An inspiring ophthalmologist, Dr. Anshi is transforming lives through her medical expertise and community service. Leading a hospital that performs an impressive 10,000 cataract surgeries annually for the underprivileged, she also drives impactful projects with humanitarian organizations. Her efforts in blindness prevention, polio eradication, and providing prosthetic limbs have brought profound change to countless lives.

Dr. Anshi Rathod is an accomplished ophthalmologist based in Ahmedabad, who runs the renowned eye hospital named — ‘Eye-Care Hospital’ as its Director.

The Eye-Care Hospital features both a charity wing and a private facility, offering comprehensive eye care services to a diverse patient base. Her role encompasses both medical practice and social service, highlighting her deep commitment to eye care and community welfare.

Dr. Anshi shares that Eye-Care Hospital performs a staggering number of cataract surgeries each year, totaling around 10,000 surgeries for those in need. This significant achievement underscores the hospital's dedication to improving vision for underprivileged individuals.

In addition to her work at the hospital, Dr. Anshi is actively involved with the Blind People's Association, an NGO focused on aiding blind individuals. Her involvement with this organization reflects her passion for supporting and empowering those who are visually impaired.

Furthermore, Dr. Anshi is a member of a Rotary Club, where she participates in numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing public health. Among these initiatives are projects dedicated to polio eradication, providing prosthetic limbs, and organizing camps to prevent blindness among the poor. Her multifaceted contributions through the Rotary Club showcase her dedication to broader health and humanitarian efforts.

Dr. Anshi considers her major achievement to be the positive impact she has made on the lives of countless patients. She has performed surgeries on over a lakh patients, bringing immense joy to their lives by restoring their vision.

Delving into the history of Eye-Care Hospital, Dr. Anshi proudly mentions that it was founded 40 years ago by her father, Dr. Shashank Rathod, an esteemed eye surgeon. The hospital was established with a vision to serve both the underprivileged and affluent communities. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services to include various eye treatments such as cataract surgery, glaucoma management, and retinal disease treatments. The hospital also places a strong emphasis on pediatric ophthalmology, addressing conditions like strabismus, amblyopia, and congenital cataracts to ensure comprehensive eye care for children.

Dr. Anshi elaborates on the hospital's commitment to charitable work, mentioning that every Sunday, they offer free cataract surgeries to underprivileged patients, covering the cost of the lenses themselves. This initiative is a continuation of her father's vision, focusing on serving society and helping those in need. They have also operated on more than five to seven lakh people to date, which is a significant accomplishment given the numerous blessings they have received.

Discussing her involvement with Rotary International, Dr. Anshi highlights the organization's diverse projects. She explains that Rotary International has partnered with the government through the PolioPlus program to eradicate polio globally. In Gujarat, Rotary has adopted 10-12 villages where Dr. Anshi and her team conduct ophthalmic screenings and provide necessary treatments, including prescription glasses, medications, and surgical interventions.

Another notable project under Rotary is the prosthetic limb initiative, which provides free prosthetic limbs to individuals with disabilities. Additionally, Rotary's Divya Jyoti project, in collaboration with the Divya Jyoti Association, commits to performing at least 50 ophthalmic surgeries monthly. Dr. Anshi's active participation in these projects significantly benefits the communities in Gujarat.

Dr. Anshi is also deeply involved with the Blind People's Association, also known as Andhjan Mandal. This long standing organization serves as a home for completely blind individuals, including children. The association provides low vision stimulation and other support to help the blind become more independent. They offer specialized education tailored to the needs of blind individuals, teaching them life skills, mathematics, and science to enhance their independence. Additionally, the association provides employment opportunities, such as chalk making, bag and envelope production, and keychain crafting, allowing the blind to earn money and gain self-sufficiency.

Dr. Anshi emphasizes the importance of focusing on children within the Blind People's Association, as they have their entire lives ahead of them. The association equips these children with AI technologies to help them navigate daily tasks, such as identifying currency notes and finding their way around. They are actively developing apps to empower blind individuals further.

For those interested in joining the NGO, Dr. Anshi suggests googling 'Blind People's Association' to find contact information and initiate a conversation about how to get involved.

Sharing about her personal life, Dr. Anshi reveals that she grew up in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Her father is a doctor, and her mother is a chartered accountant, creating an environment rich in education, values, and the importance of helping others. She attended Mount Carmel High School in Ahmedabad, an institution established during the British colonial period. Afterward, she pursued her MBBS and Masters in Ophthalmology from Vadodara, spending a decade there.

Reflecting on her childhood, Dr. Anshi feels fortunate to have had a healthy upbringing. However, she faced a significant challenge in 2019 when she was diagnosed with tuberculosis lymphadenitis, which caused swollen lymph nodes in her neck. She underwent a long treatment and fully recovered. She highlights that tuberculosis is prevalent in India and can affect anyone, not just those living in poor conditions or malnourished individuals. She notes that doctors are at higher risk due to their exposure to infected patients.

When asked about her role models, Dr. Anshi says that a role model does not always have to be a famous personality. For her, her father has been a profound influence, teaching her to always treat patients like family and to uphold strong ethics and morals. His journey of building everything from scratch inspires her to contribute more to society.

She quotes her father's words as her inspiration: "The mantra of success is to be the best, and if you cannot be the best, be the first one to do something. And if you are not the first person, then be different." She believes these words are true, encouraging people to excel, innovate, or differentiate themselves.

Dr. Anshi shares that she had been exposed to the medical profession from a very young age. After completing her medical education, her father asked her to work with an NGO for four years before joining his hospital. This experience helped her develop a sense of commitment and social responsibility.

Discussing her hardships, Dr. Anshi says that she feels convincing people in villages to undergo eye treatment, especially for their children, is challenging. She recalls that parents were often reluctant to get their daughters treated. This experience motivated her to help young girls, and she now personally supports 500 little girls every year.

Her advice to aspirants who want to succeed in life is to have two crucial qualities: consistency and ethics. She believes that while shortcuts may provide temporary success, it is one's consistency and ethical behavior that truly make a difference.

Dr. Anshi's general advice to the youth is to recognize that they are the future of the nation and their own lives. She urges them to take control of their health, family, and profession, as these are vital for a successful and fulfilling life. As a doctor, she is concerned about the youth addicted to drugs and tobacco, stressing that such habits are unnecessary and detrimental.

Finally, Dr. Anshi shares a message from Eye-Care Hospital, inviting everyone for free eye checkups every Thursday. They also provide surgical assistance if needed, welcoming all to benefit from their services.