Anadi Khatri (Nepal)
Mentor, friend, colleague
How long do you know Rupesh
1-5 years
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
Before we begin any work, Dr Rupesh and I always talk about what society and individuals typically think are good values and hence decide on how we should move forward. respect for key moral principles that include honesty, fairness, equality, dignity, diversity and individual rights are always the first and highest priority.
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
Dr Rupesh has been the key and focal person to enhance charitable and community work in our practice. We communicate on frequent basis to discuss on both our achievements and challenges that are ahead. He is always willing to help find a solution and keep up motivated on our tasks.
His support has been tremendous over last 3 years where more than 29 communities and 1500 underpriviledged patients from over 900 families have benefitted.
We all are priviledged but his emphasis on some of our ‘ priviledge spillage’ to the needy is a true humanitarian work is beyond mention. In addition, he likes to make best use of his connections to channel the resources to areas where they would be best utilised. Currently, we are in position to serve over 2400 needy patients yearly in full charity as a result of a collaboration that he has helped us form with his various friends. These are just only few of the examples of his devotion and commitment to serve the community.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
He is someone who will only put forward realistic projects and doesn’t provide with false hopes or commitments. If anything looks unlikely, he makes it clear beforehand on how much input we can actually give into it. This is really helpful for us to understand that Althoguh it might be possible, we have to realistically analyse if we have the resources to go forward with it. This comes from experience and his willingness to express this to us to avoid making such mistakes at early stage of career is very valuable
Also, transparency in terms of logistics funds or patient data is very important for credibility. Any projects which are less likely to produce results where the investments or funds may not be justifiable quantitatively, we both try to avoid such at all costs.
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
The most incredible property of Dr Rupesh is he listens. When i describe our problems, I think many of the times, he sees himself as myself and understands the difficulties. One of the greatest boon to a human is to have another human who is willing to help so that you don’t have to do through the same suffering that they had to go through . To have someone as Dr Rupesh help me and provide guidance not only like a mentor but as a brother is very fortunate for me.
This Inreturn had provided me the insight that now it also becomes my duty and should listen and help new or budding eye care specialist.
If I my expertise is not enough, I always have Dr Rupesh to look forward to.
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
The phenomenal work and the communities we have been help are the living examples of our common vision. What was projected to take years has been achieved in just 2 years.we really have more to look into in the coming years.
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
When I completed my vitreoretina fellowship and returned to my workplace, I was 29. Very few believed in me and it took nearly 6 months for me convince the hospital to get the first of the equipments.
Dr Rupesh happened to visit right amidst. He had a big role in convincing that it is not about the age but the capability of a person to perform a task that should be judged on. For someone of his calibre to be promoting a young ophthalmologist was huge. It was a great catalyst as in next 2 months , we had a full. Fledged vitreoretina service started in out hospital.
Similarly, he has been motivating and helping in establishing communications with other young ophthalmologists at our place with big names to promote their interest in other faculties. This is huge morale boost and actually helps young people to both dream and work towards achieving it.
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
His ability to connect people with ideas with people with resources and expertise is phenomenal. Collaboration is the key and he has been a key component to help us build a team to achieve greater heights.
To strengthen the team, he is always happy to introduce us to big people in ophthalmology – from reputed institutions like stanford to Moorfields. And more importantly, they too seem very enthusiastic to train or invite someone who is recommend by Dr Rupesh.
This pretty much sums up the team player he is and the eye for success as a team he has.
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
I have made mistakes throughout the process of learning. Sometimes we have had misunderstandings because of my inexperience. But he has never shown his anger and always responded in calm. He has always provided me with the bigger picture of the implications that might follow when we are not able to fulfil the responsibility. He has provided me with insight that People will not always be understanding and sooner or later, when we have greater responsibilities, the implications of mistakes get greater. One specific line ‘Don’t take it otherwise. Take it an advice from a big brother’ has made a big difference in my life.
