13th April 2025–

Presidential address: Dr. Tejaswini Walimbe

Respected seniors and dear colleagues,

It is with heartfelt gratitude that I stand before you as the new President of POS. I am truly honored for this opportunity.

I fondly remember Late Dr. Nandakumar Shah who first introduced me to POS and encouraged me to contribute during my early days. This organization has played a significant role in shaping both my personal and professional journey, and I am deeply thankful for that.

I extend my sincere thanks to all the seniors of POS. Your continuous encouragement and support has always been my strength.

This year, we are committed to create a robust and engaging scientific program. One of our goals is to increase the participation of young ophthalmologists—both on stage and behind the scenes in organizational roles.

We will be having:
-Glaucoma STC on 26th April 2025 at YCM.
-Paediatric Ophthalmology CME and clinical meeting on 25th May 2025 at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital.
-Cornea CME on 29th June 2025 at Ruby Hall Clinic.
-Several other interesting CME’s like artificial intelligence, oculoplastics, medico-legal and practice management, uvea and retina are in pipeline.

We have our annual conference POS spectrum on 13th and 14th December 2025 at Hyatt. I assure you, it will be a grand event with excellent Scientific sessions.

In today’s world, where knowledge is just a click away, why should one attend live CME and conferences?
A few days ago,singer Rahul Deshpande said in live concert- online programs are for ‘convenience’ (ती एक सोय असते) and Live concert is ‘energy’ (ऊर्जा). I fully agree with it !!
Live CMEs offer an energy, a sense of connection and opportunities for learning that go far beyond the screen.
Live conferences offer good interaction with friends, faculties, social relations, platform to present our own work, opinion, venue location, trade and several other reasons to attend conferences. Conferences are stress busters. We get change in our daily routine.

Sub-specialty practice is growing and that is one reason of less attendance but still I feel every ophthalmologist should have a broad understanding of all fields, as we often encounter a variety of such cases in our practice.
For example—
-Glaucoma patient was on regular follow up but consultant missed proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
-A patient of macular edema treated with anti VEGF by retina surgeon but the BRVO with macular edema was secondary to angle closure and high IOP.
-Consultant not confident about giving spectacle prescription, specially in paediatric patient.

We will plan Sub-specialty CME keeping in view general ophthalmology practice.
The CME should give many take home messages. The discussions should be useful for improving our day to day clinical practice.

I want to take your attention to the recent incident of attacks on doctors and defamation of a prestigious institution which reminds us of the need to stay vigilant. We, both as individuals and as a professional body, must work towards creating standard operating procedures and preventive guidelines. We can address this in collaboration with medico-legal experts. It is the need of the hour to spread doctors’ voice among common people.

POS should be a vibrant platform for all members to showcase not only their scientific work but also their other talents. “Creativity and art fuels our imagination, and our imagination fuels our dream of a better world”
“पुणे तेथे काय उणे?”
Indeed, our POS family is rich with talent—artists, athletes, painters, photographers, singers, dancers—there’s no shortage of creativity here! That’s why this year, we are also focusing on non-academic events under the theme: “Happiness 360°”. We will be organising, ‘Railing- fireflies trek’ a nature walk in month of June and many such activities.

POS is a dynamic society with over 600 members, and we believe in encouraging the active participation of each and every one of you.

Our Managing Committee members are the backbone of this organization, and together, we will organise many interesting events.

We are aware that our seniors gave their dedication, efforts for growth of this organization. Me and my team will try hard in coming year for development of the organization.

I want to share below one of my poems about how the organization (संस्था) starts.

संस्था.. डॉ.तेजस्विनी वाळिंबे.

विविध रंगाचे विविध ढंगाचे चार लोक एकत्र जमतात .

हाती झेंडा घेऊन पुढे जाऊ लागतात .
पडतात, धडपडतात, झगडतात तरीही पुढे जात राहतात .

वाटेतले दगड- धोंडे उचलून बाजूला ठेवतात .

एखाद्या ओबडधोबड ओंडक्यातून शिल्प साकारतात .

छोट्या छोट्या झुडपांना झारीतल्या पाण्याने जगवतात.

बहरणाऱ्या फुलांना हलकेच गोंजारतात.

कधी वृक्ष होऊन सावली देतात .

ज्ञानामृताची चव चाखवतात .

सभोवताली सुगंधाची पखरण करतात.

संस्था अशी उभी करतात..

त्यालाच ऑर्गनायझेशन म्हणतात !!

This is specially for our hard working MC.
A senior recently remarked to me, “This is a thankless job.” So why do we do it?
According to the PERMA model of happiness by Martin Seligman, the ‘M’ stands for Meaning—and having purpose adds to our happiness. When we work together toward a shared goal, we find true satisfaction and purpose in life, we are increasing our own happiness quotient and of the people around us.

I often quote the Patanjali Yog Sutras in discussions on positive psychology. Interestingly, what Martin Seligman said in 2011, Sage Patanjali spoke of over 2,000 years ago.

As we begin this new chapter, I would like to recite a verse from the ‘Taittiriya Upanishad’, traditionally chanted at the start of a session:

“May we both be protected.
May we both be nourished.
May we work together with great energy.
May our learning brilliant.
May we not have any dispute among each other.
Let there be peace, peace, peace.”

ॐ सहना ववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै। तेजस्विना वधीतमस्तु
मा विद्विषावहै ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Thank you all once again. I truly welcome any suggestions & feedback and look forward to working as POS President.

Thank you

Dr.Tejaswini Walimbe
( Hon President POS 2025-26)