Gokul's Portfolio

Volunteering at Sankara Nethralaya: A Step Into Vision Care

In June 2025, I had the opportunity to volunteer at Sankara Nethralaya, one of India's premier eye hospitals. What started as a four-day volunteership turned into a transformative experience that gave me a front-row seat to how compassionate, efficient healthcare is delivered—especially to underserved communities.

Why I Chose This Experience

As a B.Tech student at SRM University, I’ve always believed in blending technical education with real-world impact. I joined Sankara Nethralaya not just to learn hospital operations but to be part of a cause that makes a visible difference—literally—in people’s lives.

What I Did

Each day offered something new:

Day 1: Patient Services
I assisted in patient registration, health screenings, and hospital data systems, learning how efficient workflow builds a seamless care experience.

Day 2 & 4: Tele-Ophthalmology Camps

These outreach programs were the highlight of my volunteership. I helped with vision tests, cataract screenings, patient counseling, and managing queues. Seeing people from rural communities access expert eye care in a simple camp setup was truly inspiring.

Day 3: Optical Services
From helping people choose the right spectacles to coordinating orders and courier dispatch, I saw how care doesn’t stop at treatment—it continues into everyday support.

Skills I Picked Up

Navigating a Hospital Management System (HMS)
Basic understanding of eye care diagnostics like refraction
Communicating with patients from rural and elderly backgrounds
Adapting to new environments and workflows quickly
Team collaboration in high-efficiency settings

What It Taught Me

Volunteering at Sankara Nethralaya taught me that technical skills alone aren’t enough—empathy, communication, and a willingness to learn are just as important. Whether it was helping a confused elder navigate the hospital or learning to register patients on a new system, every task mattered.

It also reinforced my belief in using what we learn to serve society, even in small, behind-the-scenes roles.

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t just a hospital visit or an internship checklist item. It was a meaningful experience that combined learning with giving. I left with a deeper appreciation for healthcare, a few new skills, and a big boost in confidence.

Volunteering here reminded me why I want to stay connected to work that creates real-world impact.