Inspirational message for youngsters
Dont rush things that need time to grow.
Dont compare your chapter one with someone else’s chapter 20. You only get to see the name fame and fortune of someone else because of their higher chapter. You don’t know their struggle to reach there and more importantly, you don’t know if their chapter 5 was comparable with what you already have in chapter 1.
Ilaria Testi (UK)
Mentor / Teacher
How long do you know Rupesh
1-5 years
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
Dr Rupesh is actively involved in charitable activities and has a key role in multiple initiatives to help the disadvantaged in the community through the Viraj Healthcare Foundation, an organization founded by him, with the aim of improving quality of life and health in third world countries.
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
Through the Viraj Healthcare Foundation every year Dr Rupesh organizes humanitarian missions in developing countries, including India, to both improve the quality of healthcare services and train healthcare professionals with best knowledge and global practices. He is working alongside local communities to determine the most effective way to ensure their particular health needs. He is involved in several projects aimed at effectively deliver aid and eye care to the community in the most comprehensive way, including telemedicine, eye screening programmes, and cataract surgery camps.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
Dr Rupesh interacts with young medical students during his mentoring activities and with enthusiasm involves them in his charitable activities. Not only he strengthens the health care system of the community in a sustainable way by building the capacity of future health workers at all levels, but also educates young people to reach their potential and make a contribution for their community. Furthermore, Dr Rupesh’s work transmits to the young the message that integrity and honesty are important social values to be treasured and applied in everyday life, contributing to the establishment of a community where responsible and honest individual work together for a better society.
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
Dr Rupesh’s attitude can really have an impact on young people’s wellbeing and self-esteem. His community commitment and humanitarian involvement can show them their potentiality and strengthens their self-confidence moving towards adult life.
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
Team-working, communication, relationships with patients, communication with colleagues and cooperation, teaching and training, decision making and clinical reasoning, patient as central focus of care, time management and personal organization, together with integrity and honesty, are some of Dr Rupesh’s qualities.
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
Dr Rupesh’s work transmits to the young the message that integrity and honesty are important social values to be applied in everyday life, contributing to the establishment of a better society made by responsible and honest individuals working together. He has been and is a mentor for many young people, positively affecting them both in their career and personal life.
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
Dr Rupesh is an excellent team player, and that is evident not only from his involvement in humanitarian and charity missions but also from his research activity. He is one of the leader investigation of the Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS) aimed at tackling the issue of visual morbidity derived from intraocular tuberculosis, especially in developing countries. COTS involves an international, expert-led consensus initiative by 91 uveitis specialists, supported by the International Ocular Inflammation Society and the International Uveitis Study Group, to systematically develop evidence- and experience-based recommendations for the treatment of ocular tuberculosis. He is the leader of other international research projects with the participation of the best experts in the sector. He has always demonstrated to collaborate effectively as a team player to achieve together the highest performance results.
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
I am an ophthalmologist, working as uveitis fellow at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Dr Rupesh is one of the mentor that inspires me most during my life and career. He help me achieve my short term goals and set higher targets, strengthening my potentiality and self-confidence to achieve personal and professional success. I feel incredibly fortunate to be working with him, be involved in his projects and get inspired by him. He help me strengthen teamwork and collaboration and contact among colleagues. He makes me develop and improve skills, continually learn new things, and challenge myself on a regular basis. He guide, advise and teach me. Thanks to him I gained higher confidence in myself, higher self awareness, he exposed me to new ideas, new ways of thinking and problem solving. I am and always will be really grateful to Dr Rupesh.
Inspirational message for youngsters
Always stayed focus, pursue your passion in your career and everyday life, nothing is impossible.
Andrés Rousselot (Argentina)
Mentor / Teacher, Friend
How long do you know Rupesh
5-10 year
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
Rupesh engages with projects for community outreach at any time, day or night with top priority until completion. Which always overlaps with the beginning of another project with even greater implications.
