Vision Excellence Awards: Preeti Shah

“Humanitarian missions with SEE International are my connect to the divine. Everyone finds their happiness in different areas, and I find mine here. The kind of happiness you get after doing a successful mission, seeing the beautiful smiling faces of people who have suddenly been given a new beginning, is priceless, and I get to experience it through SEE.”
-Dr. Preeti Shah

Dr. Preeti Shah is one of SEE’s most inspiring and dedicated volunteer ophthalmologists. During her 17 years volunteering with SEE, Dr. Shah has participated in over 100 surgical missions, restoring sight to over 6,000 individuals in need. Dr. Shah has committed her entire life to humanitarian eyecare, traveling to countries like Peru, Brazil, Mongolia, China, Fiji, and Lebanon, as well as all over India, to give patients in underserved communities the precious gift of sight. While traveling for these programs, she attends to patients’ pre and postoperative care and performs surgeries that include cataract removal, pterygium removal, glaucoma, ptosis, and pediatric blindness.

In addition to running her own successful private practice in Mumbai, India, and volunteering her time and expertise to restore sight to individuals worldwide, Dr. Shah also volunteers in SEE’s vital ophthalmology training program. She has taught various Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery Courses at many world-renowned medical institutes, training over 100 surgeons in this technique.

Over the course of many years, Dr. Preeti Shah has received several prestigious accolades in recognition of her humanitarian work, including the International Hero Award from the All India Ophthalmological Society, the Humanitarian of the Year Award from SEE International, and over 6 certificates of appreciation from the various host countries she has worked in.

In 2019, Dr. Preeti Shah completed her 100th program with SEE in Tarapato, Peru. After completing the program, she was filled with gratitude and humility, considering the experience to be a milestone she will cherish forever. As her journey progresses, Dr. Shah looks forward to continuing her long-lasting partnership with SEE. Her hard work and dedication to humanitarian eyecare has transformed the lives of thousands of individuals all over the world, allowing them to have a chance at a brighter future. Our organization is honored to nominate her for this prestigious award, as the greater recognition of her work serves as an inspiration to us all.