An Eye Doctor or Ophthalmologist makes sure your eyes remain healthy. An Ophthalmologist is a specialist doctor that works in the eye and vision care domain. Ophthalmologists are licensed to practice medicine and surgery.
Dr. Chandrashekhar Valhavankar has been successfully practicing as a Comprehensive Ophthalmologist in Pune for the past 30 years since 1989. After completing basic medical studies in BAMS in the year 1984 from Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalay in Pune; Dr. Valhavankar pursued post-graduate studies in MD Ophthalmology or Shalakyatantra from Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalay which were completed in 1989. Dr. Valhavankar specializes in the treatment and management of the anterior segment diseases including Ocular Surface Disorders, Dry Eye Syndrome, Inflammatory Eye Disorders, Medical Management of Infectious Inflammation of Eye e.g. Corneal Ulcers, etc. He is highly skilled in anterior segment surgeries like Small Incision Cataract Surgery and Phacoemulsification for Cataract. His other skills include surgeries like Pterygium, Chalazion, and Squint to name a few.
His ambitions to excel and his diligence earned him the FIIM Fellowship under Dr. P. H Kulkarni in the year 1984. Dr. Valhavankar has served as the Medical officer at Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital in Pune from 1984 to 1988. He has also been working as a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Chief Eye Surgeon at Chaitanya Eye Clinic and Phaco Centre in Pune from the past 30 years. Dr. Valhavankar has earned his PGDHA degree (Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital Administration) from All India Local Self Government, Mumbai. Dr. Valhavankar’s curiosity and pursuit for distinction led him to commit his research abilities to the Doctoral studies in ‘Use of Castor oil eye drops in management of Dry Eye Syndrome’. He is currently a scholar and is working towards earning his Ph.D. in from Ashtang Ayurved Mahavidyalay (MUHS).
His hard work and commitment to the medical profession have earned him many accolades so far. Dr. Valhavankar has been bestowed upon with the post of Honorary Ophthalmologist multiple times by different organizations. Dr. Valhavankar acted as an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Shalakyatantra at Ashtang Ayurved College and Hospital from 1988 to 2003. He was chosen as an Honorary Ophthalmologist & Eye Surgeon at Janakalyan Netrapedhi in Pune from 1990 to 2010. He also acted as an Honorary Ophthalmologist at Seth Tarachand Hospital in Pune from 1988 to 1992. He served as an Honorary Ophthalmologist at Sane Guruji Hospital in Hadapsar, Pune from 1992 to 2003. His efforts and contribution in his field did not go undetected and Rotary Club of Poona Midtown selected him as a delegate for their International Cataract Surgery Camp held in the Philippines in 1998. Dr. Valhavankar has been working as a Professor and PG Guide at Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Ayurved College & Hospital in Pune since 2004. He has also been actively working as an Administrative officer at Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital in Pune since 2003. He has also been a part of Seth Tarachand Hospital in Pune as an Honorary Ophthalmologist since 2013. Dr. Valhavankar has been a regular attendee of the Annual Conferences of Poona Ophthalmological Society, Maharashtra Ophthalmological Society, Bombay Ophthalmological Association, All India Ophthalmological Society, NIMA and The Association of Shalakyatantra (TAS).
Dr. Valhavankar’s busy schedule has not kept him away from his desire to fulfill his duty towards his fellow citizens, to reach out to the masses, to the nooks and corners of the state and to serve the underprivileged. Dr. Valhavankar has been a regular Visiting Senior Ophthalmologist to a few towns, cities and villages of Taluka Junnar in Pune District from the past 30 years. He runs an OPD and performs surgeries at a minimal affording cost on every weekend at Alephata, Otur, Belha, and Junnar. Dr. Valhavankar has been arranging regular free eye check-up camps in Pune city and in rural areas and talukas. He has been actively involved in the regular free eye check-up camps for Pilgrims of Pandharpur Waari at Indapur since the last 13 years. Free eye check-up camps, cataract detection camps, and free cataract surgery camps have been organized by him for the past 25 years. His trust organization, ‘Om Chaitanya Medical Foundation and Research Centre’, is working with PBMA’s H. V. Desai Eye Hospital in Pune for Eye Donation Calls, Eyeball Collection, and Enucleation Calls since the past 5 years. Dr. Tejaswini Valhavankar; Dr. Chandrashekhar Valhavankar’s daughter; has been mainly associated with and co-ordinates with the eye bank call.