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
Rupesh finds absolute symmetry in the way he both commands AND gives respect to any and all he meets.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
A younger self started working with and learning from Rupesh precisely for his source of inspiration and engine of engagement in a myriad of projects.
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
Youths need a voice and Rupesh is always ready to listen and guide.
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
Definitely. It is hard to box Rupesh into a single category of competence but if you require commitment and dedication he is a jack of all trades I am happy to work with any time.
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
Abnegation, endurance and commitment are a constant in all of Rupesh’s Projects. All strong virtues to grow in youth.
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
By clear and constant feedback, involvement and understanding. You always feel like you are getting more out of a project with Rupesh than you deserve and his generosity drives you forward.
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
Working pro-bono in Odisha, India
Inspirational message for youngsters
Find a beacon that illuminates the path you would like your future self to be in. Rupesh was and is that for me.
Rebecca Low (Singapore)
Mentor / Teacher
How long do you know Rupesh
1-5 years
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
Dr. Rupesh is a great leader and inspiring educator. He always provides opportunities for his students and juniors in both the workplace and community. At all times, he puts others first before himself and always treats those around him respectfully.
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
He is well-liked by his patients, and colleagues including non-clinical staff. He always has a friendly attitude and a heart for those in need. I have personally witnessed the care and compassion he displays when attending to his patients on a daily basis. He has spear-headed multiple community projects and was the recipient of the President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Award 2018, and President’s Healthcare Humanity Award in 2011.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
Dr. Rupesh is also an avid researcher who never compromises on ethical conduct of clinical research. He is committed to educating the younger generation and instils into his students good ethical practices in their clinical work as well as volunteerism.
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
His determination and passion for what he does inspires not only those around him, but also students, clinicians, and scientists from all around the world. His leadership in many international societies receives much commendation from his peers and co-leaders. I have seen how young medical students and junior doctors from both India and Singapore look up to him as their role model and will always seek his advice in all things about life.
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
Dr. Rupesh is competent in many aspects. He is a clinician, innovator, researcher, philanthropist and even an inspirational speaker!
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
His character and heart for the community definitely inspires the youth to do the same.
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
He is proactive in involving all team members of a project, whilst empowering his subordinates with the flexibility to display their ideas and creativity. Dr. Rupesh is always supportive and open to different opinions and ideas.
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
Working with Dr. Rupesh for the past three years has definitely inspired me to do more for the community. I have been involved in various projects led by Dr. Rupesh, including community eye screenings, pro-bono eye tele-health and overseas humanitarian trips to India, amongst others. His enthusiasm for helping the less fortunate whilst juggling clinical and research work is encouraging, and it proves that it can be done!
Inspirational message for youngsters
Life is a lot more rewarding if you put others first before yourself.
Carlos Pavesio (UK)
Student who became a friend
How long do you know Rupesh
5-10 years
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
His work ethics is exemplary and has several times how he uses his skills to the benefit of the community. A major project in India is aiming for the creation of an eye centre to benefit the poorer patients. He has been dedicating a lot of his own time to do this.
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
We worked together at Moorfields Eye Hospital for 2 years and he demonstrated his care for his patients very clearly. His interaction with colleagues and co-workers was exceptional and he established links with other Trusts and developed associations which led to many publications.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
His integrity is unquestionable. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone as committed as he is. A great example.
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
Over the years he has supported young doctors in their careers. He motivates them to focus on their objectives and support them, very well in the process. I have witnessed that first had since he got some of his young doctors from Singapore to spend time in my service.
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
I can’t think of anyone with such a perfect competency to achieve your vision
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
A fantastic team worker. He listens and always try to help others in their tasks. He always finds ways of getting ideas to move forward and is prepared to dedicate his time for the benefit of others.
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
A great team player. Humble, involved and dedicated. Great energy which contaminates those around him.
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
A meeting we held in Singapore a few years ago when he explained his vision for the hospital in India. His intention to create a centre of excellence to benefit the poor. His own time, his contacts and his influence used to achieve his dream.
