Bengaluru: Orbis International President & CEO Kathleen Sherwin virtually inaugurated a new Digital Training Hub (DTH) at Sankara Eye Hospital, Bengaluru, strengthening the organizations’ partnership to expand ophthalmic training across Karnataka and South India.
The digitally enhanced hub creates a connected learning environment that extends beyond physical bounds, combining in-person simulation and clinical training with technology-enabled education through Cybersight, Orbis’s telemedicine platform, and its global network of expert volunteers. This integrated model enables continuous access to online courses, clinical resources, remote surgical mentorship and expert guidance for ophthalmologists, ophthalmologists-in-training, ophthalmic nurses and other eye health professionals.
Expected to support approximately 200 eye health professionals annually, the DTH focuses particularly on medical retina training. Kathleen Sherwin emphasized, “The most powerful investment we can make in eye care is an investment in people. This hub brings together technology, simulation and global mentorship with Sankara’s clinical expertise, ensuring professionals can take new skills back to their communities.”
India faces substantial eye care challenges: with over 270,000 children living with blindness (more than half avoidable) and comprising over 20% of the world’s blind population, strengthening professional capacity is critical.
The inauguration ceremony featured distinguished dignitaries including Dr B. L. Sujatha Rathod, Director of Medical Education for Karnataka; Padma Shri Dr R. V. Ramani, Founder of Sankara Eye Foundation; and former Test cricketer Mr. Vijay Bharadwaj.
Dr Rathod noted, “Simulation-based learning provides valuable environments for practitioners to build confidence before applying skills in real-world settings. This hub will support skill development through structured, technology-enabled training.”
Dr Ramani highlighted Sankara’s institutional philosophy: “Strengthening eye care requires institutions that continuously develop their people. This partnership combines our clinical experience with global expertise, creating a sustained learning environment for professionals.”
Sankara Eye Hospital, Bengaluru’s 225-bed super-specialty facility, already houses the Sankara Vision Academy, offering DNB, fellowship and optometry programs. Equipped with wet labs, simulation models and virtual reality training tools, the new DTH builds on this foundation while connecting participants to Orbis’s global mentorship ecosystem.
Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director for Orbis India, explained the partnership’s broader impact: “We’re leveraging Sankara’s clinical expertise to create a multiplier effect—training more professionals, strengthening institutions and ultimately bringing better eye care closer to communities.”
By integrating local clinical expertise with global digital resources, the Sankara-Orbis alliance represents a scalable approach to building sustainable eye care capacity throughout South India.