The Man who changed my life!

It was the May month of year 1999. Vibha, my wife was 5 months pregnant, and I traveled to Vellore by Katpadi express, to explore my luck with Ophthalmology training at the Christian Medical College. I found myself seated across a group of reverent fathers for an interview. One of the interviewer looked different: he was an unusually fit bald man, who was wearing just a half-sleeved white coat and a black trouser!

I was asked why I had applied for a post of Diploma in Ophthalmology, as I already had that degree. "Because I did not learn anything in my previous training, and I don't mind the title again, as long as I get to learn", I replied. My answer visibly startled that odd bald interviewer, who immediately announced that I should be selected, as I was so keen to learn! The interview eventually got over, and I was just walking around, admiring the campus. I suddenly heard a shoutout 'Hey you, come with me'. It was the same bald man who interviewed me. He pulled out his rustic jeep that was wrongly parked, and waved at me to jump in. 'Why would he do that, to one of the many interviewees randomly?', I kept thinking. While he drove, he introduced himself as Ravi Thomas, and said he is taking me to the eye hospital. He told me that I am unlikely to be offered the post I just interviewed for, as the management felt I already have the title!

After a 10 min drive, we reached Schell Eye Hospital on Arni road. He spent the next half an hour showing me around, the clinics, procedure rooms, laser room, etc. I was amazed to see the residents having hands on training in every aspect of ophthalmology. I instantaneously felt jealous of those residents! He offered me a registrar's post, and that is how my Ophthalmology journey began! While most of my friends back home opined it was a bad idea, it was Vibha (in her 2nd trimester, and about to appear for her MD Anaesthesia exam), who supported my decision, and quietly accepted this separation at an obviously wrong time in our life!

The work hours were intense, but so were the learnings! His passion and enthusiasm towards teaching was extreme. I learnt not only Ophthalmology, but also presentation skills, empathy, and team work at Schell. Not just him, but everyone at Schell taught me immensely: the residents, faculty, staff, optometrists, nurses, photographer and even the support staff! He had a pet name for every student, and mine was 'Shiv Sainik' :)

I can never forget the amount of efforts he took in teaching me cataract surgery and phaco. It was special, because I was a surgical handicap (left-handed)! I remember him prolapsing the nucleus into the AC from the left side port, and placing it back so that I could do it all over again, and master SICS! Dr Thomas Kuriakose, one of my favourite faculty practiced his left eye phaco surgeries with his left hand, just so that I could be taught! The other faculty at that time, Andrew Braganza, Renu Raju, Sarada David, Annie Mathai, Saju Thomas, Pushpa Jacob: all taught me innumerable small and big tips and tricks in Ophthalmology!

My faculty and residents, with our 6 month old daughter!

My co-residents, Padma, Savita, Ronnie, Rajul, Lekha, Amitha, Arathi, Shamna, Dev,  Priya and Prasanna were always there to teach me, help me with Tamil language, and uplift my mood whenever needed.

Ravi once sent me to a village 250km away to bring back a patient, just because I forgot to document the disc photograph. I was upset then, but today, I can proudly say that my photography documentation is up-to-date, thanks to that hard-learnt lesson! I still remember my 'induction' day in the OR, where I was made to experience how a patient feels on the OR table: lessons that would last a lifetime and more! 

 

There are innumerable stories of how his small acts of selfless love for his students helped us all, and it can amount to a book. I'll however share one of my profound stories here, the one that propelled me into Oculoplasty. 

It was a routine grand round day at Schell one morning in the year 2000. I had a patient on my bed, operated by me the previous day. As the entire department circled around my patient's bed, the faculty and senior residents began to grill me. It was a case of evisceration, and I had performed a 'cornea sparing' one. I sensed that I had done something which hadn't been done before, and it could well qualify as being 'out of line', coming from a resident. Ravi quietly observed me in that vulnerable spot, and listened to my answers as I defended my apparently 'new' surgery.  
After the rounds, I was called to Ravi's office. Must be for a round of scolding, I thought. But as I sat down in the chair opposite this scary bald man, his first words were "So I guess you're interested in Plasty?". My eyes must have gleamed, before they were filled with tears, as I whispered "yes!". 
 
Within a minute he connected a call on the antique telephone in his office, and while handing over the receiver to me, he said "My friend will speak to you, and figure out a way to teach you plasty. You can then return to Vellore, and develop that service". A few rings later, I heard a voice from the other side "Hello, I'm GC speaking". Rest is history! I can never thank him enough for introducing me to LVPEI, where I have spent the most satisfying years of my life, learning and practicing Oculoplasty amongst the best of minds and opportunities, and a stellar line up of fellows, who are now friends for life!
 
From adopting me as a registrar in CMC Vellore, to ensuring I get into a DNB program (against all odds), teaching me left handed cataract and phaco, to ensuring I pursue what I liked: he did it all, like how any father would do.
 
For the world and his family, he has departed this planet, and moved to a better place. But for me, he is still around, and manifests in every teaching of his that I practice. I shall live up to his expectations and pass on the teachings for the rest of my life!
I would not end this note hoping for his soul to rest in peace, because anyone who has known Ravi would guess that someone as electrifying as him cannot have a restful soul! I would, in fact, congratulate the gods in the Heavens (that just got richer) to be prepared and get ready for his arrival, as he is surely going to win their hearts too!
 
Milind Naik, MD