Inspirational message for youngsters
He has shown to many young doctors that everything is possible. With determination, focus and energy you can achieve anything you want.
Sumita Phatak (India)
Friend
How long do you know Rupesh
10-20 years
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
Unshakeable ethics, always respecting the boundaries, constant endeavour to help his colleagues Even at the cost of his own time and effort , just for the sheer joy of seeing another achieve their goal, that is something very unique to dr Rupesh. That selflessness and work ethic allows him to work for others without any expectation of self -gain.
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
His reason for taking up his chosen field was because he saw a paucity of well-trained doctors in that field. He can be on call 24/7, if the patient need demands it , at the same time ensuring that his colleagues are rested and fed. Any community crisis finds him standing at the forefront , ready to help.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
He leads by example, he will be at the forefront be it emergency duties, camps, with complete transparency , and will see the project through , continuing on long after people have given up .what better example to inspire the youth ! Impeccable ethics , with no personal agendas , he sets an inspiring example .
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
He has a ‘never give up’ attitude which sees him achieve his goals, with sheer hard work and commitment , Anand the ‘right way’ of doing things . He has achieved a lot , and it’s all sheer hard work along with talent . It’s a great example to the young people that just talent is not enough, effort needs to be put in.
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
He’s highly skilled in various facets , as a clinician, an organiser , a manager and a leader . He will ensure a project gets completed successfully.
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
Extremely straightforward, honest , transparent in his dealings and leads from the front.
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
He is inspiring as a leader , and equally committed to delivering the result , under some one else’s guidance as well. A team player
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
I have known him from our student days , he has constantly surprised me with his dedication and commitment . He takes up projects because he might have seen or met someone suffering from a condition, and his instant thought is to help that person or people like that. This unflagging spirit , this constant ability to quietly and humbly continue working for the community , is something that Inspires me .
Inspirational message for youngsters
Talent is not enough, you need to follow it up with hard work and commitment!!! This combination will help you achieve !!
Vishali Gupta (India)
Colleague
How long do you know Rupesh
10-20 years
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
One of the most honest, compassionate and upright person I have come across in my life. Words cannot do justice to describe his multifaceted personality. He is extremely honest and ethical in dealing with patients, students as well as dealing with the community. He has been working selflessly to help the communities at underprivileged countries including remote Indian villages, Nepal, Cambodia among several others. He is ever willing to help and serve the society and I have a personal experience where he has requested me to help poor patients by establishing surgical centres through donations in remote areas. I have been working in the field of medicine for more than 20 years and have yet to come across someone as selfless as him.
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
I can vouch as a colleague who is senior to him and have worked with him closely over a period of 5 years. His commitment towards patient and empathy for community is exemplary. I would often give his example to my daughter and students to tell him how a busy clinician can be a good human and serve the society. He is one of the most caring colleague who takes the job of mentoring his students very seriously and is available at any time of the day or night to help them in anyway he can.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
He is very actively involved in training the students that also includes undergraduate students for whom he has been organising training workshops in rural India. He is involved in training several postgraduate students and has been instrumental in shaping up their career, teaching them research ethics, helping them in publications and placements. He is a researcher of international repute and students from several part of the world travel to Singapore to work under his guidance.
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
The youth today is preoccupied with their own needs and demands. This has narrowed their vision as they do it understand how precluded they are and that they need to share their fortune with those who are less precluded than them. Rupesh has been instrumental in this by leading the example that a busy researcher and clinician in a leading hospital in Singapore can go and serve for weeks together in remote areas with no facilities at all. This is an eye opener for many young doctors working with him and motivates them as well. My daughter worked with him for only a week and during this very brief time, he managed to change her outlook as she wants to come and serve Indian villages few weeks a year after completing her medicine training in USA. The credit for this transformation goes to Rupesh who is a role model for many budding physicians.