Dr. Valhavankar is a life member of many reputed organizations like Poona Ophthalmological Society, Maharashtra Ophthalmological Society, NIMA (Pune and Maharashtra), BGA (BAMS Graduate Association), and TAS (The Association of Shalakyatantra). He serves as a Professor and Postgraduate Guide at Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Ayurved College & Hospital in Pune. He is an Administrative Officer at Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Mahatma Gandhi Eye Hospital in Pune. He has served as a President of the JTMPA (Junnar Taluka Medical Practitioner Association) in the year 1997-98. He is an active member of and on the Board of Directors of Rotary Club of Poona Midtown. He is also the Secretary of the registered trust called JTMPA. He serves as the Secretary of the registered trust called of Om Chaitanya Medical Foundation & Research Centre situated in Pune.
Dr. Valhavankar also founded the Tejaswini Nursing School (R-ANM, Govt. Approved course, Maharashtra Nursing Council and Indian Nursing Council approved) and he has been working as the Secretary of the Institution. Tejaswini Nursing School was inaugurated with the sole purpose of empowering women and giving them the chance to be independent and become a part of this noble profession. This course has helped many girls achieve their dream of becoming financially independent and supporting their families.
Apart from his professional life, whenever he finds some free time at hand, Dr. Valhavankar enjoys reading, good music and exploring the landscapes through trekking. He also likes to spend his personal time playing carom and badminton whenever time permits.
Dr. Valhavankar is the epitome of integrity and passion for the Ophthalmology domain. He has relentlessly worked towards positively contributing to this field through his skills, his work, and his research. His contributions to this field are an important asset that cannot be overlooked.
Dr. Chandrashekhar Valhavankar’s daughter; Dr. Tejaswini Chandrashekhar Valhavankar has been following in her father’s footsteps diligently. She was been deeply inspired by the Ophthalmology field and her father’s work so far which ultimately propelled her in pursuing her MBBS Degree from Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College based in Pune. She successfully completed her MBBS degree in 2009. Dr. Tejaswini Valhavankar completed her EMS (Emergency Medical Service) from KEM Hospital in Pune in 2009 and secured an admission for DOMS (Diploma in Ophthalmic Medicine & Surgery) from PBMA’s H. V. Desai Eye Hospital & Institute, Pune in 2009. She completed her degree in 2011. With the aim of making a positive difference to the society and reaching the masses, she has been actively taking part in medical camps since her graduation days.
With the zeal for excellence and her compassion towards the needy, Dr. Tejaswini Valhavankar has participated in more than a hundred eye camps in and around Pune that try and reach all strata’s of our society. Outside of Pune, she has also been keenly involved in Eye Camps in Solapur, Akkalkot & other nearby areas in Solapur District since her post graduate years. She has been visiting Indapur since the past 5 years to participate in the Eye Camps that are organized for Pilgrims or ‘Warkari’s’ from Pandharpur annually. Dr. Tejaswini Valhavankar has also been participating in various Medical Check-up Camps at various locations for the past 3 years.
Dr. Tejaswini Valhavankar is a Life Member of many organizations like IMA (Indian Medical Association), POS (Poona Ophthalmology Society), GPA (General Practitioner Association), MOS (Maharashtra Ophthalmological Society), and AIOS (All India Ophthalmological Society).
Dr. Tejaswini Valhavankar is the Chairman of the Registered Trust ‘Om Chaitanya Medical Foundation & Research Centre’ and the ‘Tejaswini Nursing School (INC & MNC approved R-ANM course) in Otur District in Pune.
The Valhavankar father-daughter duo has been practicing together to address Ophthalmology issues from all strata’s of the society. They together have been contributing positively to the Ophthalmology domain to bring progress to the field. Their contributions have been immense and they set an example for the new generation of Ophthalmologists.
