# Vadrevu Raju

Vadrevu K. (VK) Raju is a board-certified ophthalmologist.

## Born

Born in Rajumundry, Andhra Pradesh, India in 1942.

## Education and early career

Dr. VK Raju earned the following:
* M.B.B.S. from Andra University
* D.O. from the University of London
* F.R.C.S from the University of Edinburgh
* F.A.C.S. from the American College of Surgeons
* Board Certified Ophthalmologist- American Board of Ophthalmology

## Eye Foundation of America

In 1977, Dr. VK Raju offered an eye camp near his hometown in rural India; this was the inception of the Eye Foundation of America (EFA). The West Virginia Ophthalmology Foundation was subsequently created in 1982, and became the EFA in 1992. The EFA's mission is to eliminate avoidable blindness under the guiding principles of service, teaching, and research. The EFA helped build two hospitals in rural India: the Srikiran Eye Institute, and the Goutami Eye Institute.

## Honors

Raju has received many honors and awards.
* Susruta Lecture at Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, 2019.
* Lifetime Achievement Award, North American Telugu Society, May 2019.
* American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Foundation Certificate of Recognition for Chang Humanitarian Award, 2019.
* Rangaraya Medical College Certificate of Appreciation on the occasion of Rangaraya Medical College Diamond Jubilee, Kakinada, AP, 2019
* Honors by Vice President of India, M. Venkiah Naidu, on the occasion of Rangaraya Medical College Diamond Jubilee, Kakinada, AP, 2019
* American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Foundation Certificate of Recognition for Chang Humanitarian Award, 2018.
* Community Service Award from Member of Congress, New York, 2017.
* Indian American Press Club Humanitarian Award, New York, 2017
* Certificate of Recognition from American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Foundation, 2017.
* Lifetime Achievement Award from West Virginia State Medical Association 2017.
* The University of Toledo Global Medical Missions Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Inductee; 1 April 2017
* The President's Lifetime Achievement Award, from President Barack Obama, 2016.
* New York State Assembly Citation; 13 December 2016
* Pravasi Rattan Award – Gold Medal from NRI Welfare of Society of India; Washington, DC 2015
* Presidential Award AAPI (American Physicians of Indian Origin); Orlando, FL 2015
* Gold Medal Award International Academy for Advances in Ophthalmology, Bombay Ophthalmologists Association; Mumbai, India 2014
* Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman Award for Achievement in Medicine, House of Lords, London; 2014
* Paul Harris Society, Rotary International 2014
* Gold Medal Oration at Vijayawada Academy of Ophthalmology 2014
* Leading Physicians of the World; International Association of Ophthalmologist, 2014
* MedScape: Best Doctors in America 2013
* AMA Foundation Nathan Davis Excellence in Medicine International Award 2013
* Guest of Honor, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam, AP, India 2012
* Rameshwar Sharma MD Gold Medal Oration, Indian Academy of Medical Sciences, Rajasthan Chapter 2012
* Guest of Honor, All Indian Ophthalmology Society Meeting, Cochin 2012
* Gold Medal from the President, All Indian Ophthalmology Society Meeting, Cochin 2012
* American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Award, 2011
* Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International, 2008
* Martin Luther King Jr Achievement Award, WVU, 2008
* Distinguished Community Service Award, American Association of Physicians of Indian origin, 2007
* Honorable mention, American Medical Association Foundation 2006
* Pride of the Pride Award, Lions International District 29, 2005
* Best of the Show Award, Film presented at American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, 2004
* Veda Vyasa Sabha Trust, Chennai, Honorary Title of Vaidya Ratna, 2003.
* Vaidya Ratna (conferred by Sankaracharya of Kanchi, India) 2002
* House of Delegates, Legislative Citation, State of West Virginia, 2002
* Lifetime Achievement Award, American Association of Ophthalmologists of Indian Origin, Oct. 2002
* Outstanding Humanitarian Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Oct. 2002
* Dr. Hardia Gold Medal for Best Paper on Refractive Surgery, All Indian Ophthalmology Society, Ahmedabad, Jan. 2002
* AP (India) Gold Medal for Contributions to Advance Ophthalmology, 2001
* AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Maryland Chapter) Honors, 2001
* Melvin Jones Fellow: Lions Club International Foundation, 2001
* Guest of Honor, Rajasthan State Ophthalmic Society, 2000
* Rotary International (Morgantown) Honor Award, 2000
* Major S. Dutt Memorial Medal, Ophthalmology Society of West Bengal, 1997
* Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 1996
* ATA (American Telugu Association) American Telugu Association Award, 1996
* Lions Club International (Morgantown) Jarrett Award, 1995
* West Virginia University International Service Award, 1995
* HHH (Heart & Hand for the Handicapped, New Jersey) Outstanding Heart Award, 1994 & 1995
* TANA Award (Telugu Association of North America) for Outstanding Achievement in Medicine, 1993
* AP State of Ophthalmology Society Gold Medal, 1983
* Lions (India) Award of Service for the Blind, 1979
* Jaycees (Vijayawada, India) Award of Service for the Blind, 1977
1. Musings on Medicine, Myth, and History: India's Legacy, VK Raju, 2017
2. AMA Honors Dr. Raju with the American Medical Foundation Nathan Davis Excellence in Medicine International Award, Feb 2013
3. Dr. Raju inducted into University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Science’s Global Medical Missions Hall of Fame, 2017
4. Lifetime Achievement Award from North America Telugu Society
5. AAPI Collaboration with Dr. VK Raju and the Eye Foundation of America
6. Physician Dedicated to Eliminating Preventable Blindness- EyeWorld, 2014