brought to Dr S. S. Badrinath ;

* Conferred Padma Shri by Government of India in 1983.

* Conferred Padma Bhushan by Government of India in 1999.

* Recipient of Dr B. C. Roy National Award in 1991.

* Conferred Dhanvantri Award in 1999; Dadabhai Naoroji Award in 2004 and Rameshwar Das Birla Award in 2004.

* Life Time Achievement Award by the International Medical Integration Council & Optimal Healthcare Group (India) in 2004 and by ICFAI in 2005.

* Qimpro Platinum Standard-Healthcare Award in 2005.

* Hall of Fame Award and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2005.

* ICO Golden Apple Award for the Best Clinical Teacher in Ophthalmology in the APAO region in 2006 by APAO.

Impact Brought in the Lives of Common Indians ;

Over the next 24 years, Dr S. S. Badrinath and his colleagues relentlessly pursued the triple objectives of the foundation. Quality care at an affordable cost. Teaching and training of ophthalmologists and paramedical personnel to create an army for combating blindness in India. And Research in vision sciences addressing the ophthalmic problems specific to India.