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
Yes. He works easily 18 hours a day. We have worked very closely on international collaborative project and he has spent several sleepless nights trying to complete the work. The beauty of it was that we were working to develop guidelines that would help out patients. There was no commercial interest and no deadlines imposed. He works because he wants to make difference to the lives of patients and puts his 100 percent to it. In my entire career where I train super specialists in a tertiary care referral institute in India, I can say with confidence that I have yet to meet anyone as competent as him.
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
He is very well behaved, courteous and thorough gentleman. Together we have built a very strong team that has more than 100 experts from all over the world and he shared a extremely cordial relation with everyone and all the young members in team look upto him while senior members give example of his behaviour.
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
He is always available and help and guide each and every team member and many a times ends up doing work of several team members because he cares for everyone. In a group called ‘ Collaborative ocular TB Study ‘ Group, we have a core team that has worked together day and night from different time zones for more than 5 years and all the credit for keeping the team together goes to Rupesh.
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
There are so many. On Nov 16 th 2019, we were supposed to return together from Taiwan to Singapore and then I had my onward journey to India. However he preponed his flight by a day as his wife had a performance that he wanted to attend. I reached Singapore on midnight of 17 th with my colleague and had an onward flight after 6 hours. He did not let me wait at the airport and told me that as a brother it is his duty to take care of me. Despite a hectic day at work, he picked me up pat midnight, we reached home by 1 am and he woke up after 3 hours to drop me back to airport in early hours of morning. His wife woke up even before me and I had the best breakfast of my life with both of them at 5 am in morning. He is a colleague who means more than a brother to me.
Annette Hoskin (Australia)
Student
How long do you know Rupesh
1-5 years
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
Rupesh operates with admirable care and energy toward positive patient outcomes in all areas of his work.
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
Rupesh generously shares his significant knowledge and clinical skills with a wide audience with significant empathy, respect and care.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
I have witnessed Rupesh engage with and mentor a large number of students and clinicians, with all of them going on to exciting and valuable careers, the best possible testament of the impact that Rupesh has on the next generation.
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
Rupesh’s energy and enthusiasm for youth is evident in the positive change he brings to all that he is involved with!
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
Rupesh clearly has extremely good problem solving and leadership skills that help him to ensure that everyone he works with moves forward in their journey and succeeds.
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
Rupesh’s integrity and vigor for his work is beyond reproach and helps elevate those around him to achieve all that they can and more.
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
Ensuring that all team members are engaged and on-board is a skill that Rupesh exhibits in all of his dealing, regardless of whether he is working with junior staff or senior individuals.
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
From our very first meeting at a conference in Singapore some time ago, Rupesh has made me feel like a very welcome and valuable team player in our global research activities and efforts toward reducing preventable vision loss form ocular trauma.
Zheng Yilong (Singapore)
Mentor / Teacher
How long do you know Rupesh
1 year
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
Prompt replies to queries that we and the other partners have, allowing for efficient planning of activities that benefit the community such as project ECO
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
He took good care of us at Kanpur and ensured that everything went smoothly, with the help of local partners
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
His commitment to serving the community, evident through the many community projects he is involved in, serves as an inspiration to youth to follow in his footsteps. The amount of freedom he gives to students to plan the projects also shows his commitment to nurturing the skills of the youth.
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
He has a positive attitude towards interacting with students, providing a conducive environment for students to learn through working with him.
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
He is competent in liaising us with experts and people of power who may help us achieve our vision
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
He is professional when interacting with the community and the team, setting a precedent for youths to live up to
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
He is accepting of alternative viewpoints on how best to carry out the project, even from students. As such, we feel that our views are respected, allowing for productive discussions which will help us eventually reach our goal.
