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Changing the way the world sees

We believe in a world where everyone can access the eye care they need to thrive.

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Orbis builds strong and sustainable eye care systems globally that put treatment and prevention within reach for all.

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Orbis builds strong and sustainable eye care systems globally that put treatment and prevention within reach for all.

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Orbis Canada Celebrates Rising Star Award Recipient

This year, Orbis Canada awarded the first Orbis Future Vision Leaders Rising Star Award to Dr. Maheshver Shunmugam. The award celebrates an Orbis Future Vision Leaders (OFVL) member who has contributed to building the OFVL community, supported critical fundraising initiatives, and helped raise awareness of Orbis programs.

For Dr. Maheshver Shunmugam, global eye health is a passion. Now in his second year of an ophthalmology residency at the University of British Columbia, he hopes to one day serve the diverse BC community and work globally with Orbis as an ophthalmic surgeon.

Shunmugam joined the OFVL in 2020 and has been a dedicated leader in the community, as well as hosting a successful fundraiser. “Working with Orbis has been a special treat. Not only do I get to further my global health education, but I am able to connect with an amazing and eclectic community of individuals who also share a passion for ocular health, be it in our own rural communities or nations abroad,” he says.

In late 2022, Dr. Shunmugam organized a cocktail party fundraiser that raised over $3,000 for Orbis Canada.

Inspired by the experience of his own family, some of whom were brought to South Africa as slaves, he is dedicated to ensuring eye care is accessible to all those who need it. This award is meaningful to him because it highlights how he has worked to turn his dreams into reality.

“I am hon­oured to have received the inau­gur­al Ris­ing Star Award from Orbis Cana­da. If I were to speak can­did­ly, I would say that it is often dif­fi­cult to real­ize or tru­ly appre­ci­ate one’s progress in life. This is, after all, the basis of imposter syn­drome! We often look in the mir­ror and see very lit­tle change day to day, how­ev­er, it is only when we look back a decade or so that we real­ize how far we’ve come. This award, to me, pro­vides a refresh­ing oppor­tu­ni­ty to look at my career as oth­ers may see it. To rec­og­nize that my dai­ly small steps have indeed led me some­where, and that there is still an incred­i­ble and beau­ti­ful­ly long way to go. I am in love with the term ​“ris­ing” as it evokes feel­ings and images of growth, hope, longevi­ty, and pos­i­tive change which I will car­ry with me as I con­tin­ue to strive for self-improve­ment. I wish to thank Orbis for this recog­ni­tion, and promise to con­tin­ue work­ing hard to ensure that we arrive even one small-step clos­er to our col­lec­tive goals.”
Dr. Maheshver Shunmugam

For Orbis Canada, the Rising Star Award is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions our OFVL members are making in Canada and globally. “Members like Maheshver are increasing awareness of the work Orbis does around the world, as well as ensuring the next generation of ophthalmology superstars will continue the work of improving access to eye care for all,” says Clare Szalay Timbo, who coordinates the OFVL program for Orbis Canada.

Dr. Shunmugam receives his Rising Star Award at the 2024 Canadian Ophthalmological Society Annual Meeting & Exhibition from Orbis Future Vision Leaders President, Dr. Dominique Geoffrion, and Dr. Hunter Cherwek, Vice President, Clinical Services & Technologies at Orbis International.

The Rising Star Award was presented at a special reception event hosted by Orbis Canada at this year’s Canadian Ophthalmological Society Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Toronto. More than 60 OFVL members, Orbis Volunteer Faculty, staff, and other special guests were in attendance to help honour Shunmugam and celebrate the achievements of all OFVL members across Canada.

Cocktails for Orbis Canada

January 06, 2023

When Dr. Maheshver Shunmugam was looking for ways to fundraise for Orbis Canada, a cocktail party seemed like the perfect fit. It offered a fun and informal way to network and get to know his fellow medical students, residents and fellows, while supporting an organization he feels passionate about.

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Orbis Future Vision Leaders

The Orbis Future Vision Leaders is an exciting new initiative from Orbis Canada designed specifically for Canadian university and medical students, ophthalmology postgraduate trainees and alumni who are passionate about eye health and supporting Orbis in our fight to end avoidable blindness globally.

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