Professional Education, Practice, and Affiliations
Janak Mahendra Shah, M.D. is a distinguished ophthalmic surgeon, humanitarian, and co-director of Netrapuja Eye Care and Research Centre in Mumbai, where he serves alongside his wife and professional partner, Dr. Preeti Janak Shah. Together, they are widely regarded as a leading force in ophthalmology, restoring vision and transforming lives across India and underserved regions of the world.
The initial years of his medical journey at Seth GS Medical college and King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai strengthened his thought. He is grateful to God for having blessed him with a noble profession of being an eye surgeon wherein he could wholly fulfil his cherished dream of providing sight to patients in need and bringing a smile on their faces. He believes that eyes are windows to the world and your soul.
A pioneer in Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS), Dr. Shah was among the earliest surgeons in India to perform this sutureless, cost-effective technique. After mastering the method in the mid-1990s, he dedicated himself to teaching it to young ophthalmologists, empowering a generation of skilled humanitarian surgeons capable of reducing preventable blindness without dependence on costly technology. Dr. Shah continues to advocate for MSICS as a superior high-volume surgical approach, particularly in resource-limited settings, where it achieves excellent outcomes at a fraction of the cost of phaco-emulsification.
Dr. Shah also has a deep commitment to pediatric ophthalmology, emphasizing that early diagnosis can change the course of a child’s entire life. He is a strong proponent of routine childhood eye screening and increased parental awareness to identify signs such as squint, drooping eyelids, or difficulty focusing which are conditions that may have lifelong consequences if untreated. His work has helped advance early-intervention practices across schools and community health programs.
His service extends beyond national borders. Dr. Shah has participated in and led international surgical missions, training programs, and collaborative initiatives across the USA, South America, and Asia, bringing world-class eye care to communities with limited access. Despite language and environmental challenges in foreign missions, he embraces these opportunities for shared learning and sustainable skills transfer, believing that “surgery is a universal language.”
Closer to home, Dr. Shah remains deeply connected to Bhavnagar, where he serves as a visiting consultant at PNR Hospital, ensuring that advanced ophthalmic care reaches those who need it most. Whether operating in India or abroad, he places equal importance on teaching local doctors and educating families, recognizing knowledge as the most enduring tool for preventing blindness.
Dr. Shah believes that medicine is a calling rooted in service. Guided by the conviction that a doctor must “have a human heart,” he urges the next generation of physicians to offer their skills to the underprivileged and to measure success not merely by outcomes, but by the difference they make in the lives of others.
Service with SEE International
Dr. Shah has been a dedicated SEE volunteer eye surgeon with since 1996. He contributes his time and expertise as an instructor for education courses and surgical programs around the world. He has participated in 211 surgical programs to date, serving communities in Bolivia, Brazil, China, Fiji, India, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Peru, Romania, Syria, the United States, Vietnam, and Yemen. He has performed over 20,000 sight restoring surgeries.
Global & Local Health Initiatives
Dr. Shah believes that the most impactful aspect of his work, beyond performing surgeries, is the exchange of skills with local doctors and the education of parents about eye health. While surgery can restore sight, he feels that knowledge-sharing creates lasting, long-term change.
Wherever he practices, he makes it a priority to teach and train local physicians. He views teaching as a two-way process; so while he shares techniques and experience, he remains open to learning from colleagues whose perspectives and expertise may differ from his own. He values this mutual exchange as an essential part of meaningful collaboration.
He also places great importance on educating parents, noting that many childhood eye conditions go undiagnosed simply due to a lack of awareness. By helping families recognize early warning signs, more children can receive timely treatment, leading to significantly improved outcomes. In his view, education of both physicians and patients has the greatest and most enduring impact on eye health.
“I believe life is not just profit and loss. As doctors, we have been given the ability to heal, and it is our responsibility to extend that care to those who need it the most. My advice to aspiring doctors is simple – have a human heart. Offer your services to the underprivileged and those in need because in doing so, you contribute to making the world a better place. True fulfillment in medicine comes not just from curing diseases but making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
Active Roles and Recognitions
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- SEE International Award for 200 surgical humanitarian programs (2024)
- Humanitarian Award (2015), Baba Lokenath Mission Eye Hospital, Siliguri, North Bengal
- Humanitarian Award (2015), Shree Bhojay Sarvodaya Trust, Kutch
- Humanitarian Award for Outstanding Achievement, Fatema Charitable Trust, Mumbai
- Certificate of Appreciation from Surgical Eye Expedition (USA) for contributions to Fighting Global Blindness
- iSight Mission Humanitarian Award (USA, 2016)
- Eye Health Hero Certificate (2016), International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness
- Ophthalmic Hero of India Award, All India Ophthalmological Society (2017)
- PNR Excellence Award, Bhavnagar
- VOSH Humanitarian Award (USA)
- SEE International Award for 100 humanitarian programs (2014)
- International Hero, All India Ophthalmological Society (2017)
- International Hero, All India Ophthalmological Society (2016)
- Certificate of Appreciation, BA Vision Fiji
- Certificate of Appreciation, Clinica Oftalmologica de la Selva
- Certificate of Appreciation, Fu Shou Tang Eye Hospital, Ling Bao, China
- Certificate of Appreciation, Shri Bhojay Sarvodaya Trust, Kutch, India
- Certificate of Appreciation, Smt. Parasben Narandas Ramji Shah Society for Relief and Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Bhavnagar, India
- Certificate of Appreciation, Baba Lokenath Trust, Siliguri, India
- Certificate of Appreciation from Virtue Foundation, New York (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
- Millennium Appreciation Certificate, Bombay Ophthalmologists Association
- Certificate of Honor from the President of Peru, San Martin Region, for humanitarian mission work (2011)
- D. Athawale award from Maharashtra ophthalmology society for humanitarian work (2024)
