Dr Rajesh Khanna was born in Chandigarh and raised in Delhi. Tenant of doctors, had an influence on choosing a profession. Good school with excellent teachers who helped to guide us. The top from our class all chose medicine. Even though he got admission into five medical colleges including Maulana Azad ( MAMC), he opted for Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry. During medical school he had a rotation inOphthalmology. Dr RK was so fascinated by the colors in the eyes. Therefore I did a residency in King Edward Medical College, amongst the best in India.
Next phase of life was very interesting and fulfilling. Dr RK got a teaching post in Terna Medical College and was appointed at the youngest consultant at Mahatama Gandhi Medical College.
He started private practice in New Bombay. At that time in one of the lectures he was attending, he met a leading refractive surgeon from the United States. Talking to him he realized that how far advanced US was in that field.
There was no such opportunity in India at that time. So he embarked on a mission to win a fellowship or advanced training in the United States. For this he had to write and pass a series of exams called USMLE. On overcoming that hurdle he was accepted into the University of Cincinnati for a Corneal and Refractive surgery fellowship.
The next 16 months he was able to interact with imbibe skills from corneal specialists. Dr RK learnt Radial keratototomy, laser vision correction and advanced cataract surgery with Phakoemulsification.
Dr RK proudly narrates his achievements in US, he said – “ I have been fortunate that my surgical skills and hard work has been recognized on many levels. The readers of Los Angeles Daily news voted me the best LASIK surgeon. The patients’ have written numerous heartfelt notes of gratitude. I have had the honor ofoperating on physician colleagues, my staff and family members and celebrities. I have been bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor. Today I am the Team ophthalmologist for the US men’s and women’s Water polo team. Numerous articles have been written about me in the press. I have been interviewed on radio and television.”
