Professor (Dr.) Mahipal Sachdev was born in New Delhi on July 17th 1958. He completed his schooling from Modern School, Barakhamba Road with academic distinctions. Subsequently he pursued his medical education at the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. During his post graduation in Ophthalmology at Rajendra Prasad Centre, AIIMS (1982-1984) he was awarded the Best Resident Awardand ranked first in his postgraduate examinationin 1984.After senior residency (1985-1987) he continued as faculty in his alma mater over the next decade, as an assistant professor (1987-91) and subsequently an associate professor (1991-96). On a sabbatical from AIIMS, Prof. Sachdev became proficient with the latest advancements in eye care during his fellowship in Cornea at Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA (1989-1990).
An exposure to the combination of latest technology andhigh quality clinical services in the developed nations, ignited Dr. Sachdev’s passion to provide cutting edge and readily accessible eye care to all. He resigned from his position in AIIMS to set up a modest single floor private clinic in 1996. Dedication, hard work and blessings of his parents allowed him to constantly nurture and nourish his dream, culminating in the establishment of Centre For Sight, one of India’s leading chain of eye care hospitals. Dr. Sachdev is the Chairman and Medical Director of Centre For Sight which offers state of the art medical facilities based on it’s building cornerstones of “safety”, “expertise” and “technology” in patient care.
Centre for Sight has various accolades to it’s credit including the prestigious Frost & Sullivan award as the Eye care provider company of the yearin 2010 and 2014,FICCI Healthcare Excellence award for Operational Excellence in 2012,ET Now Leaders of tomorrow national award for Business Excellence in 2014, Best Single Specialty Hospital Chain 2016 at Business world 3rd Healthcare Summit andBest Single Speciality Award- Times Health Achiever Delhi NCR in 2017.
Although Dr. Sachdev has been recognized with national and international awards, the crowning glory to his illustrious career is the Padmashri award conferred to him by the then President of India, Late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in 2007. Dr. Sachdev holds the distinction of being amongst the first to introduce cutting edge technology to India. His impeccable blend as a clinician and entrepreneur along with hisdedication, hard work and foresightedness has endeared him as a friend, philosopher and guide to over three generations of Ophthalmologists. With over 94 publications in reputed journals, authorship of more than ten well appreciated books and manuals includingA Practical guide to phacoemulsification – one of the first books on the topic published in 1996, Dr. Mahipal is an authority on Cataract and Refractive surgery worldwide. He has presented scientific papers in more than 495 state, national and international conferences.
Prof. Mahipal S. Sachdev has received numerous awards and distinctions in India and abroad for his contribution to Ophthalmology. He has been recognized globally with fellowships and scholarships from the Fifth International Symposium on Immunopathology in Japan, International Society of Eye Research, Research to Prevent Blindness in New York, Fisons award by the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, USA amongst others. In India, he has received the AC Aggarwal Memorial Trophy, Col Rangachary Certificate, Krishna Sohan Singh trophy, Dr. Ishwar Chand Silver Jubilee Award, the Rashtriya Gaurav award, the SAS Silver Medal and has delivered many prestigious orations including the Dr. (Col) BL Taneja Memorial Guest Lecture, Prof LP Aggarwal Lecture, Dr. AD Grover Memorial Oration and Dr. S.N. Mitter Oration award to name a few. Additionally, he led his team into the Guinness Book of World Records for the maximum number of Diabetic Retinopathy screenings in a day.
Dr. Sachdev’s clinical excellence is only matched by his passion for being an active player in the advancement of Ophthalmology. He has been an advisor to innumerable societies, associations and boards. It was under his administrative skills as the Secretary (1993-95), Vice President (2005) and President (2006) of the Delhi Ophthalmological Society that the organisation underwent transformation into a vibrant, progressive and academically relevant society.At the national level, he has held the post as the youngest everChairman Scientific Committee All India Ophthalmic Society at the age of 38 years(1996-98), Member Managing Committee (1996-1998), Organizing Secretary of Annual Conference of AIOS (1997), Managing Editor Indian Journal Of Ophthalmology (2017 till date) and Chairman Scientific Committee Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India.
His wife Dr. Alka Sachdev, has been a constant pillar of strength and support in his personal and professional life. She has helped nurture his professional dream and is truly “the women behind the successful man”. Dr. Alka Sachdev is the Chief Executive Officer of Centre For Sight, the nationwide chain of 46 eye care hospitals. The daughters Dr. Ritika Sachdev and Dr. Gitansha Shreyas Sachdev are both practicing ophthalmologists. His son in laws , Mr. Ankur Gupta specializes in Aerospace and Defence and Dr Shreyas Ramamurthy is Director of Eye Foundation . Dr Sachdev is a proud grand father of Adih Gupta.
Dr. Mahipal Sachdev is a force to reckon with. Often described as a living legend in Ophthalmology, he is sure to take AIOS to new heights with his passion and commitment, his knowledge and sheer brilliance, his zeal and enthusiasm and his leadership and team spirit qualities. As he takes on the onerous and vital post of the President AIOS, we accord him a hearty welcome and assure him of our wholehearted support in his crusade to make the society more global, academic and futuristic.