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
none that I recall because I have only just started working with Dr Rupesh
Sarakshi Mahajan (USA)
Mentor / Teacher
How long do you know Rupesh
1-5 years
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
Over the span of 5 years I have worked on multiple research projects with Dr. Rupesh and also visited him as an observer. Dr. Rupesh always taught us the importance of hard work and emphasised the importance of ethics and helping the community. He runs a special HIV clinic on Friday where he treats patients with HIV whose eyes are affected. He also runs a special organisation which focusses on helping the underprivileged and goes to camps in remote areas all across the world to operate and treat the people who do not have access to any healthcare facilities. Along with helping other individuals he encourages us to engage in community services to uplift community as a whole.
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
Dr. Rupesh is excellent physician and always puts the needs of patients above his own. He always stands right by his patients and never compromises on patient safety. He has been one of the main doctors fighting against covid 19 in his hospital. Not only the patients, he goes out of his way to help his students and mentees. During my application for applying residency in United States he went out of his way to help me connect with various physicians here. Despite being busy he helped me practice my interviews. Even after starting residency he continues to guide me and involve me in research projects. During our fight with corona virus in US he always called to make sure we were doing okay and also sent us masks to make sure we were properly protected.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
Dr. Rupesh has always lead with example and continues to inspire through various aspects of life. He extremely committed to work and research. He taught us the importance of hard and honest work and has inspired many mentees like me. He continues to show great commitment to his work and research and inspire us to follow his footsteps.
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
His positive outlook towards life continues to inspire many medical students, residents and research fellows. He always strives to be better through hard work, perseverance and resilience and have inspired a number of students who will continue to follow his footsteps.
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
Yes- He is one of the most competent scientist and clinicians I have met. He has over 300 publications in the field of ophthalmology and travels all across the world to deliver multiple lectures and attend various conferences. He has made a great impact in field of science and in lives of various individuals who suffer from various diseases of the eyes.
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
yes- He has an upstanding character and his conduct with the community and team is always inspirational, communicative and uplifting. He continues to lead via example and always is available for all his students, fellows and patients.
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
Dr. Rupesh is leading multiple research as well as clinical teams. He is a part of COTS which worked towards coming up with guidelines for tuberculosis of eye. In this project a team of over 84 ophthalmologist from all across the world came up with guidelines to help physicians and other ophthalmologists understand and treat tuberculosis of eye. He was one of the main leader of the projects and built a team compromising of multiple medical students and research fellows. He provided opportunity to each one of us to work on this project. He made sure that all of us bonded as a team and worked towards striving excellence. He leads multiple academic teams like this which continues to make stellar progress in field of science.
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
All the interactions with Dr. Rupesh has been highly inspirational. Starting from teaching us basics of research methodology to helping all his students to get better opportunities and move up in their career, to caring about their well- being and being always available in any adversity.
Sneha Jain
Student
How long do you know Rupesh
1 year
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
He provides ideas and timely feedback on ideas that we want to implement
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
He cares for our wellbeing and the wellbeing of our partners and beneficiaries
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
He’s committed to making a change in the community and the mindset of people working around him
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
His willingness to serve the community not only at home but overseas as well and the ideas that he brings to the table inspires us to want to serve as well
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
When there was an unexpected turn of events, he ensures that we are able to make the best of the situation by providing us options and support in the decision making process
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
His generosity, coupled with his drive to serve always motivated us to put in more effort in whatever we do. This also allowed us to look beyond academics and delve into deep introspection, to understand why we are here. All these inspired us to become better than who we were
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
He listens to the needs of his students and actively offers solutions
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
When we met him at the Swimming Club, he listened to our plans and actively provided solutions and connected us with his friends and colleagues to reach a further goal. He also went out of his way to bring in other members of the public to support our project.
Dinesh Gunasekeran
Colleague
How long do you know Rupesh
5-10 year
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
Dr Rupesh is an excellent Ophthalmic surgeon, clinical educator, and researcher.
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
He is well-received by his patients and is actively involved in numerous projects to provide free eye screening and cataract services to underprivileged in Singapore and overseas.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
He has mentored and trained countless doctors and medical students to develop excellence in clinical and research practice. He is always approachable and goes out of his way to lead and assist trainees in their career.
