The 2024 Chandra Award has been presented jointly to Dr Ana Pueyo-Bestué of Miguel Servantes Hospital in Zaragoza, Spain and Dr Toshit Varshney of Save Sight Centre Eye Hospital in Delhi, India.
The award was generously funded by Girish Chandra, who sadly passed away on 3 June. It facilitates the professional development of ophthalmologists from outside the UK, through gaining experience with leading ophthalmic institutions in the UK. Dr Pueyo-Bestué completed a two-week observership with the cataract and adnexal departments at Moorfields Eye Hospital. She said:
“My time at Moorfields Eye Hospital has been an unforgettable experience. Observing the work of the cornea and adnexal teams has not only deepened my clinical knowledge but also shown me the value of training at top institutions and the transformative role a fellowship can play in shaping a career. I’m deeply grateful to all the Fellows and staff who welcomed me so warmly, and to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists for supporting this opportunity through the Chandra Award.”
Dr Varshney is undertaking a year-long Senior Clinical Fellowship in Medical Retina, also based at Moorfields. Accepting the award, he said: “I am deeply grateful and honoured to receive this year’s Chandra Award. I will be spending the year at Moorfields Eye Hospital, enhancing my skills and understanding in the fields of medical retina, uveitis, and genetics, and learning from some of the world’s leading clinicians and researchers in these areas. This experience will be invaluable in enabling me to better serve patients with complex retinal and inflammatory eye diseases.”
Dr Chandra’s family has kindly given permission to continue offering this opportunity to ophthalmologists wishing to gain experience in the UK. Applications for the next award cycle will open in late 2025. For more information on current and previous awards, please visit the Scholarships, Awards and Prizes page on our website.