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
He leads by example, and has been an exemplary professional for medical students, doctors and Ophthalmology trainees to train and work with this past decade.
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
Yes
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
Yes
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
He is a proactive and hands-on leader that is actively involved on the ground and actively engages team mates to explore if they require any additional assistance and/or if there is anyway they can work together more effectively to achieve the overarching goals of an initiative.
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
Before we became colleagues in research and clinical practice, he was a tutor to myself and my medical student colleagues in training. He was always professional in his interactions and shared many intriguing ideas and anecdotes of patient care that inspired me to pursue training and clinical research in the field of Ophthalmology.
Keith Low Qie Hua
Student
How long do you know Rupesh
1-5 years
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
Is a hard worker and has a strength of bringing people together to take something from vision to reality
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
Have only been in community settings with Dr Rupesh. He works closely with the community partners as a collaborator and leader and he shows his empathy for beneficiaries by engaging them in a way that speaks to their needs which informs the work he does.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
His greatest strength is leading and bringing people, especially youth, along on a shared journey. He provides vision and direction while allowing flexibility for us to grow and develop
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
Is very optimistic, ambitious, forward-looking and is very open in providing support, which instills hope and confidence in youth to believe in their own ability as a team to achieve
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
Yes, as the role of a mentor, he is very open with providing support while providing room for youth to take ownership bad well
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
Yes, one example was how he brought along two young children who were around 5-12 yrs, the sons of one of his neighbours, for a community engagement event with special needs children and their parents/caregivers. What better way to build character besides shared experience and engagement with vulnerable groups, bringing it from the classroom to the real world
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
He is able to bring people around a common vision especially when he engages directly the team in person because his passion and gravitas comes through best in that form
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
His selflessness and sacrifice are things I deeply respect and aspire towards as a future clinician myself. I cannot remember a specific incident, but more than once have I interacted with Dr Rupesh where he was running on little sleep, little time, but instead what seemed to be keeping him at full speed was his desire to make things better for other people
Alenka Lavric Groznik
Colleague and Mentor
How long do you know Rupesh
5-10 year
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
He encourages colleagues to collaborate, share knowledge and contribute to the eye research (he established ocular imaging network COIN).
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
Dr. Rupesh is an excellent doctor, willing to assist, treats patients and colleagues with respect and he acknowledges the contribution of each co-worker.
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
He is honestly dedicated to research and clinical work which is vital for achieving goals.
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
He is always prepared to help, knows how to motivate you.
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
Yes
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
His great determination, commitment and his respect to co-workers are his strong virtues.
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
He is an excellent team player. He respects everyone involved in the project or work process for providing their valuable expertise. He recognises a positive qualities in everyone in order to build the strongest team possible and he praises the team as a whole.
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
He always impressed me with his motivation, enthusiasm and hard work.
Shivani Sule
Friend
How long do you know Rupesh
more than 20 years
Related to work ethics and how it translates into community engagement
He serves community dedicatedly and ethically
Care for patients, colleagues and co-workers and empathy for the community
He strives hard to give excellent care to his patients involving his colleagues in it too
Honesty and Commitment and how he translates that to inspire and engage youth?
His every action is honest with an undying commitment towards betterment of society. Which is Extremely inspiring
Attitude – How his attitude can potentially bring a change in youth?
It will inspire youth towards dedication and honesty
Competency – Does his competency help us in achieving our vision?
100%
Character – Rupesh’s conduct with community and team to help us build a good character amongst youth?
He is a strong liaison between the community and his team, encouraging all to do good work
Team player – how does Rupesh builds and work with a team to achieve the goals?
He indeed is a team player, supporting, inspiring and involving everyone in all his good deeds
Any specific incidence or interaction with Dr Rupesh, which inspired you or touched your life?
I was with him at Cambodia. His dedication to work inspite of all odds and making that surgical camp a success touched me a lot
Rupesh Agrawal 